Moore is still a key piece of South Williamsport’s team, only now she’s on the back line and not up top. It was a switch that may have taken some scoring offense away, but it strengthened the team overall, and Moore’s happy to be doing her part wherever she is on the field.

For some, moving from forward to defender can be an adjustment. You’re no longer pursuing that through ball, but rather preventing your opponent from having one and getting a 1-v-1 look at the goalie. But Moore is more than happy on the back line.

Not only is it where she played during club ball, but it’s where she will play in college with Bloomsburg University.

“For this team I would say it’s an adjustment, but I played there for club and that’s where I’m recruited for college. I’m comfortable back there,” Moore said. “I played there all summer, so it wasn’t a super hard transition, but with this team it is a harder transition because I never played back there (as a Mountie). It’s adjusting everyone else to me being put in the back. We’re all kind of adjusting with different positions everywhere.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport’s Ella Moore (13) dribbles the ball past a pair of Montgomery defenders during a game this year. Moore, who reached 100 career goals and 50 career assists last fall, was moved to a defensive role this year to help the team, a role she’s more than comfortable in.

But it’s leading to success.

The Mounties had a rough start to begin the year, starting the season 1-3. But the Mounties have played well and are playing some of their best soccer in the last few games. Which is how South Williamsport and coach Marv Lovecchio would prefer to have it, clicking right before the postseason begins.

The Mounties clinched a playoff berth with a 9-0 rout over Montgomery on Monday afternoon and are sitting at 8-3-2 with five games remaining.

“We have a harder schedule this year compared to the last four years I played, but yeah, our winning streak recently has brought us up,” Moore noted.

This year’s schedule featured tough games with Mid-Penn rival Muncy twice, Selinsgrove, Warrior Run, Lewisburg and rival Loyalsock so far with games vs. Montoursville, Shikellamy and Hughesville still on the horizon.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport’s Ella Moore (13) dribbles the ball past a pair of Montgomery defenders during a game this year. Moore, who reached 100 career goals and 50 career assists last fall, was moved to a defensive role this year to help the team, a role she’s more than comfortable in.

For Moore, she’s the only senior on the back line after Olivia Miller got injured with a broken ankle. She’s anchoring the defense with sophomore Bryar Praster, a third-string center back, and two freshmen in Ivy Minier and Rylan Isenberg. And Moore likes being the senior captain on the defense to help the younger players get confidence and experience.

“I definitely do (enjoy it),” Moore said. “The two freshmen are like basically seniors at this point, they’re so experienced with this position and they do really well. I don’t really have to do much constructing out there with them. Bryar did well (vs. Lewisburg). She filled in for (Olivia) Miller and she stepped up nicely. I’m hoping she continues to do well.

“I’m proud of us,” Lovecchio said after a tie vs. Muncy. “I’m proud of us for being together. We’re being held together by athletic tape, but we’re doing OK.”

And South is playing their best at the perfect time as well.

A WEAPON FROM DEEP

When you have a player who can score from just outside the 18-yard box, that’s an added advantage for your team knowing you don’t have to get close to the goal. But when you can score from 25 yards out?

Thirty? Thirty five?

That’s a damn good advantage. And it’s one Montoursville’s girls soccer team has. Montoursville this year moved standout Kenna Bennett from a forward attacking position to a defensive role to help prevent an avalanche of goals that happened early in the year. It’s worked out well too with Bennett slowing down forwards. But the Warrior senior is still a threat to score anytime she lines up for a direct kick.

Against Williamsport earlier this year, Bennett was fired a handful of direct kicks from more than 30 yards out that were right on target.

It’s an added depth for the Warriors.

“Kenna just does everything for us. We’re moving her all over the place. She goes from our back line to up top and she’s just a player that we rely on to play many roles,” Montoursville coach Vic Gorini said. “Kenna’s range and play on the back is one of the reasons even though she’s in the back; she can play direct to our forwards with our range. That’s very helpful when you have a new team that’s trying find their way and try to handle the ball. Just playing the ball direct to the front line is just your best option.”

A LATE-SEASON PUSH

With the regular season winding down with just a week left before the playoffs begin, it’s the time of the year where numerous teams are making late-season pushes to hope to get into the playoffs and keep their season alive.

