JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
REMINDER: *LIVE BLOG* from Mennonite-Fleetwood state title game here Friday at NOON.
I put together the following capsule, previewing Friday’s PIAA Double-A spring girls’ soccer championship game, featuring L-L League champ Lancaster Mennonite against Fleetwood. Game time is high noon in Hersheypark Stadium, partners.
PIAA DOUBLE-A GIRLS SOCCER TOURNAMENT
THE GAME: District 3 fourth-place finisher Lancaster Mennonite (26-3) vs. District 3 runner-up Fleetwood (27-3) in the state spring championship game.
WHEN: Friday, noon.
WHERE: Hersheypark Stadium.
REMATCH: Fleetwood topped Mennonite 2-1 in a District 3 Double-A semifinal game at Governor Mifflin on May 20. The Blazers earned the fourth seed from District 3 when Fleetwood fell to Tulpehocken in the district championship match.
ROAD TO THE FINAL: Mennonite topped District 11 runner-up Allentown Central Catholic 3-0 in the first round, knocked off District 2 champ – and reigning state champ – Dallas 2-1 in the quarterfinals, and rallied past District 3 fifth-place finisher Wyomissing 4-2 in the semifinals. … Fleetwood topped District 11 third-place finisher Palisades 4-1 in the first round, defeated District 3 seventh-place finisher Donegal 4-1 in the quarterfinals, and held off District 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer 2-1 in the semifinals.
THE COACHES: Mennonite is led by first-year coach Dale Stoltzfus, who replaced Vernon Rice, who retired last spring after 35 years on the Blazers’ bench. Stoltzfus is looking to pull off a rare feat: He coached Warwick’s boys team to the state Triple-A title in 2005, and has the chance to win a second PIAA championship, this time in the girls bracket. … Fleetwood is led by Mike Boyer, who is in his 11th season. This is the first state-championship appearance by the Tigers.
ABOUT MENNONITE: The Blazers won the Section 3 title with a 13-1 record – outscoring their opponents 56-7 in league games – and won the L-L League title with a win over Conestoga Valley. … Lone losses are to Hershey, Donegal and Fleetwood, and the Blazers have outscored their opponents 90-16 overall. … Leading scorers during the regular season were senior F Kelsey Gorman (17 goals, 7 assists, section-leading 41 points), junior F Katelyn Vanderhoff (12 goals, 11 assists, 35 points) and senior F Lisa Wingard (6 goals, 7 assists, 19 points). … Seniors Laura Gochnauer and Dani Zeamer have been sharing the goalie duties. … No team from Mennonite has ever won a state title.
ABOUT FLEETWOOD: The Tigers fell to Berks County neighbor Tulpehocken in the District 3 Double-A title game. … First state final appearance, and no Berks County team has ever won a state title. … Losses are to Wilson – twice, in a league game and in the Berks County championship game – and to Tulpehocken in the district finale. … Just two seniors on the roster. … Leading scorers are junior F Steph Barnett, who scored 15 goals during the regular season, and has nine goals in the postseason – including two against Mennonite in their district meeting. Senior MF Emily Arndt, an All-State pick last year, has seven goals in the postseason, including three in States. And D Elizabeth Bergman has seven assists in her last five games – all on corner kicks. … Fleetwood has outscored its opponents 114-19. … Tigers fell to Dallas in last year’s state semifinals.
QUOTABLE: Mennonite coach Dale Stoltzfus – “We know what they have and who they are. I guess we’ll see what happens this time. It should be a heck of a game. Both teams want the gold medals, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to play for the championship.”
