LebCo Girls Soccer Update: September 19

Results are current as of September 18.

     Annville-Cleona Dutchmen 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4

Current Record: 3-5 overall, 1-1 in Section 4

District Power Ranking: #15 AA (top 10 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-27: Schuylkill Valley 4, Annville-Cleona 1
    • 8-29: Donegal 2, Annville-Cleona 1
    • 9-1: Annville-Cleona 2, East Pennsboro 0
    • 9-6: McCaskey 3, Annville-Cleona 2
    • 9-8: Annville-Cleona 2, Lancaster Mennonite 1
    • 9-10: Kutztown 5, Annville-Cleona 2
    • 9-14: Pequea Valley 3, Annville-Cleona 0
    • 9-17: Annville-Cleona 4, Hamburg 2

Season Update:  Annville-Cleona came into the 2022 season having lost talent to graduation, but also knowing that they were returning a large amount of talent from a team that had finished 10-3-1.  They have started this season 3-5, have dealt with several injuries, and are currently sitting on the outside looking in when it comes to qualifying for the District 3 Playoffs.  However, the season is still young and with eight games remaining, A-C has some time to turn things around.  In fact, they may have already started the comeback, as they showed resolve in bouncing back to beat Hamburg after a tough loss to Pequea Valley.  Section 4 is still up for grabs and with the next seven games against section opponents, there is still a chance.  To this point of the season, the Dutchmen have been led offensively by senior midfielder Izzy Soliday (5 goals, 3 assists), sophomore midfielder Rowan Ulrich (3 goals, 2 assists), and senior striker Sage Sherk (2 goals, 3 assists).  Defensively, they have been led by seniors Sarah Speraw and Rebekah Sperlich.  With an infusion of younger talent and the veteran leadership, it will be interesting to see what Annville-Cleona may be able to accomplish down the stretch, beginning with a key matchup against Northern Lebanon on Tuesday.

     Cedar Crest Falcons 

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1

Current Record: 6-3 overall, 1-2 in Section 1

District Power Ranking: #7 AAAA (top 16 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-27: Cedar Crest 6, Cocalico 1
    • 9-1: Cedar Crest 2, Twin Valley 0
    • 9-3: Palmyra 2, Cedar Crest 0
    • 9-6: Cedar Crest 7, Cedar Cliff 1
    • 9-7: Penn Manor 5, Cedar Crest 3
    • 9-9: Cedar Crest 8, CD East 0
    • 9-13: Warwick 4, Cedar Crest 3
    • 9-15: Cedar Crest 2, Hempfield 1
    • 9-17: Cedar Crest 2, ELCO 0

Season Update: After making it to the District 3 playoffs in 2021 for the first time in five seasons, the Falcons have gotten off to a great start in 2022 that should guarantee a return trip.  Cedar Crest sits at 6-3 overall, good enough for 7^th in the power rankings.  With that being said, they have a tough stretch of Section 1 opponents waiting to clash and most have experienced similar early season success, with four of them in the top ten in the power rankings.  With a goal differential of +19, Cedar Crest will need to continue relying on the strong defensive effort they have had throughout the season that most recently shut out ELCO on Saturday night.  The explosive offense that has scored 33 goals through nine games has been led by sophomore striker Alaina Miller (9 goals, 4 assists) and senior midfielder Lily Young (8 goals, 2 assists).  If the intensity of the defense remains, it should open up the field for the main offensive weapons to strike on the way to more key victories.

    ELCO Raiders  

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3

Current Record: 4-3 overall, 2-0 Section 3

District Power Ranking: #5 AA (top 10 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-29: ELCO 1, Palmyra 0
    • 9-1: Wyomissing 3, ELCO 0
    • 9-6: Northern York 1, ELCO 0
    • 9-8: ELCO 8, Lebanon 0
    • 9-10: ELCO 2, Garden Spot 1
    • 9-14: ELCO 5, McCaskey 0
    • 9-17: Cedar Crest 2, ELCO 0

Season Update: ELCO is 4-3 through the first seven games of their 2022 campaign.  The early non-league has included losses to some very difficult non-league opponents, most notably an undefeated Wyomissing and Cedar Crest. Despite these losses, the Raiders are 5^th in the District 3 power rankings as they move into the meat of their Section 3 schedule.  Defensively, ELCO has been strong and boasts a +9 goal differential.  Senior goalkeeper Sam Nelson has given up seven goals and has 27 saves.  She is aided in shutting down the opposing offenses by senior defenders Paige Thomas and Carissa Bender.  The offense has been led by junior midfielder Carsyn Boyer (5 goals, 2 assists) and senior striker Julia Bidelspach (5 goals, 1 assist), with senior Carley Kleinfelter assisting on three goals from the wing.  With a majority of games against teams with which they are familiar, this ELCO squad has a chance to work on skills that will allow them to make another deep playoff run.

