Penn Manor blanks Lower Dauphin, 4-0
MILLERSVILLE- Monday’s head-to-head leaves little to debate — well, at least regarding the Penn Manor Comets.
In what was another dominant performance by the Penn Manor field hockey team, Emma DeBerdine scored all four of her team’s goals as the Comets cruised past perennial power Lower Dauphin, 4-0 Monday night in Millersville.
“I’ll tell you what, our girls were really up for it,” said head coach Matt Soto. “I’m really proud of them for being on fire. What a great night to have one of your best games.”
As was the case with the entire roster, DeBerdine showcased some of her best stuff throughout the night, scoring just 40 seconds into the contest on the Comets’ opening rush, assisted by Hannah Brown, for the only goal Penn Manor would need.
The win improves Penn Manor’s overall record to 12-0. Lower Dauphin, out of the Mid-Penn Keystone, drops to 8-2-1.
“There was no let up,” Soto said of his team’s effort. “Give our kids a lot of credit, we played a great team. They (the Falcons) have so many great players over there.”
DeBerdine would score again at the 6:44 mark before the sophomore scorer teamed with her senior sister, Brooke, to complete the first-half hat trick with just 11 seconds left until the break.
Following the Comets 15th corner with time winding down in the half, Lower Dauphin pushed up to midfield. But Brooke DeBerdine intercepted the ball and setup her sister with a well-placed outlet pass.
Emma DeBerdine, who was left one-on-one with Lower Dauphin goalkeeper Katie Lammando (seven saves), easily finished off the perfect “moment” into the far corner of the cage to give the Comets plenty of momentum heading into the break.
“We had a couple corners leading up to that where we really wanted to score and it was kind of upsetting when we didn’t,” Emma DeBerdine said. “Brooke really had that clear drive to the goal and then, just had a moment, because it went in.”
Despite scoring four goals, Penn Manor came up empty on its 22 penalty corner opportunities for the game.
“The better teams are going to have someone (the Falcons’) speed and that’s why we play these kinds of teams,” Soto said. “We have to solve that riddle. They’re very good at it, and we have to get to work on it, which is perfect.”
The Falcons, who were silenced across the board statistically in the first half, redoubled their effort after the break, garnering a corner 1:38 into the second. But Comets’ goalkeeper Brittany Hook made the pad save to preserve the shutout.
The Falcons had a handful of other opportunities as the game continued but the Comet defense was there to sweep the ball away. By then, Emma DeBerdine had capped the scoring with 23:30 to play on another well-placed finish into the net.
“They’re a great team,” Emma DeBerdine said, “so this really builds up our confidence and it’ll really (keep) us going into the season.”
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Penn Manor 4, Lower Dauphin 0
LD_0_0_—_0
PM_3_1_—_4
FIRST HALF
1. Emma DeBerdine (Hannah Brown), 0:40
2. Emma DeBerdine (UA), 6:44
3. Emma DeBerdine (Brooke DeBerdine), 29:49
SECOND HALF
4. Emma DeBerdine (UA), 6:30
CORNERS-SHOTS — LD 1-1. PM 22-11.
SAVES — LD, Katie Lammando 7. PM, Brittany Hook 1.