Trio of Spartans score goals in Hughesville’s 3-0 girls soccer playoff win vs. East Juniata
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MILTON -- There were times throughout Saturday's District 4 Class A quarterfinal that East Juniata's bench was yelling out to cover Kat Temple and make sure she wasn't open. But the problem is that while Temple can score and make plays, so can a lot of other Spartans.
Hughesville has a score-by-committee type of offense, and that was on display on Saturday.
Three Spartans put in goals as Hughesville dominated against the third-seeded Tigers, 3-0, to advance to Monday's District 4 Class A semifinals at a time and place to be determined.
"That's how we have to play. We heard EJ yelling '40! Watch 40!' OK. In the second half, I said Kat, be a decoy and if you have to run away because they're trying to follow you, we're in on the back post then," Hughesville coach Cody Hack said. "That's the best part about us. You've got to cover 11 people and it’s very tough to do."
Just over three minutes into the second half, Hughesville struck to get a second goal and gain a little breathing room against East Juniata. That's when Tori Morgan put in a goal for a 2-0 lead.
"That was huge. That's something we talked about, just keeping the pressure up the whole time," Hack said. "The chances were there. Putting one in there allows us to calm down, but we really didn't want to."
The Spartans struck five minutes into the game for the first goal to set the tone. Hughesville got a ball into the 18, and it bounced off East Juniata keeper McKenzie Hart. The ball stayed in play and got outside the box where Giada Good got a touch on it and ripped a shot from 20 yards out to the right post on a well-placed shot.
Hughesville dominated against East Juniata from start to finish. While the Spartans held just a 5-4 edge in shots in the first half, Hughesville controlled from midway through the first half onward.
It resulted in the Spartans holding a 10-5 edge by game's end in shots on goal, and firing a total of 13 shots.
The Spartans' third goal came off a direct kick from Savanna Bruder 20 yards out on the near side of the field.
"My assistant coach and I were standing there, because it was open for a slot, right? We were kinda going back and forth if we shoot it or if we slot it. I said 'you know Vanny, just shoot it,' Put it on net and see what happens," Hack said. "She's gotta make a save, and fortunately for us it went in."
Bruder sent it high to the far-right post near the right upper 90 out of the reach out of Hart's possible reach.
East Juniata almost tied the game up in the first half with just under 30 minutes remaining. The Tigers' Acea Spade was at the 18 and turned to her left and quickly sent a shot high. It hit off the crossbar, just past the fingertips of keeper Kalia Hack, but bounced straight down and didn't cross the goal line. It was then cleared out.
It was East Juniata's best chance at scoring a goal on Saturday.
With 12:50 left in the first half, Hughesville's Good got a direct kick 20 yards out and sent in a short pass inside of the 18 to Jaysa Kiess. The junior tried chipping a shot high, but it went just over the goal.
In addition to superb offensive play by the Spartans to put up a trio of goals, Hughesville's back line and keeper Kalia Hack did well not allowing East Juniata to score and try sparking a rally.
The Spartans didn't allow East Juniata to record a single shot attempt from inside of the 18, forcing everything out wide and not giving up any breakaways or 1-v-1 looks.
"It's huge. We had a lot of games this year, I wouldn't say they were a mess up, but they were just dumb goals. To keep a goose egg on the other side of the scoreboard is huge for our back line and for our team for that matter," Hack said. "Especially going into a district semifinal, doesn’t matter who we play, we always wanna keep a zero on the other side of the score board."
Keeper Hack had her second straight shutout thanks to a four-save performance on Saturday, including punching out a corner kick attempt to prevent a shot attempt inside the 18 in the second half.
"Her biggest thing that we've talked about is staying focused through the whole game. You might only get three or four opportunities to make a big save, and you've got to be ready for that," Hack said.
The Spartans are in the district semifinals for a third consecutive year, the first time doing so in Class A after being in Class AA previously. The Spartans are only focused on their next opponent though and not trying to look too far down the road at the bracket.
"Everybody always says it: you gotta take it one game at a time. I told them I'm not looking forward to anybody else’s film unless it’s the person we're playing. There's no reason to and they've accepted that mindset going forward," Hack said. "It doesn't matter who we play, it doesn’t matter what the seed is. We're just here to play and happy for the opportunity."
Hughesville 3, East Juniata 0
(DISTRICT 4 CLASS A QUARTERFINALS)
H--Giada Good, 35:28. H--Tori Morgan, 36:55. H--Savanna Bruder (direct kick), 5:08.
Shots: EJ 5, H 10. Corners: EJ 2, H 3. Saves: EJ 6 (McKenzie Hart), H 4 (Kalia Hack).
Records: East Juniata (14-6), Hughesville (11-7-2).