Hughesville is one such team this year.

The Spartans had a key matchup with Milton this past Saturday and were hoping to get to .500 again. But instead, the two teams drew to an exciting 2-2 double overtime tie to make Hughesville 7-8-1. A win would have been great, but a tie isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world.

The Spartans season consists of just two more games: home against undefeated Montoursville on Wednesday, in a game which did not end in time for this print edition, and a home game against Shikellamy on Oct. 14. Both games are under the lights.

“There’s a quote I talk to them about recently. It’s that the past is history, the future is a mystery and the present is a gift, that’s why we call it the present,” Hughesville coach Cole Lesher said after the tie against Milton. “The fact that we could hang our heads if that didn’t go well, we can think about how we can change things, but reality is we have to take what we have and move forward. I think they realize it’s do-or-die time and we have to give everything we have to work hard and smart to finish out strong.”

The Spartans are hoping to make the postseason for the first time since 2019, although Hughesville has been close the last two years. Last year, Hughesville finished 7-9-2 and just missed the postseason and in 2023, Hughesville went 8-10 and again just missed qualifying.

Hughesville keeper Royce Gardner has been playing well all year, especially as of late. Against Milton, the Spartan recorded five saves, each of which was key in not letting Milton take the lead or seal the game.

“Royce, I can’t believe how much he’s improved this season. I’m so proud of him, I talked to him today about that,” Lesher said. “He’s really taken something that he was thrown into and he’s now making the most of it. He’s performing well, he made some big saves and he’s been doing that consistently too. So it’s awesome to see.”

GOALIE SUCCESS

If you think about Lewisburg boys soccer, a lot of things probably are the first to come to mind.

A storied history. Multiple state championships. More district titles than you can count. Numerous all-state players. Plenty of 50-goal scorers.

And all of that is more than true and accurate. But what some may not perhaps think about right away is the solid line of goalies Lewisburg keeps churning out.

In 2008, a freshman named Christian Gallagher stepped between the pipes for Lewisburg as a first-year starting goalie and from there, it’s been nothing but outstanding and phenomenal goalie play. Gallagher started the run that hasn’t slowed down.

From 2008-11, Gallagher recorded 51 career shutouts. The next year, another freshman stepped up in Logan Cho and he raised the bar. Cho became Pennsylvania’s all-time shutouts leader by the time he graduated in 2015 with 60.

Sam Miller had 12 shutouts in 2017 and then Tony Burns got the reigns from 2018-21, posting 44 shutouts.

And currently? Gabe Pawling is in his fourth season and is at 35 and counting.

That’s 202 shutouts since 2008 for Lewisburg.

“It makes every player better knowing that there is a great keeper behind them. Gabe definitely belongs in the conversation with those other three names (Gallagher, Cho and Burns) and could top the list in terms of performance and leadership,” Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell said. “All four of those keepers do more than just save the ball from going in the net, they are great communicators and organizers. They put their teammates in great positions to make great plays. There is no stat for being a great leader.”

AN OUTSTANDING SEASON

North Penn-Mansfield’s girls soccer team has struggled in recent years to put wins up. Each of the last two seasons, the Tigers won just one game. In 2022, the team won three games after a winless 2021 season. Then there was a one-win campaign in 2020.

The players give it their all each game every year, but sometimes those wins are hard to come by.

But this year, something’s sparked in Mansfield and the team is putting up one of its best seasons in a while. After a tough 1-0 loss on Monday to Jersey Shore, North Penn-Mansfield is sitting at 7-7 and is eyeing a possible playoff berth if things go right in the next three games.

Needless to say, the players and fans are more than excited at this year’s campaign.

“Our soccer program hasn’t been very competitive for several years. We have had some amazing individual talent over the years, but just lacked the numbers to really make an impact,” North Penn-Mansfield coach Maryann Wilcox said. “This year we had a pretty big class of freshmen join the team. This group has a competitive spirit and they are working well with the upperclassmen and are putting in the work to improve their skills. The team’s soccer IQ is building as well as their confidence.”

