Hempfield's fast start dooms Susquehannock in District 3 girls' lacrosse semis
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HERSHEY >> The start was exactly what Susquehannock needed to avoid when it faced Hempfield in the District 3 girls' lacrosse semifinal at Hershey High School.
In fact, it took all of 12 seconds for the Warriors to fall behind, which against the speed of the Black Knights proved to be trouble.
Hempfield's Sammy Helgeson picked up the opening draw, took the ball down field and placed a perfect shot past Susquehannock goalkeeper Amber Orner. The Knights never looked back in a 16-12 victory.
Helgeson, a sophomore who has already verbally committed to play at Penn State, scored six goals and added an assist.
"It's important to come out strong right from the start," said Knights coach Liz Erb. "It was really great to see them come right out of the gate today and I think that helped motivate them to continue through."
Third-seeded Hempfield (18-3) moves on to face Manheim Township in Thursday's district championship game. The Blue Streaks, the only team to win the District 3 title in the six years as a varsity sport, knocked off Kennard-Dale in the other semifinal at Hershey on Tuesday.
No. 2 Susquehannock (18-3) will play YAIAA foe Kennard-Dale in a third-place game at Lower Dauphin Middle School on Thursday. The winner advances to the state tournament, while the loser will be eliminated from the postseason.
Lindsay Vannucci tucked home a rebound giving Hempfield a 5-2 lead only 5:08 into the game. The Warriors called a timeout and scored the next three goals to pull within one, 12:35 before halftime.
But the Knights responded with a 6-2 run, pushing the advantage to 11-6.
"They came out to play and we were a little nervous or whatever. We just didn't come out at the same level they came out," said Warriors coach Steve Marshner. "We called a timeout and started to come back. Every time we got close, they went on a little streak.
"We lost on turnovers. I don't know how many turnovers we had. I really don't think I want to know."
Ashley Valway scored twice in the final 33 seconds of the first half and Orner made a big save in the final second to send Susquehannock to halftime trailing, 11-8.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, Helgeson took a mere 24 seconds to notch her sixth score of the game, and a little more than three minutes later, Logan Ryan put the Knights up 14-9.
Two more Valway goals, her fifth and sixth of the game, got the Warriors close again. But like every other time, Susquehannock rallied and Hempfield had the answer.
After three trips to the semifinals, the Knights could finally celebrate a victory.
"We've danced here before and we've never made it. We've been on this field and not made it to the next one," Erb said. "It's exciting for these girls to see all the work they have put in come to fruition in that (District 3) final game. It's what you show up for March 5th."
Marshner expects his team to be ready to face the Rams in an attempt to continue their season.
"This team will be motivated," he said. "We know what our mistakes are and we will go back and work on it. We know what we have to do to win."
Hempfield 16, Susquehannock 12
Hempfield115—16 Susquehannock84
Hempfield goals — Sammy Helgeson 6, Lindsay Vannucci 4, Taylor Nolan 4, Paige Diminick, Logan Ryan.
Hempfield assists — Ryan 2, Kathryn Kline, Helgeson.
Susquehannock goals — Ashley Valway 6, Gena Speights 4, Maddie Ellis, Morgan LeBlanc.
Susquehannock assists — Kayla Held, Speights.
Shots on goal — Hemp 23, Sus 22
Goalies — Hemp, Sarah Wood (10 saves). Sus, Amber Orner (7 saves).