Laurel Valley eliminates Penns Valley in districts

From CDT staff reports

JOHNSTOWN — Four second half goals broke open a tight game Thursday as Laurel Valley blanked the Penns Valley girls' soccer team 4-0 in the District 6 Class AA quarterfinals.

For Laurel Valley, Maddy Grimm broke up a scoreless tie with a goal in the 53rd minute. Emily Dougherty then scored in the 55th and 71st minutes with Shawnee Frey notching the final goal in the 77th minute.

“This is one that we let get away from us in the second half,” said Penns Valley coach Jeff Wiest. “We certainly didn’t come out and play the way we were capable of playing and they came out and out-hustled us and out-played us in the second half.”

Sarah Youngblood made nine saves for Laurel Valley.

“We had numerous opportunities in the first half and we just couldn’t finish,” added Wiest who’s Lady Rams finished the season with an 11-9 record. It’s a rivalry thing. It’s always close, and it’s always back and forth.”

Kelsey Shaw led BEA with 43 assists and Cortney Switzer topped the team with 19 digs.Nicole Reeseadded 11 kills, 11 digs and four aces, and powered the Eagles in the fourth game.

“Nicole served well for us,” Campbell said. “In Game 4 she had a 7-point run. It was 11-9 and next thing you know it was 18-9. That put the game out of reach.”

BEA surged back in the fifth game, recording the final two points to secure the win.

“We weathered it,” Campbell said.

Emily Putnamled Bellefonte with 31 assists and four aces.

P-O thumps Tyrone

PHILIPSBURG — Philipsburg-Osceola finished its regular season and completed its undefeated season in the Mountain League on Thursday with a 25-7, 25-4, 25-7 victory against Tyrone.

The Lady Mounties (28-2, 18-0 Mountain League) were led byNatasha Frank andTaylor Harpsterwith 10 kills apiece.Megan Yonushonistallied 10 aces andKelsey Gonderdished out 28 assists.

Penns Valley falls

SPRING MILLS — Central Mountain needed five games Thursday to outlast Penns Valley 16-25, 25-19, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13.

Maria Andrewshad a strong night for the Lady Rams (7-11) with team highs in both kills with 19 and digs with 13.Kasey Packeradded eight kills with eight digs,Megan Deckertallied 11 digs and six kills,Kendyl Paolini had 12 digs andTaylor Poormanadded 36 assists.

Playoff dates, times set

Philipsburg-Osceola has earned the No. 1 seed in Class AA for the upcoming District 6 playoffs.

The Lady Mounties (28-2), undefeated in Mountain League play with an 18-0 conference record, received a first-round bye and will await the winner of the first-round matchup between No. 8 Bald Eagle Area (13-5) and No. 9 Richland on Monday at 6 p.m. at Moshannon Valley High School. P-O will play the winner on Tuesday in the quarterfinals at a site and time to be announced. No. 3 Bellefonte (16-3) also received a bye and will play the winner of Monday’s match between No. 6 Huntingdon and No. 11 Westmont Hilltop at Huntingdon. The Lady Red Raiders will play a quarterfinal match on Tuesday with a site and time TBA.

Also in Class AA, No. 12 Penns Valley (7-11), participating in postseason play for the first time in just the third year of its program, will travel to No. 5 Chestnut Ridge on Monday at 7:30 p.m. for a first-round game.

In the Class AAA finals, No. 2-seed State College will play at No. 1 Altoona on Wednesday at a time TBA.