Hughesville girls face Camp Hill in states and hope to win first-ever state playoff game
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Kat Temple (40) controls the ball in front of Line Mountain's Cora Moyer (32) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Bella Remsnyder (9) is restrained by Line Mountain's Milena Mariano (10) as they try to control the ball in the final minutes of the game. Both player were sidelined for the remainder of the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Aubrey Arrigonie (13) heads the ball in front of Line Mountain's Abby Hall (25) and Laila Troutman (3) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Jaydyn Temple (21) heads the ball in front of Line Mountain's Emmerson Grindstaff (1) try in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Bella Young (16) heads the ball over the pack in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Kat Temple (40) controls the ball in front of Line Mountain's Cora Moyer (32) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Bella Remsnyder (9) is restrained by Line Mountain's Milena Mariano (10) as they try to control the ball in the final minutes of the game. Both player were sidelined for the remainder of the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Aubrey Arrigonie (13) heads the ball in front of Line Mountain's Abby Hall (25) and Laila Troutman (3) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Jaydyn Temple (21) heads the ball in front of Line Mountain's Emmerson Grindstaff (1) try in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Bella Young (16) heads the ball over the pack in the first half.
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Hughesville's girls soccer team has used the same approach since the first game of the season: one game at a time. The Spartans and coaching staff don't look a game or two down the road. They don't overlook an opponent for a possible matchup two games away.
It's who's next on the schedule and that approach has Hughesville in the state tournament for the second time in three years. Hughesville came up just shy last week of winning the program's first District 4 title, but the Spartans are hoping to possibly reach a new milestone on Tuesday and that's winning the program's first state playoff game.
The Spartans have had a number of talented teams over the years, including those led by the Shaner sisters who kept the Spartans in the postseason routinely, but those teams never were able to either reach states or when they did, secure a state playoff win.
That goal for the Spartans begins tonight with a 6 p.m. start against Camp Hill on the road at the District 3 champions' home field.
"They just come out and play and that's all I want out of them," Hughesville coach Cody Hack said.
Hughesville blanked three straight district opponents to open the postseason before a 2-0 loss against state-ranked Line Mountain in the district final. But the Spartans are hoping that loss helps the team refocus and regroup.
"I think so, I mean coming off of a loss means we're just hungry even more," Hughesville starter Kat Temple said.
"I mean it has all regular season," Hack said. "You lose one, we get the next one. But, again, we're not looking forward past the next game."
Hughesville has an offense that spreads the ball out well. Temple leads the Spartans with 15 goals scored and has six assists, but sophomore Regan Sellers (11 goals, one assist), sophomore Jaysa Kiess (six goals, four assists), senior Sierra DeWire (five goals, six assists) and junior Tori Morgan (four goals, four assists) all have multiple goals and/or assists and numerous others can put in goals if given an opportunity.
"We work really well together," Temple said. "We're all connected and on the same level."
And while the offense can flourish any game, the defense is just as talented. Hughesville is one of just four teams this year that held state-ranked Line Mountain to two or fewer goals in a game, a task easier said than done given some of the Eagles' playmakers.
Hughesville also has seven shutouts this year, led by sophomore Kalia Hack in goal, who has 200 saves on the nose and averages 9.1 per game. She has come up big throughout the game and came up with some decent stops against Line Mountain to keep it a two-goal game.
"Our back line? They're stopping everything back there, especially in the Bloomsburg game (in semifinals)," Temple said. "Today, they just got through us but it's never the back line's fault, it's the whole team."
As for the expectations going into the state tournament again?
"Honestly? Just play (as) us. However that is. The first three games of districts here -- Montgomery, EJ and Bloomsburg -- we were a different team than we were (vs. Line Mountain). I was telling my assistant coaches it felt like we were back in the regular season, that up and down," Hack said. "It's tough because you don't have an answer. I can't change something, I can't put somebody out there to do this, it was tough. But honestly just keep our game going, keep the pressure up and get the energy back."
Expect the Spartans to be motivated against Camp Hill.
Camp Hill (14-6-1) got to states battling as the three seed through District 3. The Lions posted three shutouts, blanking West Shore Christian (1-0), Mount Calvary (2-0) and then Fairfield in the final (2-0).
The Lions have been playing outstanding of late. Since the first of October, Camp Hill has allowed just six goals.
The Spartans will need to limit Camp Hill's top scoring threats of Cecilia Battisti, Madeline Dade and Jordyn Black, all of whom have double-digit goals. There's also talented sophomores Rebekah Mulvihill and Josie Shartle who have shown throughout the year they can put goals in if given a chance.