(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – A high-scoring affair broke out as No. 2 Wilson hosted No. 3 Keystone in the United East Championship semifinals on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Phoenix their season came to a close as the Giants pulled away to advance to next week's championship final.
The Basics
Score: No. 2 Wilson 3, No. 3 Keystone 5
Venue: Trojan Stadium
Records: Wilson 11-4, Keystone 9-7
How It Happened
- The first goal came late in the first quarter as Brea Kelso (Sr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippensburg) found a pair of Phoenix open on the right side inside the circle. Danica Frushour (FY, Westminster, Md. / Westminster) received control of the pass before she found Paige Ney (Jr., Biglerville, Pa. / Biglerville) near the right post. Ney was able to slam it home to give the Blue and White the lead.
- The Giants were able to respond after they were awarded a pair of penalty corners as the period came to a close. The second one paid off as Deanna Cole assisted Breanna Landers for the equalizer. Wilson was plagued by another late goal as the visitors scored just before the half on a Vicky Mainero backhand to take the lead.
- Wilson pulled even after taking advantage of a penalty corner just under five minutes into the third quarter. After a shot by Olivia Dingzon (So., Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro) was blocked, Ney found herself corralling possession. Her first attempt was saved at nearly point blank range, but after regaining control she was able to send it past the keeper for the score.
- The Giants regained the lead late in the third as Jordan Vandermark intercepted a pass off of a restart near the Wilson defensive zone. A quick pass to the top of the circle left Belen Rodriguez wide open and a hard shot went inside the left post for the goal. Rodriguez added a second near the start of the fourth for a 4-2 lead.
- The Blue and White weren't about to give up and climbed back within one with six minutes to go. A penalty corner attributed to the goal once again as Kelso connected with Hannah Aker (Sr., Yardley, Pa. / Pennsbury) for the score. Wilson was able to quickly generate a pair of penalty corners after, but could only generate one shot taken by Kelso that was blocked by the Giants' defense. Keystone was able to counter and Mainero split the Phoenix defense for an insurance goal with under three minutes left.
Inside The Numbers
- Ney's pair of goals give her 15 on the season. She has scored multiple goals in five games this season.
- Aker's goal was her third of the season.
- Wilson was outshot by Keystone by an 18-14 margin. Shots on goal also favored the Giants 11-9.
- There were a total of 21 corners taken in the game. A dozen of them belonged to the Phoenix.
- The team finishes the season 11-4. The .733 winning percentage is the fifth-best in program history.
