Local sides ready for state quarters
The Lansdale Catholic girls soccer team looks to keep pushing closer to a PIAA Class 2A championship. Suburban One League Continental Conference sides Pennridge and Souderton are aiming to do the same in Class 4A.
Local soccer, field hockey and girls volleyball teams still in the hunt for state gold get back in action Saturday with quarterfinal contest throughout the commonwealth.
Lansdale Catholic, still riding high after the program’s first-ever Philadelphia Catholic League title, are back in the quarters for the first time since 2015 with the District 12 champs heading to Manheim Township High School to face District 4 runner-up Lewisburg at 2 p.m.
The Crusaders knocked out last year’s 2A finalist St. Basil 1-0 in the first round Tuesday at Hatboro-Horsham, Kellie Gillen providing the game-winner goal in the second half.
Lewisburg, which fell to Midd West in the District 4 title game, rebounded by edging District 3 champ ELCO in 4-2 in penalty kicks after the teams played to a scoreless draw.
In Class 4A, Pennridge (19-3-1 is back in the state quarters for the second time in three seasons and is out to reach the semis for the first time since 2011 when the Rams face District 11 champ Parkland 1 p.m. at Upper Perkiomen High School.
Pennridge has won two straight since falling to Cones-
toga in the District 1 semis — topping Penncrest 3-0 for third place last Friday then collecting a season-high in goals in routing District 12 champ Central 8-0 Tuesday at Northeast High School.
Liv Lowery and Leah Melone both scored twice in the first-round victory as the Rams have shown plenty of attacking punch this season — scoring at least two goals in 17 of its 23 matches in 2018.
Parkland, which won its fourth straight District 11 title, is also in the state quarters for the second time in three years after besting District 1’s fifthplace finisher Downingtown East 2-0 on goals by Ava Schaller and Zoe Schutter.
Souderton takes the long trip out to Chambersburg High School for its 1 p.m. quarterfinal contest with District 7 champ Seneca Valley. The Indians (14-3-6), who finished second in District 1 to Conestoga, registered more than one goal for the first time this postseason in the opening round, Big Red blanking District 11 runner-up Easton 2-0 thanks to a brace from Hannah Alderfer.
Seneca Valley reached the quarter for the first time since 2014 by taking penalty kicks 3-2 over Central Dauphin after team played to a 1-1 tie.
Girls Volleyball
Class 4A (1-3) UPPER MERION VS. (111)
PARKLAND, 5 P.M. UPPER DUBLIN >> Upper Merion’s last two trips to the PIAA in 2014 and 2017 ended in first-round losses to Exeter Township. But this year, the Vikings (25-1) finally got past the Eagles, topping the District 11 runner-ups 3-1 (25-23, 2510, 23-25, 25-23).
Tori Wright put down 23 kills, Kelly Moore collected 40 assists and 12 digs while Emily Gallagher made 16 digs as PAC champ UM advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. The Vikings’ last semifinal appearance against Parkland 2012, with the Trojans advance to the state final.
Parkland, which is District 11 champ for the five straight season, opened states with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-20) win over South Western. The Trojans are aiming to reach their fifth consecutive PIAA semifinal, a run that includes back-to-back 3A state titles in 2014 and 2015. Class 3A (1-2) POPE JOHN PAUL II VS. (3-1) WEST YORK, 3 P.M., GOV.
MIFFLIN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL >> Pope John Paul II heads out to Shillington for to face the District 3 champ Bulldogs in the state quarters for a second straight year. West York took last season’s match in four sets (25-19, 25-16,19-25, 25-19).
PJP bounced back from a 3-0 loss to Villa Maria in the District 1 final last Thursday to sweep Cardinal O’Hara 29-27, 2522, 25-20 in their PIAA opener Tuesday. Sarah Ward had 10 kills against the District 12 champ Lions while Chelsea Harvey dished out 23 assists.
West York began states with little trouble against Greater Nanticoke, sweeping the District 2 champ 25-12, 25-16, 25-16.
Field Hockey
Class 3A (1-3) METHACTON VS. (31) LOWER DAUPHIN, 4 P.M.,
EXETER TOWNSHIP HS >> Methacton earned its first PIAA appearance since 1996 with its run to the District 1-3A semis and the Warriors picked up its first state victory since that season with a 3-0 victory over District 2 champ Delaware Valley Tuesday. All three goals came in the second half — Saint Joseph’s commit Katy Benton scoring twice with Temple-bound Frankie Lucchesi adding another.
Lower Dauphin won its first District 3 title since 2014 with the Falcons advancing to the PIAA quarters for the eighth consecutive season with a 2-0 win over Souderton Tuesday with goals coming from Michigan State commit junior Emma O’Neill and Audrey Domovich, who is heading to William & Mary next fall.
(1-2) PERK VALLEY VS. (33)
WILSON, 2 P.M., EXETER TOWNSHIP HS >> Perk Valley rallied Tuesday to reach the state quarterfinals for the firs time since 1997, as goals by Gabby Martina and Katie Wuerstle erased District 11 runner-up Easton’s 2-1 lead and gave the Vikings the 3-2 victory. Perk Valley enters the game 23-3 with its only two losses coming to Owen J. Roberts in the PAC and District 1-3A finals.
Wilson rolled into the quarters with an 8-0 victory over District 7 champ Peters Township Tuesday. Class 2A
(12-1) ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
VS. (3-1) DONEGAL, 2 P.M. TWIN VALLEY >> The Patriots, back in states for the first time since 2015 made it to the quarters for the first time since that season by edging District 1 runner-up Merion Mercy 3-2 Wednesday. All five goals in the game were scored in the second half, Alex Almonte, Carleigh Connors and Keri Daly each scoring a goal to send the Patriots to the quarters.
Donegal, the District 3 champ for a fifth straight season, began states with a 1-0 win over Gwynedd Mercy Tuesday. The Indians are looking to reach the PIAA semifinals for a fourth year in a row.
Boys Soccer
Class 1A (1-1) FAITH CHRISTIAN VS. (31)
CAMP HILL, 3 P.M. TULPEHOCKEN HS >> The two district champs are meeting in the state Class 1A playoffs for the third straight year with Camp Hill taking the previous two meetings (2016 first round, 2017 quarterfinals) by 1-0 scores en route to the Lions winning back-to-back PIAA championships.
Both teams began state play with convincing victories Tuesday. Korey Schuster and William Bolla each scored twice as Faith rolled past District 1 champ Devon Prep 5-1. Dylan Mayanja collected a hat trick as Camp Hill blanked District 4 runnerup Sullivan County 4-0.