Wilcox also noted the team had fewer injuries this year, which has helped the team’s success.

Mansfield’s seven wins are the most since going 7-11-1 in 2013. That also happens to be the last time Mansfield was in the postseason after losing in the first round of the District 4 playoffs to Meadowbrook Christian. Wilcox and her Tigers are hoping this year will be when Mansfield breaks that long postseason drought and sees the team qualify.

HONORING A CM GREAT

Central Mountain honored Hall of Fame inductee Sara Hawksworth during Saturday’s game against Milton in which the Wildcats lost, 4-0. Hawksworth was part of a dominant run for the Wildcats in the mid-2000s that included three league championships and an undefeated streak in league play that stretched across three consecutive seasons. In her senior year, CM finished the season unbeaten before being narrowly upset in the district semifinals. She was 58-19-5 during four years.

The Wildcat standout was second-team All-League her sophomore season and was named first-team All-League as a junior and senior. Hawksworth was named all-state twice in her career and received recognition as a Regional All-American. According to Central Mountain coach Ryan Veltri, Hawksworth is “remembered not only for the accolades and championships but also for the leadership and competitiveness she brought to the field.”

She went on to play at Mercyhurst after graduating in 2009.

500 AND

COUNTING

North Penn-Liberty blanked Northern Potter 3-0 on Thursday and in the process gave keeper Deakon Valentine a nice milestone. Valentine recorded 18 saves in the shutout victory and surpassed 500 for his career.

He’s one of the best keepers in Liberty history and one of the few to reach the 500 save milestone, a mark that’s not easy for any keeper at any school to obtain.

“It means a lot to me to see him get his 500th save. Deakon is so talented I’m so glad he’s on our team. He makes so many incredible saves and punts. I have seen him score on a punt with his big foot and I have seen him get an assist as well with his big kicks,” Liberty coach Matt Grinnell said. “He has good vision and seems like he knows right where to be to make some big saves time and time again.”

Valentine is a senior this year, meaning he leaves big shoes to fill once he graduates. But Grinnell is glad to see his standout keeper is working and helping with younger kids to train them. He’s doing his best to make sure his replacement knows what to expect.

“He also is helping with the kids coming up and showing them what to do,” Grinnell said. “Deakon puts in the work all the time. He’s on a travel team and he does a great job for them as well.”

JON GERARDI’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

BOYS SOCCER

t-1. LEWISBURG (15-0-1): The Green Dragons moved up in the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association state ranking poll to No. 3 after being fourth last week. The Green Dragons are behind just District 11’s Northwest Lehigh and District 3’s La sncaster Catholic in Class AA. Lewisburg continues to play outstanding in all facets and keep showing why they’re a favorite to win another district title.

t-1. MONTOURSVILLE (13-0-2): Montoursville and Loyalsock played in a thriller on Monday in a double overtime scoreless draw, but while it was a tie, the Warriors still have yet to suffer a loss. Montoursville, ranked No. 9 in the state rankings, have allowed just nine goals all season and are a tough defensive unit with a solid keeper in Mason Fry.

3. WELLSBORO (10-4-1): Wellsboro suffered a tough 2-1 loss to NTL foe Northeast Bradford on Tuesday, breaking up a nice 2-0-1 stretch the Green Hornets had dating to Sept. 24. Wellsboro faces Williamson on Thursday and then has two really tough tests to close the season against Montoursville (Oct. 11) and Loyalsock (Oct. 14). But playing the Warriors and Lancers are good tune-ups heading into districts.

4. MONTGOMERY (9-6): The Red Raiders suffered two tough losses before a 8-1 win on the road at Williams Valley. And, more importantly, that secured a third straight District 4 playoff berth for the Red Raiders.

