Susquehannock to challenge Dallastown for title
Susquehannock lost to Dallastown, 4-0, in their first meeting this season, but the Warriors know anything can happen when they rematch the Wildcats in the YAIAA field hockey tournament championship game Thursday night.
They know it because they just beat another team that they lost to by a 4-0 score during the regular season in a rematch in a YAIAA semifinal. Susquehannock topped Bermudian Springs, 2-1, in a rematch of a game played two weeks ago, to punch a ticket to the league final for the first time.
The Warriors will face Dallastown, the tournament's defending champion, after the Wildcats beat Littlestown, 2-0, in the other semifinal.
Brooke Morris scored both Susquehannock goals during a three-minute stretch in the second half, with both scores coming on penalty corners.
“Yesterday was a hard practice, and we came out with all we had," Morris said. "We’ve been working on corners a lot, trying to take advantage of that and get our goals that way.”
The goals came after Bermudian Springs took a lead earlier in the half on a goal by Brooke Zehr.
“They didn’t give up," Susquehannock coach Tracey Kerr said. "We said to the girls, ‘You’re not only playing for Susquehannock, you’re playing for Division II. You have five schools you’re representing tonight. You’re going out here to win this game for our division.’ That’s what they did.
“This was a team win. Yes, Brooke got the goal, but our defense played well, our middies played well, our goalie had a phenomenal game. Even our bench created energy for our team.”
The Warriors celebrated their first YAIAA tournament victory by taking a team photo before heading up into the stands to watch the first half of Dallastown's victory.
The Wildcats got both of their goals from Molly Lohss, the first one in the first half on a penalty stroke and the second in the second half on a corner.
Dallastown last played Susquehannock in the season opener.
“They’ve definitely changed as a team," Lohss said of the Warriors. "But they rely on specific individual people, so I think if we mark up on them, we’ll be fine.”
The Wildcats will be looking for their fourth league title in five years when they line up to play Thursday night on Bermudian Springs' turf field. They beat the Eagles, 2-0, in last year's championship game.
“We’re gonna play Dallastown field hockey," Dallastown coach Jeri Myers said. "All we have to worry about is us executing what we’re capable of doing.”