     Lebanon Cedars

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3

Current Record: 1-6

District Power Ranking: #29 AAAA (top 16 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-31: Milton Hershey 4, Lebanon 0
    • 9-2: Tulpehocken 7, Lebanon 1
    • 9-8: ELCO 8, Lebanon 0
    • 9-10: Lebanon 7, Hanover 0
    • 9-12: Donegal 6, Lebanon 0
    • 9-14: Cocalico 9, Lebanon 0
    • 9-16: Muhlenberg 5, Lebanon 0

Season Update: Coming into the 2022 season, the Cedars knew that they were inexperienced when compared to their Lancaster-Lebanon League counterparts.  This has resulted in some lopsided scores, but the girls are learning with each match.  The season highlight so far came when they stepped out of the league and defeated Hanover by a score of 9-0. The team’s two strikers, senior Mailyn Klick and junior Kayli Davis, have combined for five goals on the season.  If the team can continue to gel through learning opportunities, Lebanon should see their negative goal differential begin to close before the end of the season.

New Covenant Flames

Commonwealth Christian Athletic Conference

Current Record: 2-1-1

District Power Ranking: #9 A (top 10 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-30: Harrisburg Christian School 8, New Covenant Christian 2
    • 9-6: New Covenant Christian 2, West Shore Christian Academy 2
    • 9-9: New Covenant Christian 9, Coventry Christian 0
    • 9-13: New Covenant Christian 4, Christian School Of York 3

Season Update: The New Covenant Flames started out the season with a tough loss to Harrisburg Christian, but have gotten back on track with wins in their most recent two games.  In fact, they were down 3-0 in their last game, before storming back with four unanswered goals.  An excited Coach Kantner sees that this team has potential, having made massive strides forward since last year.  The Flames have used an unselfish, balanced attack that has netted 17 goals in four games.  The offense is led by sophomores Natalie Folmer, Keira Kantner, and Miracle Hershey, with additional contributions from freshman Akaiya Hershey.  When it comes to improvement, junior midfielder Alyson Cheng has stepped up to help her team when it has mattered most.  On the defensive half of the field, juniors Aniyah Gates, Alyssa Quinones, and Grace Diaz have led the way, along with freshman Raena Kilmer using physicality to keep opponents out of sync.  If New Covenant can continue progressing towards their unknown potential, they have a good shot at playing in the post-season.

     Northern Lebanon Vikings

Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4

Current Record: 4-2-1 overall, 1-0-1 in Section 4

District Power Ranking: #14 AAA (top 16 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 9-3: Northern Lebanon 2, Big Spring 0 (Bulldog Bash)
    • 9-3: Northern Lebanon 2, Millersburg 1 (Bulldog Bash)
    • 9-6: Wilson 2, Northern Lebanon 0
    • 9-7: Northern Lebanon 0, Pequea Valley 0
    • 9-12: Northern Lebanon 1, Lancaster Catholic 0
    • 9-14: Northern Lebanon 1, Lancaster Country Day 0
    • 9-17: Millersburg 2, Northern Lebanon 1

Season Update: An early highlight came when the team won the Bulldog Bash, defeating Big Spring and Millersburg in the process.  Unfortunately, a rematch against Millersburg in the Vikings most recent game did not have the same results.  Admittedly the season is still young, so Coach Snyder’s bunch is still figuring things out.  With eight Section 4 games remaining and a shot at making the District 3 playoffs in their new AAA classification.  If Northern Lebanon can rekindle some of the offensive firepower they had last year, the rest of the season should be interesting.  Senior midfielder Hanna Wanyo (2 goals, 3 assists) has gotten an early start for a team that is hoping to piece it together on the offensive end.

The Vikings celebrating their Bulldog Bash championship

   Palmyra Cougars

Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division

Current Record: 4-4 overall, 2-2 in Keystone

District Power Ranking: #20 AAAA (top 16 qualify)

Recent Results:

• • • 8-29: ELCO 1, Palmyra 0
    • 9-1: Elizabethtown 4, Palmyra 1
    • 9-3: Palmyra 2, Cedar Crest 0
    • 9-6: Palmyra 2, Mechanicsburg 1
    • 9-8: Hershey 1, Palmyra 0
    • 9-10: Palmyra 4, Susquehannock 1
    • 9-12: Lower Dauphin 2, Palmyra 0
    • 9-14: Palmyra 5, Mifflin County 2

Season Update: The Cougars have started their first year as a AAAA school with a 4-4 record that has placed them 20^th in the District power rankings.  Palmyra has lost several tight games early on, but they showed grit in their most recent game by storming back for a 5-2 win against Mifflin County.  They will need this type of determination as each match becomes more important as the season continues.  This team has plenty of experience to rely upon in using past lessons to propel the team forward and back into the playoffs.

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