Mounts drop Blue Streaks
- 04 September 2008
The Ephrata field hockey team answered a big question for new coach Rhoda Mountz Tuesday afternoon in the season opener at home vs. Manheim Township.The Lady Mounts hadn't played since scrimmaging Elco August 19th and Mountz was wondering wheter that long layoff from competition would result in a struggle as the team opened season play on Tuesday.
Well, now worries here. The Lady Mounts came out hitting on all cylinders against the Blue Streaks. Ephrata staked out to a 3-0 lead in the first half, and, except for a five minute stretch midway through the second half, dominated play en route to a convincing 3-1 victory.
Senior Emily Beamesderfer scored one goal and assisted on two others to pace the Ephrata attack. Kendal Fletcher and Stevie Morris scored the other two Ephrata goals as the Lady Mounts outshot Township 13-5, while holding a 6-4 advantage in corners.
"This feels good," Mountz said of the victory. "I'm thrilled for them. I wasn't sure going into the game today because we haven't played since Elco. That (scrimmage) was not a good one for us. But we were still working through things and then we didn't get to play the Donegal game (Friday). That would have helped. But we did play real well at our tournament at E-town (August 16), so they knew it was there.
"My biggest challenge this year was to get them to believe that they could do it because they had it i their heads that they were not going to be very good." she continued. "We had to overcome that, and I think they are believers no that we can compete. That's a big hurdle that we crossed today."
Ephrata didn't wast any time Tuesday, scoring off the first corner of the game at the 6:12 mark. Beamesderfer sent it into the circle and put it on the stick of Fletcher, who was perched at the top. She settled the ball before blasting a shot past Township keeper Rachel Miller to give her team a 1-0 lead.
They didn't stop there. About six minutes later, Miller (11 saves) stopped a shot by Megan Rhoda, but Beamesderfer gobbled up the rebound in front and fed Morris, who knocked home the goal at the 12:07 mark of the first.
Ephrata then added its third goal of the contest with 5:26 to play in the half, after another corner. The ball had momentarily left the circle but was sent back in to Fletcher at the top of the circle. She pushed a pass onto Beamesderfer's stick, and she didn't miss, drilling a shot past Miller for the commanding 3-0 lead.
"She played really well," Mountz said, commenting on Beamesderfer's play. "all the girls played will. Amanda (Burridge) controlled the middle nicely, and Kendal, Kelly and Beamy all played a very nice game. They all got excellent shots and they are all capable."
Ephrata had several chances to add on in the second half but Miller stood tall for Township. Then, the Blue Streaks got on the board at 16:29 when Katie ball put a rebound past Ephrata keeper Sammy Wilt (2 saves). However, after briefly playing on their heels following the goal, the Lady Mounts kept their composure and held on for the 3-1 decision.
We here at www.ephratamounts.com are proud sponsors of the Dodgeball for Diabetes tournament.