EXETER TWP. >> Every once in a while, the stats don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes, the stats just plain lie. Conestoga flat out dominated every statistical category during the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal against Manheim Township. Well, every category but one, and that is the one that matters most — the score.
The Pioneers might not have dominated the score like they did the action, but thanks to a goal from Keating Hopkins late in the second overtime, Conestoga (21-2) had all the margin they needed in that category, gutting out a tight 2-1 win over a Manheim Township (18-6) squad that just wouldn’t quit.
With the win, the Pioneers advance to Tuesday’s semifinal round, where they will face District 3 champ Lower Dauphin, a 2-1 overtime winner over Great Valley Saturday, at Exeter Twp High School. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m.
“I am just so glad this is finally over,” said Hopkins, through tears of joy. “I honestly had no idea the ball was coming. I thought the goalie had another save. But I knew we’d be able to do it, the way we’d be dominating the whole overtime. We had so many corners, at least one of them had to go in eventually. I’m just thrilled to be back in semifinals, closer to the goal of a state championship.”
But it sure wasn’t easy.
“For whatever reason, we were just having trouble finishing,” said Conestoga coach Regan Marscher. “But the girls didn’t let it get to them and just kept plugging away. No one got frustrated, and just knew we’d eventually find a way to get it done.”
Despite holding a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners over the course of the first half, the Pioneers went to the break at halftime down 1-0, as the Blue Streaks were able to convert on their lone corner try, getting a goal from Maddy Wagner, with an assist.
“Given how much we dominated, it was unfortunate that we gave up that first goal,” said Marscher.
“Dominated” might be underselling it a bit. The vast majority of the game, was spent on the Pioneers offensive half of the field, and Conestoga finished the game with a 27-4 advantage in penalty corners, while outshooting the Blue Streaks 24-7. But thanks in large part to the play of goalie Zoe Caloviros, who had 22 saves on the day for the Blue Streaks, the game stayed even most of the day.
Click HERE to read the full article.
Keating Hopkins slips a ball past Manheim Twp’s Zoe Caloviros (BILL RUDICK for MEDIANEWS GROUP)