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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Zephyr Roundup: Girls on a roll

The Whitehall girls soccer team sits at 8-4 as of early this week.

They are riding high and full of confidence, which could be a key boost as the team heads into what head coach Chris Bleam thinks is the most challenging part of the schedule.

“We are currently on a six-game win streak and have not allowed a goal in any of those games - outscoring opponents 24-0 in that stretch,” Bleam said. “The tough part of the schedule is coming up during the final two weeks. Our team is looking forward to seeing how recent growth stacks up against perennial powers: Parkland, Nazareth and rival Northampton.”

The girls were 2-4 before starting their win streak, falling to Easton 7-0, Emmaus 7-1, Beca 5-0 and Central 3-0.

To make things worse, the team lost a key player during that stretch.

“Central was our second game and early in that game, four-year starter Erika Rape went down with a torn ACL,” Bleam said. “It took us a while to fill that hole at center back and the team struggled as we searched for the correct options.”

Ava Wells leads the attack with dangerous movement both with and without the ball, according to Bleam. Wells has scored six goals while adding five assists. Freshman Colleen Sommers was the one who made the move to center back and is extremely fluid with the ball and an excellent individual defender, Bleam added. As a result, Sommers leads the team in scoring from the center back position, showing she is a force both defensively and on attack. She has seven goals and seven assists.

Goalkeepers Samantha Kern and Cora Musselman have been solid as has the central midfield, led by seniors Ella Weber, Kate Yadush and Sofia Mrazik.

“Sage Snyder compliments Ava Wells very well in attack and our backs including Jade Alvarez, Sommers, Teagan Crosson and M’balu Fofana have been very solid,” Bleam said. “Sophomore Morgan Laub has been a pleasant surprise playing both outside and center back.

“The team looks forward to hopefully clinching a District 11 tournament berth as early as Wednesday against Dieruff (after Press deadlines). Last year, it took until the final game of the season to qualify for the District 11 tournament.”

Snyder also has six goals on the season with two assists. Weber has scored five times with four assist. Mrazik has three goals while Emma Potocnie and Samantha Kern each have two. Yadush has a goal and two assists while Olivia Tabarani, Olivia Mrazik and Kyla Braun each have a goal.

Currently, the team holds the second spot in the 3A District XI rankings.

Two recent wins over the girls were 2-0 over Pleasant Valley and 5-0 over Liberty.

Against PV, Sommers had two goals, including one on a free kick from her center back spot.

Against the Hurricanes, five different girls scored goals: Ava Wells, Sage Snyder, Sophia Mrazik, Ella Weber and Colleen Sommers.

***

The cross country teams were in action on Tuesday.

For the boys, Aiden Borkenhagen led the way with a 25th place finish in 19:51. Kihan Resto was 51st in 21:38. The boys lost to Pocono Mountain East 18-45 and Pocono Mountain West 25-30 as well as Pleasant Valley 21-34.

Tessa Hopkins led the way for the girls, taking 22nd in 24:14. Marli Jacobus took 33rd in 25:55. The girls beat PME 15-50, PMW 15-50 as well as PV 15-50.

“The boys and girls teams both ran strong races today, with the girls coming out on top against all three teams,” said head coach Brandon Hampton, “but the boys lost two tough ones to PMW and PV. A lot of PRs and season bests today.”

Girls top-15

1. Madelyn McCartney EM 19:31, 2. Kaya Meler PMW: 41, 3. Payton Campbell EM 20:36, 4. Brooke Miller EM 21:10, 5. Addison Johnson EM: 11, 6. Sophia Kovalski EM: 13, 7. Isabella Scarlata EM: 46, 8. Addison Kleinle EM 22:00, 9. Cate Haring ACC: 15, 10. Addison Shank EM: 22, 11. Ava Rincon EM: 23, 12. Taylor Huczko EM: 29, 13. Ava Palamara EM: 38, 14. ClaraRose Deisher ACC: 54, 15. Grace Nosal EM 23:06.

Boys top-15

1. Duke Ebert ACC 17:26, 2. Ryan Fach EM: 27, 3. Connor Fisher EM: 40, 4. Jared Petre EM: 52, 5. Will Haring ACC: 54, 6. Richard Will EM 18:11, 7. Thomas Grubb ACC: 12, 8. Sean Daubert EM: 16, 9. Connor Miller EM: 17, 10. Marty Green PV: 20, 11. Evan Seymour PME: 38, 12. Patrick McMurtrie ACC: 44, 13. Ben Keenan ACC: 51, 14. Gavin Mahon ACC: 52, 15. Nate Smeltz EM 19:04.

***

Field hockey fell to Parkland 6-1.

Jordan Brennabend and Lila Temchatin each scored two goals in the win for the Trojans.

Whitehall’s Kerigan Dreisbach scored another goal for the Zephs. Her goal tied the game at 1-1 at the time.

On Tuesday, the WHS girls traveled to Pleasant Valley and came home with a 2-0 victory.

The Zephs got goals from Audra Sommer and another from Dreisbach.

Assists on the Whitehall goals came from Olivia Fonzone and Ava Kozak.

The Zephs had 12 corners and 11 shots.

Press photo by Mark Kirlin Ella Weber battles for the ball during a recent game this season against Becahi.