Forbes Road drops quarterfinals to Twin Valley
HERSHEY-- For years, Forbes Road's field hockey team has been the "Best of the West," according to Cardinal coach Carol Cline.
It's not until they find themselves in the state playoffs that the Cardinals realize the "Best of the West" doesn't mean much against eastern teams. This year was no different.
Saturday, the Twin Valley Raiders knocked out Forbes Road in a 7-0 decision, sending the Cardinals home for the fourth consecutive season in the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals.
"In my life we've never been past the quarterfinal," said Forbes Road coach Carol Cline, who just finished her 38th year at the helm. "As many times as we have been here you'd think I'd have it figured out by now."
The difference in the two schools was apparent from the moment the teams stepped on the field. Twin Valley (25-2), who sits on the cusp of Class AAA, was the runner-up in District 3.
It was difficult for the Cardinals (17-4) to gain momentum with penalty whistles effecting their system, while Twin Valley shut down the offense with an effective midfield.
"It definitely was a lot harder because they had the field really spread out," Kiersten Cline said. "We're all running around like, what do we even do right now? We all had a really good mindset. What do we have to lose? Just have fun with it. That's what we tried to do."
Forbes Road was outshot 23-3, and found its first shot on goal late in the second half.
"We did have to make some changes, I knew we would have our hands full with their attack, I just knew it," Carol Cline said. "It wouldn't have mattered if we had 88 people in (the circle), they just kept moving. We were back on our heels a bit too much."
Twin Valley, on the other hand, had no problem finding the net, drawing 10 penalty corners and converting on three. The Raiders produced three multi-goal scorers, with Kelee Lepage earning her 44th and 45th goals of the season. Mikenna Allen, a sophomore, also had two goals while playing with a broken left arm.
"That's just the girls wanting to win," Twin Valley coach Kim Walsh said. "We have girls that can put the ball in the back of the cage and they will do anything to do it."
Twin Valley will face Crestwood on Tuesday in the PIAA semifinals at a site and time to be decided.
"I wouldn't want to play with anyone else," Forbes Road's Mina Wilt said, despite a disappointing end to the season. "I told coach I would be back for another senior season next year."
TWIN VALLEY 7, FORBES ROAD 0
Forbes Road_ 0_ 0_ — _0
Twin Valley_ 4_ 3_ — _7
First Half - (TV) Mikenna Allen, 19:17; (TV) Kelee Lepage, 16:03; (TV) Lepage, 14:23; (TV) Allen, 7:19.
Second Half - (TV) Kendra Jones, 18:33; (TV) Jones, 8:23; (TV) Riley Knapp, 6:06.
Shots on goal - FR 3, TV 23;
Corners - FR 0; TV 10
Saves – FR 14 (Olivia Hall); TV 1 (Gina Gatto).