Mid-Atlantic Review, Week 7

By D3soccer.com Contributor

There were few surprises this week in the Mid-Atlantic. Maybe in the manner in which some teams won, but few surprises. The Game of the Week belonged to two Centennial Conference giants who once again battled to a one goal result - the 18th time those two titans have fought it out in matches ending in a one goal difference or less. Let’s recap week seven and then look forward, as the end of the regular season is just around the corner...

Messiah (12-1-0 / 5-0-0) No. 2

The Falcons traveled to Annville, PA, Wednesday afternoon to face Lebanon Valley (5-4-2 / 1-2-1) and head coach, Messiah soccer alum Leah (Sipe) McDermott (‘12). The Dutchmen strangled the midfield for the Falcons early and slowed their offensive attack, but eventually the Falcons wore down the Dutchmen defense when sophomore Maddie Kohl headed in a Sarah Strachan cross in the 20th minute. Junior Megan Mansfield came off the bench and scored two goals for the Falcons and Brooke Firestone added another in the 4-0 conference victory.

When the Falcons traveled to Alvernia (3-9-2 / 1-3-0) Saturday afternoon, they encountered an opponent committed to defense. The Golden Wolves didn’t just “park the bus”, they turned off the engine and slashed the tires. Alvernia was so devoted to putting all 11 players within thirty yards of their goal, that when the Falcons got on the scoreboard with a Lilly Shover converted penalty at the 39th minute mark, they were either unwilling or unable to change their strategy. The entrenchment continued well into the 69th minute when Megan Mansfield was able to add an insurance goal, and without any Golden Wolves’ offense being generated, the MAC Commonwealth game ended with a Falcon 2-0 victory. The Falcons outshot the Golden Wolves 27-0 (13-0 SOG) and led in corners 9-0. The Falcon defense has only given up three total shots through five conference games and none of those have been on goal.

The Falcons host two MAC Commonwealth matches this week, first Wednesday night against Lycoming (1-13-0 / 0-4-0) and then Saturday afternoon against Widener (5-5-2 / 3-1-0).

Johns Hopkins (13-1-0 / 7-0-0) No. 4

Hopkins welcomed the McDaniel Green Terror (8-4-0 / 5-3-0) to Homewood Field Wednesday afternoon and once again struggled to find the back of the net. Although they outshot McDaniel 12-6 (5-1 SOG) and led in corners 5-1, they only managed a lone Michelle Santangelo goal in the 27th minute for the 1-0 Centennial Conference win. As in the last five matches, the Blue Jay defense was flawless, recording their fifth consecutive shutout.

Saturday evening, Hopkins took on Swarthmore (10-2-1 / 4-1-1) in a matchup of the top two teams in the Centennial Conference and in what had to be considered the GOTW in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Blue Jays got on the board first in the fourth minute as Michelle Santangelo scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season. The Garnet answered in the 38th minute to knot the game at one, where it remained until Kristen Hori scored the game winner in the 77th. Rachel Jackson assisted on both scores. The Blue Jays were outshot by the Garnet 8-10 (4-5 SOG) and corner kicks were even at three.

Hopkins has only one game this coming week, hosting a Saturday afternoon Centennial Conference contest with the Ursinus Bears (5-6-2 / 2-5-0).

Swarthmore (10-2-1 / 4-1-1) No. 19

Swarthmore took on Johns Hopkins (13-1-0 / 7-0-0) at home Saturday night and played even with their conference rivals but ended up on the losing end of a 2-1 decision. These Centennial Conference foes have battled 18 times in matches that have been decided by one goal or less. Two substitutes combined for the Garnet goal as Brittany Weiderhold headed home an equalizer in the 38th minute off a Louise Rosler cross after Hopkins had taken an early lead in the 4th minute. The Garnet played staunch defense and counterattacked effectively but could not penetrate the Blue Jay defense. Hopkins broke through with the game winner in the 77th minute and the Garnet could only register one wayward shot from that point on, and none in the final nine minutes. The Garnet outshot the Blue Jays 10-8 (5-4 SOG) and corner kicks were even at three.

The Garnet hit the road for two Centennial Conference matches the week, traveling Tuesday afternoon to Bryn Mawr (1-9-2 / 0-6-0) before heading to Gettysburg (7-3-3 / 4-1-2) Saturday evening to face the Bullets.

