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Thursday's best: Spring Grove soccer holds Melanoma Night


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Spring Grove held its second annual Melanoma Night to honor former player Victoria Swiger, but fell 2-1 to Red Lion.

Swiger, who graduated last spring and has been battling melanoma since she was 13, and her family were on hand for the game. Along with other fundraising efforts for Spring Grove Mini-Thon, they sold black T-shirts stating "Protect our own" on the front and "Giving up is not an option" on the back.

All of the Spring Grove soccer players, including Victoria's sister Catherine, wore those T-shirts during warm-ups. Several Red Lion players wore the shirts too, including coach Meghan Mahon, who coached the Rockets last season.

“It’s a big night for both (teams)," Mahon said. "Victoria Swiger, I’ve had her since she was 14 and she’s really been a big part of my life and she’s a great girl.”

Spring Grove scored in the fourth minute to take a quick lead on a goal from Moriah Morton, who was celebrating her 17th birthday.

That lead stood for the entire first half and more than half of the second half before Paige Frey and Natalie Aldrich scored two high-arching goals for Red Lion in a three-minute span. The Lions held off a late charge by the Rockets to secure the victory.

“I think the mentality changed, that’s the biggest thing," Mahon said. "We needed to find it in our hearts. Playing for each other, working as a family, that’s what changed.”

The win pushes the Red Lion farther ahead of Spring Grove for third place in YAIAA Division I, an important placement because the top three teams in the division qualify for the YAIAA tournament. But Spring Grove's loss didn't take away from the meaning of Melanoma Night.

“I really appreciate the team still doing it," Victoria Swiger said. "It brings awareness to melanoma and I really love that the team supports me. It makes the team feel more like a family to me.”

Hannah Logue scores 150th career goal: Fairfield's Hannah Logue reached a milestone during Thursday's 9-1 win against Littlestown.

The senior scored three goals and recorded her 150th career goal in the process. Her first goal of the game came with 24:54 left in the first half and the game tied at 1. Logue scored the go-ahead goal for Fairfield and then found the back of the net two minutes later to give her squad a two-goal advantage.

Fairfield's Sarah Heinbaugh scored four goals in the win. Nora Clarke and Moriah Logue each scored as well.

Matthews, Nattans score twice in York Catholic's win: Melanie Matthews opened and closed the scoring for the Fighting Irish during a 5-1 win over Biglerville. Mathews scored her first goal of the night 10 minutes into the second half off a pass from Courtney Nattans.

Nattans also had a two-goal game for the Irish, scoring three minutes after Mathews' goal. She scored again with 17 minutes left in the game and Mathews scored her second of the afternoon four minutes later.

Boys' soccer

Carter Miller records hat trick for Wildcats: New Oxford and Dallastown were barely through the first half when Carter Miller scored his third goal of the game to complete the hat-trick. His three goals, along with a goal from Drake Pew, helped the Wildcats defeat New Oxford, 4-0.

Miller found the back of the net midway through the first half to put Dallastown in front and then scored twice in a roughly 10-minute span to all but seal the win.

The Wildcats dominated the game with 15 shots on goal and led the Colonials in corner kick opportunities, 5-2.

Field hockey 

Eastern routs Dover: Three Golden Knights players each scored multiple goals in a 10-0 shutout of Dover. Tia Judy and Morgan Buckwalter each posted hat tricks in the win. Addison Malone scored twice, and Morgan Buckwalter and Holly Caldwell scored a goal apiece. The Golden Knights put up six goals in the first half.

Girls' volleyball

Central picks up big win over Dallastown: The Panthers came away with an important win, sweeping second-place Dallastown in a YAIAA Division I showdown. Central took all three games handily, 25-19, 25-18, 25-16.

Ashley Gallagher had eight kills for the Panthers, as well as 12 digs. Emily Wilt recorded seven kills of her own had six digs on the night. Emma Saxton contributed a team-high 33 assists and Marley Anderson had 14 digs in the win.

The loss was Dallastown's third divisional loss of the year.

Leese steps up for Rockets: Spring Grove earned its fourth win in division play on Thursday, defeating New Oxford in four games, 25-18, 22-25, 25-10, 25-20. Autumn Leese led the way for the Rockets with 18 kills and 10 digs, both game-high marks. Josi Attig recorded 38 assists for Spring Grove in the win and had 14 digs, and Faith Shaffer contributed 24 digs.