McConnellsburg girls soccer team finds the net

McConnellsburg's girls soccer team put together a six-game win streak earlier this season in which it scored 31 goals.

That was followed by a five-game stretch in which the Lady Spartans scored only six goals, including three shutouts - and five came in one game against lowly Tussey Mountain.

So there was some relief Thursday night when McConnellsburg dusted Chestnut Ridge 5-0 in a Sideling Hill League game.

"The movement was a lot better tonight," Spartan coach Chris Mellott said. "The girls have worked hard and we had a couple of good practices coming into this game. We had a good night."

So did Rebecca Wenschof, who knocked in three goals in the second half to salt the game away.

"We were just up tonight, and worked together as a team," Wenschof said. "I think we've focused better in practice recently and before this game, too. We really needed this win."

McConnellsburg (9-6-1, 5-1-1 SHL) will finish behind Everett for the league championship, but needed wins in its last two games - Tuesday vs. Northern Bedford is the last game - to improve its chances of hosting a District 5 1A playoff game.

Mellott said, "This was huge; we had a lot on the line, and the girls responded really well."

The first half was competitive, with the Spartans outshooting the Lions (5-8-2 (3-4-1 SHL), 7-2. The only goal came from Morgan Kendall, when a pass by Hannah Brady released her down the right wing.

The second half was not so competitive, with the shot total at 11-2.

"We're simply in a slump," Chestnut Ridge coach Kathy Dull said. "I'm not sure when it happened, but we've tried everything. We haven't been getting many good shots on goal lately; tonight we had hardly any shots at all."

The teams tied 1-1 in an earlier meeting, but that wasn't going to be the case this time.

A corner kick by Emma Ott landed in the box and Wenschof kicked in a shot off a defender and into the net. McKenzi Garlock then set up Wenschof for her next goal. The fourth goal was by Jensen Boehme on a long shot after receiving a pass from Kiara Pensinger. The Garlock-to-Wenschof combo worked again for the final goal, which raised her scoring total to 12 goals this season.

Mellott said, "The defense played well tonight, and Savannah (Kerlin) is a great leader back there. McKenzi does a lot of things off the ball that gets us started on offense. And Morgan (Kendall) really controlled the middle."

Those were all good signs for a team that is starting five freshmen. And one that may have rediscovered its scoring touch.