By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

Cocalico is officially off the soccer championship schneid.

The Lady Eagles girls’ team took care of that in a big way Tuesday afternoon at Donegal. Needing a win to clinch the first soccer section championship of any kind in school history, Cocalico jumped out to a 2-0 second-half lead Tuesday and held on for an eventual 2-1 victory and the Section Three title.

Kathleen Lawver scored what turned out to be the game winner, burying a headed cross from teammate Brooke Burkholder with 15 minutes to play.

And then it was time to celebrate.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” Cocalico Coach Dan Hogan said of the championship following the big win. “It’s really neat to see how happy the girls are because they knew about the history. That’s what makes it cool to see how proud they are to be the ones to finally break that barrier.”

“I thought we had a real good chance to be good and I knew we’d be able to compete with everybody,” Hogan continued. “I know it’s cliché’ but we stayed healthy, got a little bit of luck and pulled out a lot of games.”

Some of that luck was on Cocalico’s side early in the second with the game still scoreless. At the 52 minute mark, Lawver hit a shot off the left post, which then bounced off the leg of Indian defender Elizabeth Mummau and into the left side of the net for the 1-0 Cocalico lead.

Lawver then made it 2-0 some 13 minutes later when she one-timed a Brooke Burkholder cross inside the left post, and the Lady Eagles (12-1-1 section, 13-1-1 overall) could smell the title.

However, the Indians (10-4, 10-4) wouldn’t make it easy. Kristen Stark cut the deficit to just one when she got the Indians on the board with 11 minutes to go. And then Stark nearly tied it 1:12 later but Cocalico goalie Kristen Boyer (3 saves) was equal to the task.

While the Lady Eagles scored their share of goals this year, Hogan said his team’s defense, which allowed just eight goals in 15 games, was the key to becoming section champions. That group includes juniors Taylor Esterly and Olivia Fryberger, freshmen Lea Dungan and Taylor Garman, and of course Boyer, who is a junior.

“I give a lot of credit to them,” Hogan said. “They were just solid all year. The five of them have given us the ability to stay in games. We know we are going to score goals and it’s just a matter if we can keep the other team off the board, and so far we have this year.”

Cocalico will now prepare for its final regular season match Thursday night at home (7:30 p.m.) vs. Garden Spot, before gearing up for the L-L Playoffs, which begin May 10.

“Even before the season the girls talked about one of the main goals was to try to compete for the section, but they also want to try to make some noise in the playoffs,” Hogan said. “I think it’s definitely do-able. We have the talent to do it. We don’t necessarily have as much playoff experience as some teams, but I feel we can do it.”

In addition to Tuesday’s match, Cocalico also was in action last Wednesday and Friday where the Lady Eagles enjoyed lopsided wins.

Friday at home vs. Northern Lebanon, Cocalico struck for four first half goals and cruised to an eventual 7-0 victory over the Vikings.

Cocalico had a balanced scoring attack, led by Jen Newman’s two goals. Also scoring for the Lady Eagles were: Lawver, Taylor Esterly, Shannon Hoeveler, Brittany Simmons and Burkholder.

Nicole Zwiercan had four assists for Cocalico, which outshot the Vikings, 16-3.

Boyer made three saves to earn the shutout in goal for the Lady Eagles.

Last Wednesday at Lebanon, Cocalico scored three goals in each half to easily defeat the Cedars by a count of 6-0.

Zwiercan notched a pair of scores while Megan Caiazzo, Newman, Burkholder and Sonya Fry also found the net.

Simmons collected three assists on the day while Lawver chipped in with a pair of helpers.

Cocalico outshot Lebanon, 18-2 as Boyer (two saves) earned the victory in goal.

Ephrata, meanwhile, was in action as well Tuesday where the Lady Mounts tried to play spoiler against an Elizabethtown team that is fighting for a playoff spot.

They nearly pulled it off.

Trailing 2-0 at the half, the Lady Mounts (3-11) stormed back behind goals from Keelie Landis and Aspen Brennan and sent this one to overtime. Unfortunately, the Bears (9-5) were able to come up with the golden goal and capture the 3-2 victory.

Ephrata also had a pair of matches in addition to Tuesday night. Last Thursday at Solanco, the Lady Mounts picked up their third win of the season with a 3-0 shutout victory over the host Mares.

Laura Miller led the way for Ephrata, scoring a pair of second-half goals. Julia Yoder scored the goal for Ephrata, which outshot Solanco, 12-8.

Brittany Lutz and Sarah Engleman both had assists for Ephrata while Olivia Pfautz made five saves to get the win in goal.

Last Wednesday at L-S, the host Pioneers broke open a 1-0 half-time lead with five unanswered goals in the second half en route to a 6-0 victory over Ephrata.

The Lady Mounts will close out the season Thursday night (7:15 p.m.) at home vs. Warwick. More SOCCER, page B-3