“It’s always a good feeling knowing that soccer will at least continue for a week following your last regular season match,” Montgomery coach Michael Sherman said

t-5. CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (7-5-3): After an extremely tough game against Lewisburg in which the Wildcats held their own in a 3-1 loss, the Wildcats rebounded by blanking Shikellamy, 4-0, before drawing with Jersey Shore in two overtime periods, 1-1. Prior to a game with Altoona, Central Mountain has to battle Midd-West. The Wildcats have faced some tough competition this season, and that’s only going to pay dividends when the District 6 Class AAAA playoffs roll around soon.

t-5. WARRIOR RUN (7-6-1): Back-to-back wins were interrupted with a 2-1 loss against Southern Columbia. The Defenders beat South Williamsport (3-1) and Hughesville (3-1) to improve to 7-5-1 before the loss to the Tigers. The Defenders have playmakers up top who can spread the ball around in Gideon Kennel (11 goals, six assists), Ryan Kemock (seven), Ori Kennel (six goals, 12 assists) and Ian Miller (five goals).

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Connor Lang, Loyalsock and Mason Fry, Montoursville: The defensive gems these two put on in goal in Montoursville and Loyalsock’s double overtime scoreless draw on Monday earned them both the weekly Player of the Week accolade. Both the Warriors and Lancers pressed hard in the second half and both overtime periods to put in a game winner, but neither Fry or Lang would let their opponent get one by them. They both ended with six saves and played great for all 100 minutes. You can’t ask for a better performance from your keeper than what these two did.

GIRLS SOCCER

1. WARRIOR RUN (12-2-2): Warrior Run senior Nat Hall said after a 0-0 double overtime tie with Montoursville on Tuesday night that the Defenders nicknamed their backline the Iron Curtain with how well they play. And that nickname’s been holding up. Warrior Run’s given up just 11 goals this year through 16 games and only three teams have scored more than one goal against them: Williamsport, Shikellamy and Southern Columbia. Since losing to the Tigers, Warrior Run has posted three shutouts in a row, including against a talented Milton team and a strong Montoursville team.

2. HUGHESVILLE (11-4): The Spartans are riding a five-game winning streak and have not allowed a goal in that span either. Since losing to Warrior Run, 2-0, the Spartans have beaten Lewisburg, Muncy, Bloomsburg, Mount Carmel and Southern Columbia by a combined score of 25-0. Hughesville will be a dangerous team in Class AA when the postseason rolls around as they have a solid combination of standout scorers and a tough defensive unit.

3. MUNCY (11-2-1): The Indians are the sixth-ranked team in the state in Class A, moving up two spots from last week. They’re also one of just two District 4 teams ranked in Class A alongside Southern Columbia (No. 7). The Indians have an explosive offensive, having scored 79 goals so far this year with 25 coming from freshman Kiki Woodward and 24 from junior Ava Eyer.

4. MILTON (11-2): Milton has a talented defensive unit this year, giving up just 11 goals in 13 games, but the Black Panthers’ offense has flown under the radar. Milton has 48 goals this year, 17 of which have come from Sammy Roarty and Kat Bennage has scored nine. They’re forming a solid 1-2 offensive punch for Milton this season.

t-5. SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT (9-3-2): The Mounties lost a lot of playmakers from last season and entered this year with a young squad, but the Mounties are still talented and can win games and clinched another district playoff berth this week, their ninth consecutive berth. The Mounties have four players with double-digit goals this year: Ella Moore (14), Kloey Persun (12), Coco Kline (11) and Ana Oeler (10).

t-5. MONTOURSVILLE (6-6-2): Montoursville’s defense has been playing well in its last few games, which is something the Warrior fans and coaches have to be happy about. The Warriors have not allowed a goal in their last four games, which includes a 1-0 win against a very talented Southern Columbia team on the road and a scoreless draw with a 12-win Warrior Run squad. Credit Kenna Bennett and Mylie Herr on the back line and keeper Abby Strassner.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kloey Persun, South Williamsport: Persun has put on a scoring clinic as of late for the Mounties and has been a huge part of their success. Against Sullivan County, Persun scored three goals and had an assist in a 9-2 win. Two days later, she scored both goals in a tight 2-1 win against rival Loyalsock. On Monday, Persun had two goals and two assists in a 9-0 win against Montgomery and on Tuesday, it was more of the same as Persun scored twice in a rout against CMVT. In that four-game stretch, she scored seven goals and dished out five assists.

Jon Gerardi is the sports editor at the Sun-Gazette and covers high school soccer. He can be reached at jgerardi@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JonGerardi.