Misericordia (10-2-1 / 4-0-0) No. 20

The Cougars dominated in their MAC Freedom win over the Eastern Eagles (5-8-1 / 1-2-1) Wednesday night at Mangelsdorf Field. They outshot the Eagles 42-1 (21-0 SOG) and led 7-1 in corners in the 6-0 victory. Senior Ashley Edgell and junior Jeanna Orfanos each scored two goals, with senior Hannah Larkin and freshman Mackenzie Love adding singles. The Cougar win was a continuation of their recent offensive barrage in which they have outscored opponents 22-1 in the last four contests with 13 different Cougars scoring goals.

Early in the season, Misericordia was a team struggling to find the back of the net. The Cougars were averaging barely a goal a game through their first eight contests and were shutout twice. In the five matches since, they have averaged over five goals a game and outscored their opponents 28-1. On Saturday evening at Delaware Valley (4-9-0 / 1-3-0) the onslaught continued, as the Cougars blasted the Aggies 6-0 in their MAC Freedom matchup. Ashley Edgell scored two and four other Cougars added goals as they outshot the Aggies 33-1 (20-0 SOG) and controlled corners 10-0.

The Cougars have two evening MAC Freedom matches this week, first traveling to Wilkes (7-4-1 / 4-0-0) on Tuesday, then hosting FDU-Florham (9-4-2 / 1-2-1) on Saturday night.

Arcadia (10-2-2 / 5-0-0) NR Receiving Votes

The Knights traveled to Albright (8-3-1) Wednesday night to face the Lions in a MAC Commonwealth contest. The Lions battled the Knights in a physical match where nearly 30 fouls were called, and two penalty kicks awarded. The Knights took the lead twice, but Albright answered each time and forced the game to overtime. Junior Veronica Garcia scored two goals in regulation and sophomore Erin Vander Plaat added the game winner in the first overtime at the 98th minute for the 3-2 win. The Knights held a 14-5 advantage in shots (7-4 SOG) and led in corners 6-1.

Arcadia won their tenth game of the season and fifth in a row on Saturday afternoon when they hosted Hood (3-10-0 / 0-5-0) in a MAC Commonwealth contest and came away with a 4-1 win. Four different Knights scored as they outshot the Blazers 25-5 (13-3 SOG) and led in corners 7-3. The Knights’ defense allowed just three shots in the game, making the sixth time this season that they have held opponents to three shots or less.

The Knights head out of conference Tuesday evening to face the Rowan Profs (10-1-2 / 5-0-2) in New Jersey before taking the long road trip to Lycoming (1-13-0 / 0-4-0) to face the Warriors in a return to MAC Commonwealth play.

Scranton (12-0-1 / 5-0-0) NR Receiving Votes

Scranton won their 20th straight Landmark Conference match Wednesday night against the Drew Rangers (5-6-3 / 0-3-2) with a dominating 6-0 victory. The Royals outshot the Rangers 17-4 (9-1 SOG) and led 12-0 in corner kicks. Senior Jamie Hreniuk scored a goal in each half and four other Royals added goals.

The Royals remained unbeaten Saturday when the hosted the Elizabethtown Blue Jays (4-7-2 / 2-3-0) in another conference game. The Royals outshot the Blue Jays 22-10 (13-4 SOG) and led in corners 10-2. The defense recorded their seventh straight shutout in the 3-0 victory. Freshman midfielder Steph Lowrey scored the game winner in the 19th minute and Annelise DePaulo and Taylor Stevens added goals in the second half.

The Royals will have some challenges on the road this week, first traveling to face the Haverford Fords (7-4-1 / 4-2-1) Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game before heading to Selinsgrove, PA, to face the Susquehanna River Hawks (11-1-2 / 4-0-1) Saturday afternoon in an important Landmark Conference match with playoff seeding implications.

Susquehanna (11-1-2 / 4-0-1)

Wednesday night against Juniata (4-8-1 / 0-4-1), Susquehanna’s freshman forward Anna Werner scored early in the first half and the River Hawks’ stellar defense made it stand in the 1-0 Landmark Conference win. The River Hawks outshot the Eagles 13-6 (5-5 SOG) and held a slight 2-1 advantage in corners taken. The shutout was the 9th in a row for the River Hawks.

