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DUNMORE — The accomplishments of the Lake-Lehman girls soccer team extended the season until it was time to flip a new page on the calendar.

MacKenzie Love was not about to let the first chance to play a high school game on her birthday go to waste.

Love scored the game-winning goal with 19:40 remaining Tuesday night, the junior forward’s 17th birthday, to lift Lake-Lehman to the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer championship with a 2-1 victory over unbeaten, top-seed Dunmore.

While Love has scored more goals than any other Wyoming Valley Conference player this season, none could match the excitement created after Dunmore had rallied to force a 1-1 tie on its home field.

“I think this one’s my favorite,” Love said. “The ones against (Holy) Redeemer were definitely big. The ones in the bigger games were more exciting, but nothing compares to this one.”

Love had some near-misses earlier in a game that was scoreless until almost eight minutes into the second half.

After the teams exchanged goals, she made it clear why she was so difficult to stop while averaging well more two goals per game, greater than the production of more than half the entire teams in the conference.

Chloe Weaver sent the ball from the right side into the middle.

Love was surrounded by Lady Bucks as she had been much of the night. As was usually the case, Love did not let that stop her.

After winning the battle for possession, Love reeled, quickly beat a double team and fired a low, left-footed shot into the net from 18 yards out.

“This is probably the best goal she’s scored this year,” Lake-Lehman coach Kelly Adamshick said. “Obviously, winning a district championship with that goal … that’s what you expect from your leading scorer.

“You want the best from your best and she showed that she could do it.”

Love did not stop there.

Dunmore had to take time away from trying to produce the tying goal to make sure it kept Love from adding an insurance tally.

Love took 12 of Lake-Lehman’s 38 shots, including four after scoring the game-winner. She kept applying pressure on the Dunmore defense, winning loose balls and turning to attack the goal.

Lake-Lehman kept Dunmore in its own end late, taking the game’s final five shots, including three by Love in the final 3 ½ minutes.

“That’s definitely what our plan was,” Adamshick said. “ … Toward the end of the game, we want to play possession, take control of the ball and if we get a chance, go for it.”

The Black Knights had a 22-5 advantage in shots in the first half, but the Lady Bucks were similar when it came to generating major scoring threats.

Lake-Lehman finally broke through with 32:02 left when Sarah Salus took the ball deep into the right corner and sent a strong cross through the middle.

A Dunmore defender got her head on the ball, but it dropped right to Amanda Ayers, who got off the shot to open the scoring.

Dunmore tied it up less than five minutes later and created a scare.

Gillian Coar a long race to a loose ball with the Lake-Lehman defense and goalie Stephanie Ayers. Coar came up with the ball and hit an open net and Ayers went to the sideline for the rest of the night after a collision, possibly with a teammate.

For the second time in the playoffs – she also played in the second half of the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 championship game victory over Holy Redeemer – sophomore Carlyn Blight took over with Ayers hurt.

Although Blight had trouble while bobbling one ball near the goal line, she made two saves and did not allow Dunmore to score.

Lake-Lehman will open the state tournament close to home Nov. 8 against the District 4 runner-up, either Montoursville or Loyalsock, at a District 2 site.

Dunmore will hit the road to play the District 4 champion.

District 2 Class 2A finals

Lake-Lehman 2, Dunmore 1

Lake-Lehman`0`2`—`2

Dunmore`0`1`—`1

Second half — 1. LL, Amanda Ayers (Sarah Salus) 32:02; 2. DUN, Gillian Coar, 27:11; 3. LL, MacKenzie Love (Chloe Weaver) 19:40.

Shots — LL 38, DUN 10. Saves — LL 5 (Stephanie Ayers 3, Carlyn Blight 2), DUN 16 (Liz Nolen) 16. Corner kicks — LL 3, DUN 1.

Lake-Lehman’s MacKenzie Love leaps into the air after scoring the decisive goal in Wednesday’s district finals.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Lehman-DunmoreGirlsSoc_2.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman’s MacKenzie Love leaps into the air after scoring the decisive goal in Wednesday’s district finals. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Lake-Lehman’s Amanda Ayers opens the scoring against Dunmore in Wednesday’s district title game.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Lehman-DunmoreGirlsSoc_3.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman’s Amanda Ayers opens the scoring against Dunmore in Wednesday’s district title game. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Lake-Lehman’s Emily Smith heads the ball against Dunmore in the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer finals.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Lehman-DunmoreGirlsSoc_4.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman’s Emily Smith heads the ball against Dunmore in the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer finals. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Lake-Lehman’s Abby Paczewski clears the ball down field against Dunmore as the Black Knights held off the Bucks for a 2-1 win for the district title.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Lehman-DunmoreGirlsSoc_5.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman’s Abby Paczewski clears the ball down field against Dunmore as the Black Knights held off the Bucks for a 2-1 win for the district title. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Lake-Lehman’s MacKenzie Love holds up the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer championship plaque after the Black Knights defeated Dunmore 2-1 on Wednesday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Lehman-DunmoreGirlsSoc_1.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Lehman’s MacKenzie Love holds up the District 2 Class 2A girls soccer championship plaque after the Black Knights defeated Dunmore 2-1 on Wednesday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

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