#3-1 LOWER DAUPHIN 2, #1-6 SOUDERTON 0
District III flexed its muscles in Tuesday’s opening round of the PIAA 3A tournament with all four of its teams advancing to the Elite Eight. The standard bearer for excellence in the state’s toughest district is undeniably Lower Dauphin, which has competed in 22 district title games and won 13.
The underdog Indians didn’t win, but they certainly held their own.
“We hung in there,” coach Sue Casciato said. “If we had played this well, we probably would have beaten (CB) East a couple of times and beat Downingtown (West) the other day because we actually played two decent halves of hockey.”
“We definitely played our best hockey of the season. We played the way we always figured we could play. Against Downingtown, we only really played one half. Today we came out and played hard from the first minute, which we’ve had trouble doing this year.”
Emma O’Neill scored a goal that would turn out to be the game-winner with 10:08 remaining in the first half. Audrey Domovich added a goal 12 minutes into the second half.
“It was fast,” Casciato said. “They’re all tall and muscular. They’re good – they come in waves, and they’re so fluid. We’d make a good play, and there would be somebody right on their heels.
“We had chances – in the first half, we had some really nice crosses, and we just didn’t get a stick on the ball. We were double and triple teaming them too. I think we kind of surprised them.
“We were nervous. It’s been a long time since we have been there, and some of these girls don’t have a lot of points of reference for how good hockey can be.”
Lower Dauphin held an advantage in shots (11-1) and corners (8-0). Souderton goalie Jordan Michalak recorded nine saves.
“She had some really great saves,” Casciato said.
Tuesday’s state game was the first for Souderton in 12 years.
“We’re losing a lot, but it’s a learning experience for us,” said Casciato, who bids farewell to 10 seniors. “The cool thing about them was they had 45 kids warming up. It’s a program - you can tell she (coach Linda Kreiser) is preparing them for what’s next – this is what it’s like to play at this level.”
Souderton closed out a successful season with a 17-5 record (10-2 SOL).
Souderton 0-0 0
Lower Dauphin 1-1 2
- Log in to post comments
