GIRLS SOCCER: Manheim Township win worth the wait

NEFFSVILLE >> The Manheim Township girls' soccer team had to wait 45 minutes before they could begin their matchup versus Section One leader Conestoga Valley Thursday night due to the boys' contest going long.

They would almost have to wait another 45 minutes to dent the netting.

But three minutes into the second half, Lauren Tubay's header on a Township corner cracked the scoring and Briana Bracero knocked in a rebound five minutes later as the Lady Blue Streaks prevailed 2-0 to sweep the season series with the Lady Buckskins and, in the process, take over first place in Section One.

"We were having a lot of problems transitioning in the first half," Bracero said. "Our defense was a little too far behind our offense and we were easily split in the middle. We talked about that and we came out ready to play (in the second half)."

Without a shot on goal in the opening forty, Township (7-1-1 Section One, 11-1-1 overall) wasted little time earning their one and only corner for the game, using the opportunity to setup their offense in the 43rd minute.

"I think we started transitioning a lot better in the second half so there were more people going up and being there, being able to finish, " said Tubay, who subsequently headed home Alison Heckman's feed from the corner.

With Conestoga Valley (7-2, 9-3) reeling, junior Aubrey Suydam corralled a loose ball near the front of the box and fired, the ball deflecting off a Buckskins' defender to a closing Bracero.

"I thought I was offsides, I was so paranoid," Bracero said. "I was like be ready; if I'm offsides, at least I took the shot."

Conestoga Valley managed the only shot on goal in the first half as each team struggled to connect on sideline crosses.

Repeating a Bucks' combination from early in the half, however, a give-and-go between CV's Emma Weirich and Gianna Yurchak in the 37th minute resulted in a cross to sophomore forward Emily Clapper on the right wing.

Clapper's shot went near-post, where it was gobbled-up by Township keeper Katy Hollinger (3 saves).

With eight minutes remaining, CV's fourth and final corner was serviced by Alana Dickson to Adalee Broadbent, her shot bouncing around between a Township defender and Buckskins' forward before it was cleared by defender Julia Mason.

The resulting shutout puts Township one points ahead of CV in the standings with three section games to play. Conestoga Valley hosts McCaskey Saturday morning while Township hosts an up-start Cedar Crest team fighting for third place in the section and coming off a 3-3 tie versus Section Two leader Etown.

"We were listening to some pump-up music in the locker room before this game," Tubay said, claiming it was music adults wouldn't like. "So yea, it meant a lot to the team."

Meaning, then, it was well worth the wait.

Manheim Township 2, Conestoga Valley 0

First half — None

Second half — MT: L. Tubay, B. Bracero

Assists — MT: Heckman, Suvdam

Shots on goal — Manheim Township 3, Conestoga Valley 3;

Corners —Conestoga Valley 4, Manheim Township 1;

Saves — CV: Yoder (1 save), MT: Hollinger (3 saves)