Playoff plunder

Lady Red Raiders rout Indian Valley, advance to semis

Gordon Brunskill

- gbrunski@centredaily.com

BELLEFONTE — Abby Newman did not mind the mud at all.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

Bellefonte's Devin Kos goes for the ball against Indian Valley's Ashley Shawver on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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There were splotches on her legs, spots on her jersey and even a few flecks on her face.

When you get to play a big role in a little history being made for the Bellefonte girls’ soccer program, mud is hardly an issue.

“It is completely worth it,” keeper Newman said Wednesday night. “For us it’s our first year winning playoffs. No matter how dirty I got, I don’t really care. I’m glad I got dirty. If I didn’t, then why am I playing?”

On the heels of their most successful season ever with 15 wins, the Lady Red Raiders now have their first postseason victory, a 4-0 blanking of Indian Valley at a soggy Rogers Stadium in the District 6 Class AAA quarterfinals.

Bellefonte (15-4) had never won more than nine games in a season before this year, and now the Lady Raiders are headed to a semifinal contest Monday against either Central Mountain or Huntingdon, who play their quarterfinal tonight.

“We’ve had a great season this year,” Newman said. “This gives us a lot of confidence to succeed.”

Newman made seven saves in the shutout, the Lady Raiders’ ninth of the season while allowing just 14 goals.

“Our defense has been stellar all season,” Bellefonte coach Stacey Miller said. “Abby Newman had some great saves as well. Two or three of those could have turned the game around.”

Kristin Buchanan scored two goals, Emily Jabco had a goal and an assist and Colby Sinclair netted the other goal. Angela Davies and Katrina Shope also picked up assists.

The key was jumping ahead early — with two Lady Raider goals in the first 12:30 of action.

Sinclair netted the first, rocketing in a shot from the side of the penalty box at 9:27 and Davies feeding the ball from midfield ahead to Buchanan just over three minutes later. From the left flank Buchanan raced in and booted the ball top-shelf over Lady Warriors keeper Zoe Heller.

“We told the girls we need to get up quick,” said Miller, whose team swept the regular-season series against Indian Valley. “The second time we played IV we went up two goals in the beginning and that’s all we needed. We knew we needed to go up quick. I think they were important for keeping our momentum and keeping us in the game.”

It certainly helped Newman relax. “It gives you a lot of insurance,” Newman said. “I’m thinking, ‘My offense is playing well enough, it makes my job easier.’”

Actually, it was nearly Indian Valley that had the two quick goals if not for Newman.

Literally off the opening kickoff, the Warriors’ Jessica Lamberson carried the ball all the way down the sideline and sent a brilliant cross right in front of the net, but Newman snared the ball a few feet from the goal.

“It was a bit shocking,” Indian Valley coach Anita Valerio said of the start. “Those little things would have changed the game had we taken care of them.”

About 31/ 2 minutes later, Dani Treastor and Linzee

Ruby each had shots from close range, with Ruby’s off a rebound, but Newman again came up big.

“They got too excited about that and it kind of died down,” Valerio said.

Jabco added her goal from the top of the penalty box midway through the second half after stealing a clearing pass and Buchanan netted the final goal of the night, pouncing on a rebound in a scramble in front of Heller.

The Lady Raiders must now wait to see which rematch comes next in the postseason. They beat Huntingdon 4-1 and 2-1 earlier this year but dropped 1- 0 and 2-0 decisions to Central Mountain.

“We’re hoping to play a great game in the second round,” Miller said.