Fleetwood shuts out top seed Northern 2-0 to claim District 3-AA gold
HERSHEY>> Fleetwood is a District 3 girls’ soccer champion for the first time since the sport matriculated to the fall season three years ago.
The Tigers got goals from Sarah Oxenreider and Lauren Hughes, and played lockdown defense, to win the D-3 Class AA over top-seeded Northern York, 2-0, Saturday evening at Hersheypark Stadium. It is the Tigers’ first district title since 2009, when the Tigers beat Donegal to claim gold.
Fleetwood’s attack was sharper and more varied in the final against the Polar Bears than it was during its narrow 1-0 semifinal win over Elco on Monday. Its defense was solid, surrendering just three shots on goal, while keeper Jenna Hawkins continued her fine run of form. That pleased Tigers head coach Mike Boyer.
“We had a game plan and they executed it well today,” Boyer said. “Defensively, we’ve been strong all year. With Jenna back in goal, she just keeps our defense together, and with the Schoener girls (Alexis and Katelyn) in the back middle, we’ve been strong there all year.
“I’m really proud of our girls. To keep the top seed off the scoreboard, they played very tight in the back and didn’t make any mistakes. In a game like this, a team that (Northern) will capitalize.
“I knew we were capable of doing it, but some parts of the season though, we could continue to get better at it. But today, an outstanding game. Near flawless.”
Oxenreider gave second-seeded Fleetwood (19-1-3) a 1-0 lead on a superb free kick from 20 yards out that beat Northern keeper Alyssa Swartz cleanly with 16:15 to play in the first half.
Hughes hooked up with teammate Sarah Crissman 12:53 into the second half to provide some needed insurance. Hughes slotted it home on a pass in the box, moments after Crissman broke free on the right and nearly made it 2-nil herself.
“We started moving the ball better,” Boyer said, “and we played the ball out of the back better. That kept us in better possession than on Monday.”
Hawkins’ best stop of the three she made on Northern came in the 60th minute, when a missile off the foot of Abby Searfoss from 12 yards out was kicked directly at her. It proved to be Northern’s best chance at denting the scoreboard.
Fleetwood’s win was the second of three Berks County district soccer titles Saturday at Hershey. Tulpehocken boys won the D-3 class A title by beating Camp Hill 1-0; Daniel Boone girls later pulled an upset for ages by taking out undefeated Cumberland Valley 2-1 in overtime to win AAA gold.
District 3 girls Class AA championship
Fleetwood – 1 1 — 2
Northern York – 0 0 — 0
First half
F – Sarah Oxenreider (ua), 16:15
Second half
F -Lauren Hughes (Sarah Crissman), 27:07
Shots on goal
F 8, N 3
Corners
F 4, N 2
Saves
F (Jenna Hawkins) 3, N Alyssa Swartz 6
