(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson will return to the United East Championship final after defeating Cedar Crest in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon. The No. 2 Phoenix and No. 3 Falcons were gridlocked at halftime, but special teams was the difference in the second half as the Blue and White notched eight player-up goals in the second half to pull away for the win.
The Basics
Score: No. 2 Wilson 14, No. 3 Cedar Crest 7
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 8-9, Cedar Crest 7-10
How It Happened
- Looking to avenge their loss less than two weeks prior, the Falcons got off to a fast start with a goal just 20 seconds into the game. Wilson was able to equalize with a Sadie Fike (Sr., McClure, Pa. / Mifflin County) score midway through the frame, but the Falcons were able to regain momentum with a pair of goals 26 seconds apart in the last few minutes to carry a 3-1 lead into the second.
- The Phoenix flipped the script and scored early in the second as Alaina Marek (Sr., Bealeton, Va. / Liberty) found Paige Ney (Sr., Biglerville, Pa. / Biglerville) for a goal 1:31 into the period. Ney later tied the game on a free position goal with 4:31 before the half. After Cedar Crest regained the lead on a goal just over a minute later, Ellisa Gamby-Mickey (Jr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) helped make sure momentum stayed with the Phoenix on an incredible play where she forced a turnover at the edge of the neutral zone, scooped up the ground ball, and went in untouched for the goal and 4-4 score at the break.
- A yellow card on the Falcons just after the start of the third helped turn the tide in favor of the Phoenix as the non-releasable penalty directly led to three goals with Fike, Alyvia Henneman (Jr., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley), and Gamby-Mickey all scoring within in the span of 100 seconds. A green card allowed Wilson another player-up opportunity and Fike scored once again to make it 8-4 with 9:51 left in the third. It became a trend for both teams as all but two goals in the second half were on the power play. Ney added another before the Falcons broke their dry spell with a player-up chance with 3:53 to go in the third.
- There was no stopping the Phoenix on this day though. Fike closed the third with a player-up goal. Henneman then opened the scoring in the fourth with one of the few full-strength goals in the half. While the Falcons answered just 30 seconds later, Marek and Gamby-Mickey both scored on player-up chances to make it 13-6. Finley Vandevander (So., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) closed the scoring after a Cedar Crest goal in the closing moments.
Inside The Numbers
- Fike finished the day with four goals. Gamby-Mickey and Ney both joined her with hat tricks as well.
- Marek led the team with six points as she totaled five helpers on the day.
- Defensively Gamby-Mickey excelled as well with five caused turnovers and three ground balls. Vandevander was also among the leaders with three caused turnovers and four ground balls.
- Fike led the team with four draw controls.
- Kaelynn Goff (Jr., Union Bridge, Md. / Francis Scott Key) was solid once again between the pipes with six saves.
For The Record
- Wilson improved to 7-0 all-time against Cedar Crest.
- The Phoenix increase their program-record win streak to seven games.
Up Next
The Phoenix will take on top-seed St. Mary's on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the United East Championship. The winner will move on to the United East / AMCC Crossover Championship for the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
