Field Hockey: Palmyra Makes Early Statement with 4-1 Win Over Penn Manor

 

 

Written by Pete Steelman

 

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Palmyra Makes Early Statement with 4-1 Win Over Penn Manor

How does a storied high school field hockey program follow up a historically successful season? That is the question that the Palmyra Cougars are poised to answer as they start their 2026 campaign, a season that began Saturday with an epic opener against the Comets of Penn Manor.

This early clash between two nationally ranked teams was sure to be an indication of how the new-look Cougars would fare, and the message they sent was clear: this team is loaded.

Palmyra played like a team possessed in its opener, sprinting out of the gates with four first-half goals, which paved the way for the eventual 4-1 victory. In what was predicted to be a hotly contested game against the defending 3A District Champs, Palmyra made a clear statement that despite losing six starters from last year’s State Championship squad, the Cougars have reloaded and are poised for another strong campaign.

The Cougars got on the board just five minutes into the first quarter on a blast by senior captain and Penn State commit Leigha Kane, as her reverse rocket from the top of the circle found the back of the cage on Palmyra’s first penalty corner.

Kane was dominant all game, controlling the middle of the field with her aggressive and physical play, particularly in marking the Comets’ All-American and Maryland commit Kelby Dings. Dings, a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic team, struggled to find her footing against the stout Cougar defense anchored by juniors Alivya Hepner, Grace Frew, and Katie Steelman, who, along with goalkeeper Sophie Kennelly (5 saves), frustrated the Penn Manor attack.

Minutes after Kane’s score, sophomore Amelia Valle kept the pressure on with a stick-back goal that found the left corner of the cage, as a shellshocked Comet squad looked overwhelmed by Palmyra’s speed and depth.

Junior midfielders Ella Detweiler and Old Dominion commit Addie Barger, who each garnered an assist on the day, were dominant all game with their midfield play, consistently pushing the ball into the offensive end.

Palmyra got on the board twice in the second quarter on goals by super-soph Ally Fink. The first came with five minutes remaining in the half off a nifty assist by Barger, while her final goal, assisted by Detweiler, was notched with just 30 seconds left in the half.

That final goal was the exclamation point on a stellar first half, as the Cougars milked the lead and the clock in the second half, yielding one late score to Dings as the only blemish on the day.

Fink, who saw plenty of varsity action last season, is one of a number of underclassmen who are clearly ready to capably fill in for last year’s stars who were lost to graduation or injury.

Palmyra might have had offensive question marks after losing leading scorer Jovie Weaver to graduation and junior captain Maddie Stahl to injury. Yet the speed and aggression of Fink, ninth grader Annie Weidman, and senior captain Maddie Waldron were on full display, and the offensive explosion against the defending 3A District Champs is a sign that the Cougars might not miss a beat in 2026.

While the loss will sting for Penn Manor, kudos should go to both teams for scheduling one another so early in the season. While many teams opt for a few “tune-up” games against lesser competition before getting into the heart of their league play, for the defending 2A and 3A District champs to challenge themselves in their first game is a credit to both programs.

Palmyra has several competitive non-league games ahead, as the Cougars take on York-Adams League powerhouse Susquehannock next Saturday, and later in September they travel to Northwestern Lehigh, which has won five straight District 11 championships.

Add that to their already grueling Mid Penn schedule against perennial powers Lower Dauphin, Mechanicsburg, and Hershey, and we see a team that, come playoff time, should be quite accustomed to high-level competition.

While it’s only the first game, this stellar start to the Cougars’ campaign is no doubt putting the rest of the league on notice that Palmyra will be a force to be reckoned with again in 2026.

 

 

 

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Box Score

Scoring Summary

Palmyra

• Q1, 7:41 — Leigha Kane
• Q1, 4:11 — Amellia Valle
• Q2, 5:20 — Allie Fink (Addie Barger)
• Q2, 0:30 — Allie Fink (Ella Detwiler)

Penn Manor

• Q4, 7:28 — Kelby Dings (Carly Koehler)

Team Stats

Goalkeeping

Penn Manor — Marissa Harnish – 4 saves; Audrey Snodgrass – 5 saves

Palmyra — Sophie Kennelly – 5 saves