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Hughesville battles Selinsgrove to scoreless draw in girls soccer

By Jon Gerardi 6 min read

HUGHESVILLE -- Players for both Hughesville and Selinsgrove no doubt knew that Thursday's game at Raymond H. Perritt Stadium under the lights was going to be a fight for 80 minutes.

Both teams combined have just six losses and both have played really well against solid competition. And Thursday was absolutely no different.

The Spartans and Seals started the game physical and played tough for 80 minutes until the horn went off as neither team conceded a goal. It resulted in a scoreless draw for the two teams.

"I mean obviously their record precedes them, but we were really just focused on what we needed to do. We've been up and down all season and I think everybody knows that, but we needed to get back to what we were doing right," Hughesville coach Cody Hack said. "That was the big focus for tonight. No matter how the score landed, we needed to get back to Step No. 1 for us."

The Spartans (8-5-2) played well all around, from up top to the back line and in goal with keeper Kalia Hack against the Seals (10-1-3). Through the first 20 minutes of the first half, neither team had a recorded shot on goal as the game was being dictated in the midfield.

Both teams did end the first half with some chances and looks at the goal, but it was 0-0 going into the break.

"Take as many opportunities as we can get and hopefully we can put something away. Sierra (Dewire) had that one in the second half, it was close but a little toe poke into side and maybe it's a different story," Hack said. "We're happy with how we played tonight. Give credit to Selinsgrove for sure. It's a dog fight and that was fun to be a part of."

With 30:22 to play, Hughesville's Kat Temple got inside of the 18 and had a great 1-v-1 look with Selinsgrove keeper Elizabeth Varner. Temple got to the 6-yard box and tried shooting it to the right post, but saw it go just wide.

Ten minutes later, Kendall Hamm got a direct kick near the right side of the field at the corner of the 18 and sent it high, but the shot went just a tad off the mark and prevented it from being a goal.

With 4:37 until halftime, the Spartans had another chance from Dewire who got inside the 18 and tried going to the left post, but narrowly missed sneaking in a shot.

At the half, the Seals held a 3-1 edge in shots on goal, although both teams had fired six shots in total.

"We talked about the game's going to get won in the midfield. That's where possession was won and lost on both sides of the ball," Hack said about the halftime speech. "Whoever could win the midfield and get forward with the rest of the unit. I think we did that at times, but also we defended it very well at times. It was very nice to see."

Selinsgrove opened the second half aggressive and tried getting a goal less than three minutes in. The Seals' had a shot from just outside fo the 18 that went narrowly wide to the far-left post.

With 23:49 to play, Selinsgrove's Caroline Bucher had a direct kick from 25 yards out and sent it right at Hughesville keeper Hack. The Spartan keeper did a solid job blocking it and preventing it from getting past her. The ball remained in play, but Hughesville's back line cleared it out of harm's way before a follow-up shot could be taken.

Hack preserved the shutout in goal with her eight saves, including a second-half one where she was off-balance, but was able to stay upright and keep the ball in front of her and not let it go past the goal line.

The shutout was her fourth of the season as well as she went over 125 saves for the season.

In addition, it was Hughesville's back line which did well putting pressure on Addison Wenzel (13 goals), Morgan Wenzel (11 goals) and Joslyn Richards (eight goals), a trio which have combined for 32 goals and 18 assists for the Seals.

One of Hughesville's best chances at putting in a goal came with only 12:10 remaining in the game.

Dewire would get the ball inside of the 18 and to the 6-yard box, and sent a great shot in only to see Varner come up with the block and save.

Hughesville had two shots on goal in the final 40 minutes, although routinely got the ball into the attacking third but couldn't get quality looks at the goal against a talented Selinsgrove line.

The Seals ended the game with an 8-3 edge in shots on goal.

"We weren't focused on that (scoring). I mean, if it comes it comes, but as long as we're playing the right way and getting ourselves the opportunities, that's all we can ask for right now," Hack said. "When you put it in the back off the net, it's always nice, but we just wanted to afford ourselves the opportunities."

The opportunities were there on Thursday for not only the Spartans, but the Seals as well, but neither team was fortunate enough to put in a goal.

Hughesville's back line did a superb job limiting the Seals. Of Selinsgrove's 12 total shot attempts -- eight of which were on frame -- none came from inside of the 18 as the Spartans forced Selinsgrove to fire from distance.

Selinsgrove is the latest tough opponent Hughesville has battled, with recent matchups against Central Columbia and Montoursville, and an upcoming battle with Milton on the horizon.

But those tough games will pay dividends.

"We know that District 4 in playoffs is going to be a fight. We want to make sure that we are tested to get there," Hack said.

Hughesville 0, Selinsgrove 0

Shots: S 8, H 3. Corners: S 0, H 0. Saves: S 3 (Elizabeth Varner), H 8 (Kalia Hack).

Records: Selinsgrove (10-1-3), Hughesville (8-5-2).

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