Saturday, the River Hawks traveled to Goucher (4-6-3 / 0-3-2) for a Landmark Conference matchup with the Gophers. Susquehanna scored a pair of goals within a minute of each other twice, once in the first half and once in the second to spur on a 4-1 win. Anna Werner scored two goals and Kate Cantrell scored one and assisted on two others for Susquehanna. The River Hawks outshot the Gophers 16-10 (10-6 SOG) but trailed in corners 2-3. The lone Gopher goal was the first allowed by the River Hawk defense in ten games.

The River Hawks are finishing with some tough Landmark Conference games, but at least they’ll get to host them. First, they’ll welcome the Gettysburg Bullets (7-3-3 / 4-1-2) Wednesday night in a non-conference contest before the Scranton Royals (12-0-1 / 5-0-0) come to town Saturday afternoon to determine where the conference championship will, in all likelihood, be hosted.

Penn State-Berks (9-3-1 / 8-0-0)

In their only game this week, Penn State-Berks scored three times in the first half and four in the second in their NEAC matchup against Cazenovia (10-4-0 / 6-2-0) Saturday afternoon. Caitlin Golden scored three goals for the Lions and Michaela Breeze scored two for the Wildcats in a duel of the two leading scorers in the conference. Golden brought her nation-leading goal total to 27 and Breeze, who ranks fifth in the nation, brought her total to 22. The Lions outshot the Wildcats 36-7 (23-6 SOG) and led in corners 8-2 in the 7-2 win.

The Lions have a busy week, hosting a non-conference matchup Tuesday evening against the Juniata Eagles (4-8-1 / 0-4-1) before returning to NEAC play on the weekend with two road games in New York state. Saturday afternoon, they’ll face the Wells Express (3-10-0 / 2-6-0) before heading to Keuka Sunday afternoon to face the Huskies (10-3-0 / 8-0-0).

Dickinson (9-3-2 / 4-2-1)

Junior Ally Diez scored the first goal of the game just 1:47 into the first overtime as the Red Devils beat the Widener Pride (5-5-2 / 3-1-0) Wednesday night 1-0. The Red Devils outshot the Pride 15-2 (8-0 SOG) and took four corners to the Pride’s two.

As some teams were celebrating Senior Day Saturday afternoon, Dickinson seemed to be celebrating “Junior Day”, as members of their junior class scored all three goals in their 3-1 Centennial Conference win against Bryn Mawr (1-9-2 / 0-6-0). Junior Ally Diez scored just six minutes into the game, and classmates Addy Zandi and Elizabeth Krause added first half goals to pace the Red Devils. Dickinson outshot the Owls 28-1 (18-1 SOG) and led in corners 5-0.

The Red Devils only have one game this week, traveling for an important Centennial Conference matchup at the Haverford Fords (7-4-1 / 4-2-1) Saturday afternoon.

Haverford Fords (7-4-1 / 4-2-1)

Wednesday night in Maryland, the Fords pulled out a 1-0 Centennial Conference victory against the Washington College Shorewomen (7-5-0 / 3-5-0). The defensive struggle saw only 13 shots, seven of which belonged to the Fords, and only five total shots on goal (four belonging to the Fords). The Fords also held a slight 2-1 advantage in corner kicks. While short on shots, the match saw a plethora of fouls, with 34 being whistled during the game.

On Saturday afternoon against McDaniel (8-4-0 / 5-3-0), Haverford fell 4-2 in a Centennial Conference contest that saw all kinds of drama. McDaniel scored early in the match, but the Fords responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. The Green Terror came out strong in the second half, scoring three second half goals, one of which came after the Fords had their goalkeeper sent off upon receiving a straight red card. The Fords played a woman down for the last ten minutes of the match. The Fords were outshot 7-8 (3-6 SOG) and trailed in corner kicks 7-8.

The Fords are in position for a playoff push, but the will need to finish strong. They will host the Scranton Royals (12-0-1 / 5-0-0) Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference matchup before welcoming the Dickinson Red Devils (9-3-2 / 4-2-1) Saturday afternoon, returning to Centennial Conference play.

We’re close. You can feel the excitement building. Only a few regular season games remain. Blankets and jackets are making an appearance over sweats and jerseys. Players on the sidelines have been spotted in parkas. It’s that time of the season - the Playoffs are coming.

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