By Kenny Varner

WINGATE- Both teams left it all on the field.

In their first two meetings on the year , the Little Lions and MIfflin County teams were separated by just one goal.

In the first contest, the Little Lions won by one and in the second meeting the two tied. So both teams knew that they would be in a battle for the District 6 title.

Despite two early first quarter goals, the MIfflin County field hockey team continued to battle and was able to cut it to 2-1 late.

However, the State College defense led by goalie Molly Schreiner was able to fend off the Huskies in the final stanza to capture the District 6 Class AAA championship game, giving her team a 2-1 victory to capture the title.

Defensively, the Huskies defense kept their team in the game throughout, keeping the State College offense from picking up anymore shots in the contest.

“It’s always an adjustment when you play three games on great last week. So when you make the adjustment to turf it’s very difficult. So at first we were very flat footed at the beginning of the game, especially in the first half,” said MIfflin County coach Ashley Suydam. “They we’re out cutting us because they are used to turf, it was that kind of adjustment and it took us a while to find our way throughout the game.”

State College’s Hannah Garlin hit both of the Little Lions goals in the first quarter.

The game was as close as the score shown as both teams finished with 12 shots each in the game. The Huskies led in corner opportunities by a 8-5 margin.

Trailing 2-1 going into the final stanza, the Huskies upped the tempo in their game pushing the ball down deep into the Little Lions end of the field.

State College goalie Molly Schreiner was clutch under pressure, finishing with 10 saves, four of which were in the final stanza.

Mifflin County goalie Sophie McCurdy finished with six.

With, the Huskies still pushing the ball down the field, Coach Suydam called a time out to regroup and set the plans for the final minutes of play.

“I called a time out there at the end. They were kind of frazzled. I put them together and just said this isn’t over. You can do this, just play hard and they did. They came out and scored,” said Suydam. “This team, especially we’ve been down in several games and we turned around and we won. It’s just a testament to their perseverance, their hardwork. I’m really proud of how they played tonight.”

Shortly after the time out, the Huskies got the ball to Hailee Sheetz. Sheetz took the ball down the middle of the field and in between two State College players and sent a screaming shot past Schreiner, cutting it to a 2-1 deficit.

Despite taking some late shots at the State College goal, the Huskies ran out of time and came up a goal short.

State College went right to work to start the contest.

Just minutes into the first quarter, after a back and forth start to the game, State College made the most of their first shot by Garlin. Garlin went low and wide to hit the back of the box, taking the 1-0 advantage.

Before things settled in the Little Lions would make another push down into the Huskies goal area and Garlin lofted a shot to the upper part of the left side of the goal, upping it to a 2-0 contest.

But the season has not ended for the Huskies as they advance to play in the District 3/6 play in game for a chance to advance to the PIAAs.

Mifflin County will travel to Central Dauphin on Wednesday at Landis Field.

State College rounded out the regular season as the Mid-Penn and District 6 Champion. They will also be back in action as they also try to continue their successful season and potential trip to the PIAA.

State College 2, MIfflin County 1

SC 2 0 0 0 – 2

MC 0 0 0 1 – 1

Goals

First quarter

SC – Hannah Garlin, unassisted, 7:00

SC – Garlin unassisted, 5:40.

Fourth quarter

MC – Hailee Sheetz, 4:21

Shots on goal: SC – 12, MC – 12.

Corner: SC – 5, MC – 8.

Saves: Molly Schreiner (SC) 10, Sophie McCurdy (MC) 6, Maddie Norman (MC) 1.