Lake-Lehman’s Alexa Thompson moves the ball along the sideline as Susquenita’s Jada Bert trails in the second quarter.
Fred Adams| For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Ady Perlis (24) and Sophia Sparacio console each other after a hard fought 1-0 loss to Susquenita in a PIAA Class A quarterfinal game.
Fred Adams| For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Kate Hynick looks to pass as Susquenita’s Kaydon Brandt (18) moves in the third quarter.
Fred Adams| For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Ady Perlis drives past Susquenita’s Makailah Kulp in the second quarter.
Fred Adams| For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Olivia Oliver pushes her way between two Susquenita players in the third quarter.
Fred Adams| For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Kate Hynick brings the ball upfield looking to pass against Susquenita.
Lake-Lehman forward Kate Hynick looks to bring the ball upfield looking to pass against Susquenita.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Times Leader
Lake-Lehma’s Alexa Thompson hits the ball towards the goal against Susquenita.
Lake-Lehman forward Alexa Thompson takes a shot on goal during state playoff action against Susquenita.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman’s Olivia Oliver strikes the ball against Susquenita.
Lake-Lehman midfielder Olivia Oliver strikes the ball during their state playoff game.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Times Leader
Lake-Lehman goalie Gigi Kirkutis makes a stop against Susquenita.
Lake-Lehman goalkeeper Gigi Kirkutis makes a stop during state play against Susquenita.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Times Leader
Midfielder Sophia Sparacio attempts to dribble out of trouble for Lake-Lehman during their matchup with Susquenita.
Lake-Lehman’s Sophia Sparacio attempts to dribble out of trouble against Susquenita.
Buck Norton-Jennings | For Times Leader
LIME RIDGE — The message at halftime was simple Saturday afternoon — go out and have some fun.
Lake-Lehman thought it had a joyous moment when Ady Perlis found the back of the cage 40 seconds into the fourth quarter. The goal, though, was disallowed and the Black Knights couldn’t muster up any happiness the rest of the way.
Instead, Susquenita’s relentless attack finally broke through about three minutes later as the Blackhawks ended Lehman’s season with a 1-0 victory in the PIAA Class A field hockey quarterfinals at Central Columbia High School.
“When they came out after halftime we said you have to have fun,” Lehman coach Jean Lipski said. “You have to have some fun in this game. They were feeling so much pressure. I thought they played much, much better in the second half.”
The loss ended District 2 champion Lehman’s season at 15-8. District 3 third seed Susquenita (22-2) will play District 3 second seed Oley Valley (21-5-1) in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Although Susquenita had the better of the play throughout, Lehman thought it had the game’s first goal when Perlis rocketed in a shot from the middle of the penalty area. The game officials met and determined there was a whistle stopping play a tick before the shot and with 14:20 remaining.
“I knew he blew his whistle and I thought we’d have a corner,” Lipski said, “but then he called it coming out when we had scored.”
Three minutes later, Susquenita finally solved Lehman’s strong defense. Kaydon Brandt took a penalty corner from the left. The ball went in front of the cage and eventually to Braelynn Prinz. Prinz made a short pass to Brandt and she tucked the ball just inside the left post.
Lehman goalie Gigi Kirkutis kept her team in the game with a couple saves in the closing minutes. The Black Knights also played a player down for two two-minute segments of the second half and held the Blackhawks off the board.
The offense, though couldn’t generate any consistency. Lehman’s Kate Hynick and Olivia Oliver had solid crossing passes early in the third quarter, but neither connected with a teammate.
Susquenita outshot Lehman 11-0 and had a 16-0 advantage in penalty corners.
“It was very difficult to get into any kind of rhythm today,” Lipski said. “Once again, I don’t understand all of the corners because we haven’t had defensive corners like that called against us all year. It’s just hard to have that pressure, pressure and then make a break and start into your offensive rhythm again.”
PIAA Class A Quarterfinals
Susquenita 1, Lake-Lehman 0
Susquenita`0`0`0`1 — 1
Lake-Lehman`0`0`0`0 — 0
Fourth Quarter: 1. SUS, Kaydon Brandt (Braelyn Prinz) 10:55.
Shots: SUS 11, LL 0. Saves: SUS 0 (Sarah Clouser), LL 5 (Gigi Kirkutis). Corners: SUS 16, LL 0.
