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GIRLS' SOCCER: Elco runs over Annville-Cleona in revenge game, 6-1


MYERSTOWN >> The Elco girls' soccer team made sure Annville-Cleona and high-scoring junior Reagan Hess didn't beat them a second straight time on their field.

A year ago, Hess scored goals in the fourth and 95th minutes to lead the Little Dutchmen to a 2-1 road win in double overtime.

This time, on the opening night of the L-L League season, the Raiders got two goals from flashy freshman Ryelle Shuey and kept Annville-Cleona goalie Anna Soliday under constant pressure in a scintillating 6-1 winning performance.

Hess scored Annville-Cleona's goal with 13:44 left in the first half to make it 1-1, before the flood gates opened. By halftime, Elco led 4-1, thanks partly to a penalty kick awarded with 15 seconds left in the half that junior Kate Fisher put away.

Both of Shuey's goals came from distance before intermission, with other Elco goals going to freshmen Julia Nelson and Jordan Rosengrant and senior Kiyana Rodriguez.

"We definitely remembered losing to Annville-Cleona here last year and were totally focused on not letting it happen again," said Rodriguez, one of Elco's tri-captains along with fellow seniors Emerson Brown and Meredith Balsbaugh.

The Raiders opened the season with a 2-0 non-league win over Conrad Weiser, with goals coming from Shuey and sophomore Taylor Bossert. Annville-Cleona debuted with a 5-0 win over Lancaster Country Day, in which Hess scored twice. She now has 46 career goals, seven shy of the school record.

Elco coach Derek Fulk liked what he saw in the league debut win, but didn't expect what followed.

"We played well against Conrad Weiser," he said, "but I didn't see us coming out and pinning six goals on Annville-Cleona. Reagan Hess is a great player. Not taking anything away from the other Annville-Cleona players, but Hess can beat you single-handedly, which pretty much is what she did here last year."

This clearly is a new year and a new team at Elco, due primarily to the additions of Shuey, Nelson and Rosengrant.

"Our freshmen are amazing," Rodriguez said. "They came into the program this year with fresh legs and fresh minds. They've got some great ideas. I can't wait to work with them the rest of the season. We could become very good."

The traffic in this game was predominantly one way. Elco had 18 shots on goal to six for Annville-Cleona, with another 10 to 12 open Raider shots that sailed over the bar. With a little more accuracy, Wednesday would have gotten close to Elco's 10-1 win over Annville-Cleona two years ago at home.

"Elco had a strong game. They're a good team," said Hess, who scored off a pass from freshman Malin Hermanson. "They connected on their passes tonight, which is something we weren't able to do. The penalty kick just before half didn't help. That was a horrible call. But as our coach (Lisa Schuyler) said to us at halftime, there wasn't anything we could do about it except go back out and keep fighting."

The Little Dutchmen never seriously threatened Elco goalies Emma Strickler and Haley Sherk in the second half.

The end result has Fulk thinking about good things ahead, including a potential Section Three title.

"There's a long way to go," Fulk said. "Donegal won it last year. Lancaster Mennonite and Lancaster Catholic could also be pretty good this year."

And as Hess noted, the Little Dutchmen will get another shot at Elco this year at Annville-Cleona.

Elco 6, Annville-Cleona 1

A-C10—1Elco42—6

Goals — A-C: Reagan Hess (Malin Hermanson). E: Ryelle Shuey 2, Jordan Rosengrant, Kate Fisher, Kiyanna Rodriguez, Julia Nelson.

Shots on goal — A-C 6, E 18.

Corners — A-C 0, E 6.

Goalies — A-C: Anna Soliday (12 saves). E: Emma Strickler (4), Haley Sherk (1).

JV score — Elco 2, A-C 0.