Wellsboro girls fall to Midd-West in District 4 Class AA semifinals
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Kaelyn Peterson (18) and Kate Bryant (9) squeeze out Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) as they chase after the ball in the second half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Megan Newruck (21) celebrates with team mates after scoring with 13:02 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro goal keeper Jaydn Dunlap tries to pounce on the ball as Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) prepares to send the ball to the corner of the net with 14:42 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) celebrates with Addison Yerg (17) after scoring with14:42 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Rylee Coolidge (12) and Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) battle for control of the ball in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) and Wellsboro's Ryleen Coolidge (12) battle for control of the ball in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Luna Moyer (7) heads the ball past Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro goal keeper Jaydn Dunlap slaps the ball away on a shot on the goal in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro Isla Twoey (39) and Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) try to get into position to knock down the ball in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Kaelyn Peterson (18) and Kate Bryant (9) squeeze out Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) as they chase after the ball in the second half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Megan Newruck (21) celebrates with team mates after scoring with 13:02 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro goal keeper Jaydn Dunlap tries to pounce on the ball as Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) prepares to send the ball to the corner of the net with 14:42 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) celebrates with Addison Yerg (17) after scoring with14:42 left in the game.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Rylee Coolidge (12) and Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) battle for control of the ball in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell (21) and Wellsboro's Ryleen Coolidge (12) battle for control of the ball in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Luna Moyer (7) heads the ball past Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro goal keeper Jaydn Dunlap slaps the ball away on a shot on the goal in the first half.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro Isla Twoey (39) and Midd-West's Addison Yerg (17) try to get into position to knock down the ball in the first half.
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Midd-West had knocked at the door of sensational Wellsboro goalkeeper Jadyn Dunlap's goal for much of the first half to no avail. Time after time, Dunlap turned away what looked to be goals as the match stayed scoreless for nearly the entire opening 40 minutes.
But Nittany Weaver made sure that it didn't go to the break scoreless.
She capitalized on a loose ball in front of the net after yet another stupendous save by Dunlap with 3:43 left in the first half to put the Mustangs up by a goal. They never looked back, beating a game Wellsboro squad 3-1 en route to clinching a berth in the district title match and a spot in the state tournament in Monday's District 4 Class AA semifinal game at Loyalsock as the Hornets' season came to an end.
"I'm super proud. We've worked really hard over the last couple of years. The girls have dedicated themselves to fitness and technical skills. A few years ago, we had five wins. This year, we had 14, so it's a huge step up," Wellsboro coach Michael Reese said. "We talk a lot about setting standards, setting new standards and new expectations. I couldn't be more proud of going down 2-0 and just clawing back. They scored immediately, but that's the mentality these girls have. They never quit. They're just incredible."
Wellsboro, through Dunlap, was able to stay in the match for quite awhile, first at 0-0 for nearly the entire first half and then at 1-0 for a large majority of the second half. And when Midd-West's Evelyn Mitchell scored to put Midd-West up 2-0 with less than 15 minutes to go, Wellsboro was able to answer right back with a goal of their own to stay in the match. It wasn't until the Mustangs added a third goal in the final two minutes that the Hornet clock struck midnight.
Opportunities for the Hornets to score were few and far between, as Midd-West was able to effectively control the midfield.
"We tried to get some other people forward, but we really couldn't seem to win the midfield consistently. It kept our wings back defensively a little bit more than we wanted," Reese said. "We were hoping to get some wings wide, but it just didn't happen the way we wanted it to tonight. Midwest played an exceptional game."
Midd-West 3, Wellsboro 1
(DISTRICT 4 CLASS AA SEMIFINALS)
MW--Nittany Weaver, 36:17. MW--Evelyn Mitchell, 65:18. W--Megan Newruck, 66:58. MW--Addison Yerg (Ava Aitkins), 78:17.
Shots: W 3, MW 17. Corners: W 1, MW 11. Saves: W 14 (Jadyn Dunlap), MW 2 (Addison Maust).