But Muncy started the game aggressive and wanted to set the tone early and without question, Muncy did just that.

Ava Eyer put in a goal just 90 seconds into the game off an assist by Ella Nagel and from there, it was all Muncy. The Indians rarely let York Catholic threaten with the ball in their attacking third and defensively, played great en route to a 3-0 win over York Catholic in Tuesday’s PIAA Class A playoffs.

Needless to say, those nerves were settled down quickly.

“It was really exciting and we knew that we had to come out strong and get a goal so we could set the tone,” Eyer said. 

Ava Eyer of Muncy pushes the ball up the field against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I just knew I was playing it to one of them (Ava Eyer or Kiki Woodward) and I knew they would get it done and get it in the back of the net,” Nagel added.

The win was huge for the Muncy program, giving the Indians their first-ever state playoff victory in just their second state playoff game in history.

“They just keep setting the bar higher and higher. It’s kind of ironic because the girls are not that overly enthusiastic because they didn’t think they played that well, the nerves definitely showed,” Gresh said. “But, at the end of the day, this is the time of year where you just win and advance. That’s all it is. Absolutely unbelievable. What a group of girls.”

Muncy’s first goal helped shift momentum and tone early and put the Indians in the driver’s seat from the get go. Muncy kept at it and with 17:17 to play until halftime, put in a second goal for a 2-0 lead. Nagel found Woodward down the right side of the 18 and from 12 yards out, Woodward fired a shot to the far-left post for the goal.

“I was like ‘OK, we need to get one,'” Woodward said. “We needed to go through it and just put it behind us and get the game done so we could rest.”

Kiki Woodward of Muncy and Izzy Rodriguez of York Catholic collide as they go up for a ball in the second half at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Muncy held a 7-5 edge in the first half in shots on goal and had numerous well-played throughballs to get Eyer, Nagel or Woodward behind York Catholic’s back line, however the touches seemed to be just off the mark early and would-be 1-v-1 looks with Irish keeper Andrea Rivera Colon were instead cleared out of harm’s way throughout the first half.

“We always talk about coming out in the first 10, we certainly came out and we scored right away and then they decided to bunker down a little bit,” Gresh noted. “They definitely were more defensive than we saw them play and more defensive than they usually play. And rightfully so, that was their choice, but it was good to set that tone.”

But that Muncy pressure never stopped and the team didn’t get frustrated. Instead, Muncy kept at it and kept playing their style of soccer. It resulted with a third goal in the second half with 29:17 to play when Nagel found Eyer inside the 18 and Eyer sent it to the far-right post from 15 yards out and put York Catholic in a three-goal hole.

“We knew that if we got the score up a little bit then we could finally rest and bunker a little bit and be ready for our game on Saturday,” Eyer said.

Nagel assisted on all three goals and in the process, tied her sister Emilie Nagel’s school record of 65 career assists.

Kiki Woodward of Muncy tries to head the ball over Izzy Rodriguez of York Catholic in the second half at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I thought we played a really nice second half, much better second half,” Gresh said. “We were calm, we possessed a lot better and really built our attack which is what you’re trying to do, especially this time of the year. It was a much better second half, a much better effort all around.”

Muncy ended the game holding a 12-8 edge in shots on goal. Muncy had four in the second half and had a great chance to add another goal with 1:30 to play in the game. The Indians had a corner kick that was sent just outside of the 6-yard box, but the attempted shot by the Indians was saved by Rivera Colon and kept it a 3-0 deficit.

York Catholic’s best chance to put in a goal was with 2:17 until halftime. The Irish’s Zoe Carothers got the ball from 20 yards out and rifled a great hard shot right to Eva Nagel, hoping to get her off balance or for her to read the ball wrong. But Nagel was clutch and caught it, preventing what would have been a huge goal to make it a one-goal deficit right before halftime.

“They don’t faze her. She had a really, really nice save the girl had a nice look probably inside the six, nice little shot, and she had a really nice save,” Gresh said. “But outside that, she makes it look effortless and I think that speaks volumes of her confidence and her ability. It doesn’t matter how much pressure, how many shots or where the shots are from. She has played that scenario out in her head and played it almost perfectly.”

With 22:26 to play in the first half with the score just 1-0, York Catholic strung a handful of nice touches together to get the ball to the left-inside corner of the 18 as the Irish fired a shot to the far-right post, but the ball had just a tad too much on it and sailed just wide of the goal.

Eva Nagel of Muncy watches the action from the goal against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Eyer nearly added a goal before halftime with 7:02 to play when she got the ball near the 18. York Catholic’s keeper came out to play it, but got caught up and fell, leaving Eyer with a look at an open net. But Eyer’s shot went just off the mark to the right out of bounds, preventing a third first-half goal for the Indians.

Standing next to the field on Tuesday after a post-game talk with teammates, Eyer and Ella Nagel were both more than excited to be going onto the state quarterfinals. And that first state win in program history? That’s a nice little milestone too for them.

“It’s pretty awesome. It feels great to accomplish something like this, especially with this team,” Eyer said. 

“I love all these girls,” Nagel said.

Muncy 3, York Catholic 0

Eva Nagel of Muncy makes a save against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

(PIAA CLASS A PLAYOFFS)

M–Ava Eyer (Ella Nagel), 38:31. M–Kiki Woodward (Nagel), 17:17. M–Eyer (Nagel),29:17.

Shots: YC 8, M 12. Corners: YC 5, M 6. Saves: YC 9 (Andrea Rivera Colon), M 8 (Eva Nagel).

Records: York Catholic (12-8), Muncy (19-2-1). 

Eva Nagel of Muncy makes a save against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Eva Nagel of Muncy makes a save against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Ella Nagel of Muncy takes a shot against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kiki Woodward of Muncy and keeper Andrea Rivera Colon of York Christian race after a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kiki Woodward of Muncy scores a goal against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Kiki Woodward of Muncy scores a goal against York Christian at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hailey Ganoe of Muncy and Izzy Rodriguez of York Christian race after a loose ball at Shikellamy High School. Muncy won 3-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette