By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
WHITEHALL – Ella Barbacci and Isabella Pisano scored two goals each Tuesday and the Wyoming Seminary defense turned in a near flawless performance to send the Blue Knights to their fifth straight Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A field hockey state championship game with a 6-0 semifinal victory over Line Mountain.
The Blue Knights will try to win their fourth straight state title when they return to the Zephyr Sports Complex Saturday morning at 10 to take on Oley Valley, which prevented an all-Wyoming Valley Conference final by beating Wyoming Area, 2-0, in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Barbacci scored the first and last goals of the game. She connected on the game’s first shot, then added the final goal to give her eight in three state tournament games.
Pisano scored consecutive goals, but more than 29 minutes apart. After scoring for a 2-0 lead in the last minute of the first quarter, she went to the reverse stick to convert her own rebound late in the third quarter.
Wyoming Seminary then pulled away with three quick goals early in the fourth quarter.
Maristany Sanchez-Rodilla scored the game’s fourth goal then assisted Emma Watchilla with the fifth.
Anna Mozeleski assisted both Barbacci goals.
Wyoming Seminary did not allow a shot and did not give up the first of two Line Mountain penalty corners until 4:05 remaining.
Wyoming Area pressured Oley Valley throughout the second half of the nightcap, but could not put a dent in the 2-0 deficit.
The Lady Warriors led the Lynx, 10-2 in shots and 7-1 in penalty corners in the second half to finish with advantage of 15-9 in shots and 11-6 in penalty corners.
Alexandra Lopez scored a goal with 15.7 seconds left in the first quarter on a rebound during Oley Valley’s first penalty corner, then assisted Mia Woodard’s second-quarter deflection for a goal.
Cassidy Drobek made nine saves.
MORE TO COME
Return to this website in the days ahead for more extensive reports on each semifinal game and more coverage leading up to Wyoming Seminary’s state final.
