GIRLS' SOCCER: Conestoga Valley edges Cedar Crest, 2-1

Cedar Crest's bid to remain in the thick of the Section One girls' soccer race took a major hit Monday afternoon on the Falcons' field.

Conestoga Valley's Gianna Yurchak and Adalee Broadbent rose above the Cedar Crest defense to head in goals in the final 13 minutes and led the Buckskins to a 2-1 win. Yurchak nodded in a direct kick from Alana Dickson to break a scoreless tie in the 67th minute. Falcons freshman Sam Gerhart then scored her fourth goal of the year to equalize a minute later, setting the stage for an exciting finish.

With three minutes left, CV earned its sixth and final corner kick of the day, and Dickson again sent a cross into the box with pace. Cedar Crest goalie Emma Peeler got to it, but the ball bounced off her hands to Broadbent, whose header found the open net.

"Conestoga Valley is one of the most dangerous teams in the league on corners and direct kicks," Falcons coach John Brubaker said. "Yurchak and Broadbent are both big targets and very good in the air."

The win lifted CV to 6-1 on the year and 4-1 in league play, with Cedar Crest slipping to 3-4-1 and 2-3 in the L-L. Coming off a 3-0 home loss to Manheim Twp. last Friday, the Falcons must now fight their way back into the section race.

"This would have been a big win for us," said Cedar Crest senior center back Taylor Menser. "We were only one game behind CV coming into this game. Our goal is to get back into the league playoffs. Now we've got to work harder to get there."

Goals have not come easily this year for Cedar Crest outside of wins over Warwick and Elco. In the Falcons' other six games, they totaled just two goals.

"We got three against Elco and four against Warwick, but lately, yes, we have struggled to score," Brubaker said. "We didn't play very well against Manheim Twp. We played better today, especially in the first half. We just didn't capitalize on our opportunities. Other than the two restarts, it was an evenly played game."

Cedar Crest forward Ariel Jones worked hard on left wing, as did senior center mid Cece Fiorentino and junior mid Carli Wasson to create chances. Junior winger Emma Moreland also created some chances from right wing, but the veteran CV defense and goalie Lauren Yoder were always there.

The Falcons finally found the net through Gerhart, whose goal came off a throw in by senior Sydney Laicha deep in CV territory.

"I wasn't really trying to score," Gerhart said. "I was just trying to flick it on into the center. I didn't realize the goalie had come out and it went in the goal."

The Falcons played their second straight game on their large, natural grass field, as opposed to the turf field in Earl Boltz Stadium. The results left the Falcons tired and bruised.

"I'm sure both teams would have preferred to play on turf," Brubaker said. "You can't really use that as an excuse. It's the same for both teams."

Conestoga Valley 2, Cedar Crest 1

CV02—2CC01—1

First half — None.

Second half — CV: Gianna Yurchak, Adalee Broadbent. CC: Sam Gerhart.

Assists — CV: Alana Dickson (2). CC: Sydney Laicha.

Shots on goal — CV 10, CC 9.

Corners — CV 6, CC 4.

Goalies — CV: Lauren Yoder (8 saves). CC: Emma Peeler (9).