Wildcats eliminate Jays from playoffs
SELINSGROVE — Central Columbia was in need of a late rally if it had any hope of advancing in the District 4 Class A field hockey tournament.
For a stretch near the end, it looked as if the Blue Jays were about to do so and erase a slow and erratic game. It was all for naught as the rally and Blue Jays fell short to Mifflinburg, 2-1.
With the loss, Central finishes 11-7-1.
The Wildcats advance to the semifinals to play Bloomsburg — which was awarded a first-round bye — in a rematch of last year’s district championship on Tuesday night at Selinsgrove.
Central couldn’t sustain offensive drives as the Wildcats were quicker to the ball and frequently had multiple athletes closing in on Central’s ball carriers.
Most the Blue Jays’ threats went by the wayside, but with less than eight minutes remaining in the contest, they kept pressure on the Wildcats and goalkeeper Jaden Keister.
Then with a cluster of players near goal, it was Mia Cunningham who cut the deficit in half in her final game in a Central Columbia uniform.
With momentum swinging in Central’s favor, the Blue Jays were then playing a man up as Wildcats’ Camryn Murray was called for 5-yard infringement.
Central’s rally, however, fell short as the Wildcats redeemed themselves in a larger scale game after falling to the Blue Jays a week ago.
Central coach Carol Rakish said the team was excited to get such a win over last season’s District 4 champs, but knew things were going to be played differently a second time around and with a season on the balance.
“We beat them the first time around in the regular season, which we were excited about,” she said. “We knew we were getting them again and it would be a different game. We prepared for it and they just played a better game than us.”
The Wildcats did a fine job of spreading the field and controlling the tempo. That helped the Wildcats both drive down the field, and stop the Blue Jays in their path.
“They kept us spread out good which was good, but we also knew the ball was coming over to the side,” Rakish said. “I kept telling them to be ready because they wanted to take it down the right side — because that’s their strong side —and cross it hard over.”
That recipe worked on both of Mifflinburg’s goals — both scored by Camryn Murray.
The first came off a corner when Murray fed the ball to Brook Karchner who got off a shot on goal. Murray, however, put the finishing touch to score the only goal of the first half.
Murray’s second goal came with less than 12 minutes remaining in the contest when she was fed the ball by Angela Reamer. Murray then took a shot that rolled across to the left side of goal.
Despite the loss, Rakish is not one to hang her head. In fact, she is excited for what could be in store.
The Blue Jays are saying goodbye to two seniors. And with majority of the team returning, Rakish is excited to see the team’s growth after getting experience under their feet.
“I would say we have a good future at Central. I would really say that,” she said. “They have impressed me all year. They have been getting better and better all year. We took our lumps — losing by five goals, six goals, but gradually kept playing and believing in themselves.
“...I’m proud of our girls and they pushed. We have a lot of sophomores and juniors and that leaves me excited.”
Mifflinburg 1 1 — 2
Central Columbia 0 1 — 1
First half: 1. Mifflinburg, Camryn Murray (Brook Karchner), 21:38. Second half: 2. Mifflinburg, Murray (Angela Reamer), 11:34; 3. Central Columbia, Mia Cunningham, 7:31.
Shots: Mifflinburg 9, Central Columbia 3. Penalty corners: Mifflinburg 10, Central Columbia 3. Saves: Mifflinburg 2 (Jaden Keister); Central Columbia 8 (Makiah Brewer).
