Panthers put an end to Tigers’ campaign
TURBOTVILLE — After getting shut down by Bloomsburg last week, Benton/Millville came away from that loss wanting to make personnel changes — primarily on defense.
The Tigers' biggest change this go-around against the Panthers was starting Emily Hays in goal over Ainsley Grigas.
It didn't help turn the fortunes for Benton in a 6-1 District 4 Class A quarterfinal elimination loss as the Panthers struck for three first-quarter goals.
With the win, No. 2 Bloomsburg advances to play Midd-West, a 1-0 winner over Central Columbia, in the semifinals on Monday at Shikellamy.
Sixth-seeded Benton finishes 11-7-1.
"We were just taking a chance," Benton coach Chelsea Threlkeld said. "We came into this game with a completely different take with how we wanted to set up our field. What we were previously used to wasn't working, so we spent the week leading up to this game completely switching it up. We went with a whole new plan offensively and defensively. If we had a little more time practicing it, it would have maybe been a little less flawless rather than have holes in it."
Instead, the blemishes showed up early for the Tigers as Georgia Baskett scored the Panthers' first of three goals off a corner less than three minutes into the contest.
Bloomsburg, playing solid defense for much of the night, took away the cross pass from Benton. The Panthers cashed in on such, taking the ball right down the field with Lucy Diehl cashing in by drawing Hays to the right of the cage and Diehl flicking it to the left.
Taylor Bower got the final goal on Hays, carving her way through the Tigers' defense before scoring on an unassisted shot.
"We played super strong on both sides. We came out on fire," Bloomsburg coach Chuck Baker said. "That's the big key. When you set the precedence early and put a few goals in, it takes the pressure off. It allows you to just play hard and enjoy yourself. You're not stressed."
The Panthers continued to play loose regardless of who was in the cage for the Tigers. With Grigas assuming duties to start the second quarter, Ava Hendricks put her to the test by taking a nice midfield pass from Ahleah Prybyla and simply tapping the ball in front of the cage.
Grigas, having to stay on her toes for much of the night as the Tigers were in the offensive zone for five minutes in the contest, settled in nicely after that welcoming. She came away with eight of the Tigers' 10 saves.
With Benton's student section loudly cheering for offense all night, Mylee Retherford gave them something to celebrate. The junior split Bloomsburg's defense, creating a one-on-one with keeper Delana Dunkelberger and firing a rocket to the back of the cage. The goal set off the loudest cheering in the stadium all night.
"They thrive under pressure and I think with them watching the time, they were aware of what they wanted to do," Threlkeld said of the goal. "The score doesn't dictate how fierce they were tonight, especially in the fourth quarter."
Bloomsburg, though, wouldn't let Benton have the last say. Moments after Retherford's goal, Baskett cashed in on her second goal of the night, another score off a corner. The Panthers capitalized off a corner in the final minute of the contest with Prybyla cashing in for her only score after assisting twice.
The Panthers outshot the Tigers, 23-3, with all of Benton's shots coming in the fourth quarter. The Panthers also accounted for all 13 corners in the contest.
Playing a clean game — as neither team had a player penalized — this time of year is important to Baker, but the Panthers having a quick answer to the Tigers' score has Baker excited for what's in store.
"We talked about what we have to do to respond. We have a couple of instances this year where we didn't regroup," Baker said. "It's important to rebound and back into our frame of mind that we can score. The last four or five games we have played strong, but anybody can win this district. That's why we knew it was important to make an early statement — hopefully, we did."
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