GIRLS' SOCCER: Scoreless tie gives Susquehannock the York-Adams Division II title
GLEN ROCK – It had everything that any soccer fan could have wanted Tuesday night when rivals Susquehannock and Dover clashed in a York-Adams Division II girls' showdown.
Well, almost.
Physical play? Check.
Big moments? Check.
Huge saves? Check.
The only thing missing in the high-caliber battle was the one thing both sides sought — a victor.
The Warriors peppered Dover goalie Tory Wantz with nine shots, including a penalty kick late in regulation. But the junior stood her ground time and time again to keep the Eagles close.
Susquehannock goalie Ashley Stone didn't face nearly as many shots (four) but came up huge in overtime. Stone came up with a fingertip save off a header by Dover's all-time leading goal scorer, Brooke Firestone. The ball trickled off her fingers before finding the post and glancing away from the cage.
Those chances were as close as either team would come to finding the net. The two rivals settled for a 0-0 tie, their second tie of the season.
While it wasn't technically a win for the home team, it was just as good as one in terms of the division hierarchy. The Warriors completed their season with a 10-0-2 record in the division, which assured them of an outright title. The Eagles' record moved to 8-0-3 with just one game left on their regular-season schedule.
"I'm so proud of our team," Stone said. "It was very, very nerve wracking. That is probably the best team that we're going to see in terms of inside York County. Our team played great."
That can also be said of Wantz, who proved her might with just under 13 minutes left in regulation. She came up with a rare goalie save on a PK attempt by Susquehannock's Maddy Mummert to keep the game scoreless.
"I didn't know where she was going to go," Wantz said. "Obviously it's not always in the keeper's odds (on a penalty kick). I was just thinking about the team and wanting what was best for the team."
The Dover goalie was forced to make a handful of saves that weren't as difficult as that one down the stretch. But all proved to be pivotal to keeping her team in the contest.
"She's good," Susquehannock coach Pat Brubaker said of Wantz. "She really stepped up her game tonight to keep them in the game."
As the final seconds ticked off the clock the Warrior girls were able to celebrate their deadlock almost as if it were a victory. Knowing that a tie was all they needed, Stone and her teammates reveled in the outcome, which fittingly came on the team's Senior Night.
"We were lucky to have Ashley," Brubaker said.
Notes: Shortly after Wantz's save on the PK attempt, Dover coach Bret Altimore was ejected from the contest. The red card means the Eagles will be without their coach for their final game of the season Thursday against West York.
"I just asked what (the ref) was looking at," Altimore said in the parking lot afterwards.
The Dover coach indicated that he hadn't received any type of warning before his ejection.
OTHER girls' soccer
Central York 3, Dallastown 1: At Central York, the Panthers took a big step toward a possible York-Adams Division I title by defeating their guests. With the win, Central moves to 9-2-0 with 27 points in the division, while the Wildcats fell to 8-1-2 with 26 points. A win Wednesday at home against Spring Grove would seal the division title for the Panthers. In Tuesday's game, Bri Sgrignoli helped the hosts race out to 2-0 lead in the first half with a pair of goals. Dallastown's Skyler Wilt got one back before halftime. Sgrignoli finished off her hat trick with an insurance goal in the second half.
Fairfield 3, York Catholic 2: At Fairfield, the hosts claimed a crucial York-Adams Division III victory thanks to Hannah Logue's goal with nine minutes remaining in the match. The win pulled the Green Knights even with the Irish at 10-1 in the division. Each team has one division contest remaining on Thursday. The Irish host Delone Catholic while Fairfield will travel to Biglerville. Victories by each would result in co-division champs. MaCayla Welsh got the game's scoring started in the first half, putting York Catholic ahead 1-0 early. That goal was matched nearly 10 minutes later by Farifield's Stacy Roser. In the second half, Fairfield grabbed a temporary lead when Sarah Heinbaugh scored off a penalty kick before seeing that goal matched by York Catholic's Liz Johnson.
Gettysburg 2, Eastern York 1: At Gettysburg, Emily Bertram's goal in the 55th minute for the Warriors proved to be the game-winning score. Bonita Soliday also scored for Gettysburg. The lone Eastern goal was scored by Hannah Myers.
Kennard-Dale 1, West York 0: At West York, Kayla Shaull's first-half goal was the difference.
Northeastern 6, New Oxford 1: At New Oxford, Brittney Arentz scored four times for the Bobcats to pace them to the road win over the Colonials. Amanda Bentz and Sawyer Patrick also scored for Northeastern, with Bentz also adding two assists. Emily Myers scored the only goal for New Oxford, with Megan Carver adding an assist.
— Reach Ryan Vandersloot at sports@yorkdispatch.com.