Oley Valley falls in state final

Oley Valley’s bid for perfect season spoiled in state final against Moravian Academy

Oley Valley’s perfect run through the fall season came to a screeching halt on Saturday, November 19.

The Lynx got down early and couldn’t complete the comeback, falling to Moravian Academy 4-3 in the PIAA Class A championship game at Whitehall High School’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

Mavy Clune scored the game’s opening three goals as Moravian (25-1), the top seed from District 11, jumped out to a threescore lead before the halftime buzzer sounded, before Ashley Pearce made it a four-goal game three minutes into the half. District 3 champion Oley Valley (8-0 Berks Conference, 26-1 overall), a team that had hardly trailed during the regular season, was quick to respond, though.

Madison Kline answered with the Lynx first goal less than a minute later before Sarah Beers and Sophia Gladieux each lit up the scoreboard later in the second half. Gladieux’s goal

came off a feed from Sam Buzalewski (two assists) with 11:33 left in regulation for what would stand as the game’s final score.

The Lynx got a critical penalty corner with just three minutes left, but couldn’t convert it. The Lions corralled the ball and controlled it until the final buzzer sounded, capturing their first state championship since the 1984 season.

It was the Lynx first state championship game appearance since losing to Palmyra for the Class AA title to close out the 2005 season. Oley last won states in 2000 with a win over Lancaster Mennonite.

Senior Moment?

Though their run to the state championship was their deepest in over a decade, Oley could be primed for a bright future. The Lynx will graduate only four seniors from the 2016 squad, including goalkeeper Caitlin Drobek, back Sarah Gladieux as well as midfielders Andrea Hinkle and Buzalewski.

Scoring again shouldn’t be an issue next season, given that Oley will return its top two scorers in Sophia Gladieux (32 goals, 19 assists) and Kline (24 goals, 11 assists).

Something To Be Said

Although Oley didn’t close out the year with the PIAA gold medal, the Lynx still turned in quite an impressive body of work during the 2016 season. Oley ran through the regular season en route to a Berks Conference crown then followed it up with a District 3 title all the while boasting an undefeated record. During that time, the Lynx out-scored their opposition 127-7 prior to their state championship berth, averaging just one goal against for every three games they played. They posted 17 shutouts, including a span of 12-straight games without allowing a goal.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Oley Valley’s Sophia Gladieux (4) splits two Moravian Academy defenders during the PIAA Class A championship game on Saturday, Nov. 19.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Oley Valley’s Hannah Beers (2) takes a shot against Moravian Academy’s Katie Keller (99) and Grace Mulligan (29) in the 2016 PIAA A Field Hockey championship game at Whitehall.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Oley Valley players celebrate after a goal against Moravian Academy during the PIAA Class A field hockey championship game on Nov. 19 in Whitehall.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Oley Valley’s Sophia Gladieux (4) and Samantha Buzalewski (11) defend against Moravian Academy’s Cecily Redfern (16) during the PIAA Class A Field Hockey Championship game at Whitehall Saturday, Nov. 19.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Members of the Moravian Academy field hockey team cekebrate after winning the PIAA Class A title at Whitehall last Saturday, Nov. 19 against Oley Valley.

SARAH PIETROWSKI — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Oley Valley’s Shannon Lackey (12) carries the ball down the field in the 2016 PIAA A Field Hockey Championship game.