CUMBERLAND VALLEY RISES TO THE TOP
After facing each of its Mid-Penn Commonwealth opponents once, Cumberland Valley is sitting on top of the standings with a 7-0 division record.
The Eagles have won those games by a cumulative score of 16-3, but it has not been as easy as that differential might imply.
Three of Cumberland Valley’s division wins have been by one goal, including Friday’s key showdown with Cedar Cliff.
The Eagles fell behind 1-0 early in the second half, but had goals less than three minutes apart by Ellie Hempt and Caitlin Rhoades to post a 2-1 win. Maura Jacobs had 12 saves to help hold on to the lead.
Had the Colts won, four teams would have been within one game of first place. As it stands, the Eagles lead the Commonwealth by 1½ games. State College is second at 5-1-1, Central Dauphin is 4-1-1 and Cedar Cliff is 4-3.
The other one-goal wins were a 1-0 victory over Central Dauphin on Sept. 7 and a 2-1 triumph over CD East on Sept. 14.
Rhoades leads Cumberland Valley with seven goals. Only two other players have multiple scores. Emma Way has three and Maddi Sauve has two.
Mia Way paces the Eagles with three assists.
BIG SPRING ALSO FRONT RUNNING
It is a tighter race than in the Commonwealth, but Big Spring has to be feeling good after its 1-0 win over Boiling Springs on Thursday. The Bulldogs, with a 5-0 record in the Mid-Penn Capital, are now in first place by one game over the Bubblers.
However, Boiling Springs still controls its own destiny, as there will be a rematch of that contest on Oct. 12th, the regular-season finale.
ANOTHER HAT TRICK-PLUS-ONE
Brooke Birosik of West Perry joined Brooke Shyda of Annville-Cleona and Sara Lahr of Line Mt. as midstate members of the four-goal-in-one-game club.
Biroski picked up four goals on Monday in the Mustangs’ 11-0 win over Bishop McDevitt. She has seven goals this season.
BALANCED OFFENSE FOR THE COUGARS
On the other extreme for goal scoring, Palmyra had seven goal scorers in a 7-1 win over Middletown on Monday. Kylie Huffman, Erin Huffman, Kiley Gallagher, Haley Bova, Kendal Kreider, Megan Cook and Shay Lochinger all scored for Palmyra.
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