TodayHome field helps Ship take down Red Land
Mechanicsburg and Camp Hill both advance in playoffs.
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Article RatingSHIPPENSBURG — The Shippensburg field hockey team was given a choice on whether to play its District 3 Class AAA play-in game at Shippensburg University’s turf field or the grass field sitting just outside of Shippensburg Area Senior High School. The choice was unanimous, the Greyhounds wanted the home-field advantage.
Playing on their grass field, the Greyhounds (17-3) were able to get the best of the Red Land Patriots, a team that has played most of its games on turf. Ship held on to a 1-0 lead for most of the game before eventually finishing with a 2-0 win.
“I asked the players if they wanted to play on the turf field or the grass field,” Ship coach Lynne Diehl said. “All of the players chose this field — we haven’t lost a game on this field all year.”
“We didn’t play well and I don’t want to make excuses about the weather or the bumpy field,” Red Land coach Crystal Johnston said. “But Shippensburg did have the home-field advantage today.”
Whether it was the bumpy ground or the tenacious Greyhound defense, the Patriots could not find the back of the net.
“You need to give credit to our defense and our goalie, Brianna Gipe,” said Ship forward Emily Breneman, who scored both of the Greyhound goals. “Our defense helped out a lot tonight and was a big part of us winning.”
Breneman scored the first goal of the game on a penalty corner with 25 minutes remaining in the first half. Brooke Varner was fed the ball in the circle and she fired a shot toward goal. The ball deflected off the stick of Breneman and bounced in the air before finding its way into the back of the cage. Therefore, Breneman was credited with the goal and Varner received the assist.
The 1-0 score held up, even with a small of flurry of Red Land shots, until three minutes remained in the second half — that’s when Breneman scored again, this time on an assist from Jordyn Beam, to put the Greyhounds ahead 2-0.
“It was a very nervewracking game,” Breneman said. “When Red Land had the ball in our circle, you had that feeling where your heart just keeps pounding and you just want to get the ball out.”
Tears were shed by both Johnston and Diehl as the opposing coaches embraced and returned to being best friends once again after the game — it was revealed that Diehl, in her 32nd year as the Ship coach, is stepping down after this season.
“My daughter is a senior in college and in her final season, my husband and I have talked about spending time to see her games,” Diehl said. “I know that the teams we see in districts this year will be some of the top teams — I just hope that those teams are looking at us and saying the same thing.”
Red Land ends its season at 7-8-4.
“All season, Lynne and I have known everything about the other’s team,” Johnston said. “I just hope that I can be the coach she is in 31 years.”
Reading Holy Name 1, West Perry 0
Reading Holy Name scored the only goal of the game in the second half when Rachel Vigos put one in to down West Perry 1-0 in the play-in round for District 3 field hockey.
The Mustangs were held to four shots and three corners compared to the Blue Jays’ 11 shots and 15 corners. Casey Miller finished with nine saves on the day for West Perry.
Mechanicsburg 3, Ephrata 1
Mechanicsburg and Ephrata were tied 1-1 in their District 3 play-in game before the Wildcats opened the game up on goals by Jessie Koontz and Lauri Blessing.
Earlier in the game, it was Ashley Weber giving Mechanicsburg the lead. Mechanicsburg cranked out 12 shots to Ephrata’s three.
Camp Hill 1, Biglerville 0
Camp Hill’s Molly Silverman put in the game’s only goal to advance Camp Hill 1-0 in District 3 field hockey playoffs. The Lions held Biglerville scoreless thanks to 10 saves by Megan Eppley.
Cocalico 4, Cumberland Valley 1
Cocalico ousted Cumberland Valley from the District 3 field hockey playoffs with a 4-1 victory.
CV’s only goal came off the stick of Lindsay Kissinger on an assist from Lauren Mariano. Cocalico cranked out 24 shots on the Eagles.
Girls’ Volleyball
Bible Baptist 3, Dayspring Christian 0
Bible Baptist downed Dayspring Chrisitan 3-0 with game scores of 25-12, 26-24, and 25-13.
Lydia Deputy had six kills and five aces, while Rebecca Steltzer had 16 digs and four aces. Anna Gaudio finished with six kills. The Bobcats improve to 13-8 and start postseason play at home Tuesday against Christian School of York.
