4 in a row

BY MARTY MYERS
Times-Shamrock Writer

It could have been time to panic.

Sixty-five minutes deep into the District 2 Class A girls soccer championship, Mountain View was still looking for its first goal.

The Lady Eagles had chances, but Lakeland goalie Emily Sashko already had denied Ali Showalter from point-blank range in the 13th minute, and stoned Hannah Richner midway through the second half.

So when Lucy Adams’ long, high pass soared over the Lakeland defense, Makenna Whitaker thought it might be the break her team needed.

She was right. The senior striker outraced the Lakeland fullbacks, settled the ball on the run with a thigh trap, then deftly touched a shot past Sashko with 14:41 remaining.

When Whitaker added a penalty kick seven minutes later, Mountain View had its third win of the season over Lakeland, and its fourth straight district championship, 2-0, in Thursday’s final at Wallenpaupack Area High School.

“Whoever gave me that ball (Tori Adams), obviously a great pass,” Whitaker said. “Midfield does an amazing job of feeding us forwards. All that was going through my head was for these girls, because team is everything.

“It was so far into the game, we’re not used to that, it being such a close game. I just needed it for my defense which does an amazing job, and my team.”

Mountain View’s defense, which allowed just three goals this season, gave up some early chances as Lakeland matched Mountain View’s four shots in the first half. Lakeland freshman Sam Calachino had a couple of good opportunities in the first seven minutes, but both efforts finished wide. Rhiannon Berghauser saw her 20-yard shot from the right wing turned away in the 10th minute, and after that, the Lady Chiefs managed just two more shots.

“We came out and we just had a great effort,” Lakeland coach Paul Sotak said. “I think we took it to them in the first half.

“The chances were few, but the effort was there. They’re a good team. I think we showed that we can compete with them. They’re four-time champs. We started six freshmen. We’re okay.”

After its sluggish start, Mountain View’s defense shined.

“Defense has definitely been key throughout this season,” Mountain View fullback Tori Wilder said. “If we keep our defense up, we can get the ball to the offense and work as a team and try to score.

“We try to keep the shots as low as possible and keep it on their side of the field.”

Mountain View kept pressing, but couldn’t find the net, and Sashko, one of the six freshmen, was strong in net. But that could only last so long against a relentless attack.

“I think as the game went on, each minute that ticked away, (Mountain View was) feeling the pressure,” Sotak said. “Once they got that goal, it definitely made them even stronger. We gave up that penalty kick and it kind of put it out of reach.”

How did a game so even at halftime change so quickly?

“At halftime, they had time to talk about everything and calm down,” Mountain View coach Erika Lewis said. “I think that changed the game around once they calmed down.

“It was a mixture of everything. Everyone played their game, played balls to the ground and that’s what we needed to do to win, keep possession of the ball.”

Or take possession of it.

Erika Freely stole the ball from a Lakeland fullback at the edge of the 18-yard box and was tackled as she tried to make a move along the goal line. That resulted in a penalty kick that Whitaker deposited easily in the back of the net.

“(Former coach) Errol Mannick used to say pick a spot and go for it,” Whitaker said. “I never doubt it. I didn’t doubt it because I’ve practiced for that.”

That goal with 7:39 to play assured the Lady Eagles of a trip back to the state playoffs, which start Tuesday with a matchup against District 4 champion Warrior Run.

“They should be very, very proud of themselves,” Lewis said. “They work hard every day. They deserve it more than anyone.”