TimesLeader.com

Piaa field hockey

November 8, 2008

Offensive powers Sem, S. Lehigh vie in quarters

“D” will decide the winner of game between prolific-scoring units, says Blue Knights coach.

By Dave Konopki dkonopki@timesleader.com
Assistant Sports Editor

What happens when two of the most prolific high school field hockey offenses in the country square off in a win-or-go-home situation?

The defenses take center stage, says Wyoming Seminary head coach Karen Klassner.

The District 2 champion Blue Knights (21-1) face undefeated District 11 champion Southern Lehigh (24-0) at noon today in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game at Pleasant Valley High School in Brodheadsville.

Wyoming Seminary comes into the game as the No. 3-ranked team in the country, according to topofthecircle.com. Southern Lehigh is ranked sixth in the nation. The winner advances to Tuesday’s semifinals and will play either District 1 champion Villa Maria Academy or District 3 two-seed Lancaster Mennonite.

In addition to its unblemished record, Southern Lehigh comes into the game with the second-leading scoring offense in the country, according to topofthecircle.com. The Spartans have two 30-goal scorers and have scored 117 goals this season. Only Class 3A power Emmaus (123) has found the cage more times.

Wyoming Seminary is certainly no offensive slouch itself. The Blue Knights come into the contest with 106 goals, the seventh-highest total in the country.

But the longtime Seminary coach says defense will be the key.

“I think it will come down to defense,” said Klassner, who notched her 500th career win with Seminary’s 5-2 defeat of Donegal in the quarterfinals. “I think defense will be pivotal for both teams.”

Both teams have formidable defenses. Led by goalkeeper Kristin Arnold, Southern Lehigh has 16 shutouts this season, including a 1-0 win against Palmyra in the quarterfinals. Arnold has gotten a lot of defensive help from teammates Sophia Pifer, Caitlin Bearish and Samantha Risi.

Seminary’s defense is led by goalkeeper Sierra Segear, as well as defenders Henni Tietze, Lauren Skudalski, Katrina Domiano, Kelly Mericle and Katherine Granger. The Blue Knights have allowed just 14 goals this season and have recorded eight shutouts.

“We’ve been playing very good defense,” said Klassner. “We need that to continue (today).”

The Blue Knights will have a formidable challenge in stopping Spartan senior forwards Brooke Borneman and Kelsey Millman.

Borneman, who has made a verbal commitment to attend Indiana University, has scored 35 goals this season and added 13 assists for 83 points. Millman, who is headed to Syracuse, has 30 goals and seven assists for 67 points.

The scoring power of the duo showed in a 6-1 win against Northern Lehigh in the Colonial League championship game, with each scoring three goals.

“They are two very good players,” said Klassner. “They’re better than some in this area and better than most in the state.”

Senior Kelly Whitaker (10 goals) injured a knee in D11 final and was expected to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to see if she can play tomorrow. At press time, her status was unknown.

Southern Lehigh won the Colonial League championship for the second consecutive year and finished unbeaten in the regular season for the second year in a row. The Spartans entered the season with six returning starters, including Arnold, Borneman and Millman.

Wyoming Seminary won the Wyoming Valley Conference Division I championship this season. Its only loss came against Lackawanna Trail and the Blue Knights avenged the loss with a win against the Lions in a special playoff for the WVC D-I title.

Offensively, Seminary is led by Duke-bound Devon Gagliardi (26 goals, 7 assists), North Carolina-bound Kelsey Kolojejchick (16, 7), AshLeigh Sebia (14, 10) and Sunny Stirewalt (11, 6). The Blue Knights will be without junior forward Ja Ja Kentwell, who is playing with the U.S. men’s U21 team in Germany.

“I think the two teams are almost mirror images of each other,” said Klassner. “We both have great scoring ability, solid defenses and good corner play. The pressure is on (Southern Lehigh) to win. They’re undefeated and we’re not. It should be a great game.”

UP NEXT

WHAT: PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals

WHO: D2 champion Wyoming Seminary (21-1) vs. D11 champion Southern Lehigh (24-0)

WHEN: Noon today

WHERE: Pleasant Valley H.S., Brodheadsville

TICKETS: $6 for adults and $3 for students.

AT STAKE: The winner advances to Tuesday’s semifinals and will play either District 1 champion Villa Maria Academy or District 3 two-seed Lancaster Mennonite at a time and site to be determined. The season ends for the loser.