Governor Mifflin holds off Souderton in state play-in game

FRANCONIA >> Down by four goals on two separate occasions, Souderton Area kept coming back.

Battling through injuries, illness — even a case of walking pneumonia in one instance, Big Red clawed to within one goal of Governor Mifflin to try and keep its dream of states alive.

“That was a battle to the end,” Indians coach Joe Hay said. “I felt like our guys just played their hearts out tonight. So did Governor Mifflin. I don’t know what more we could have done.”

Governor Mifflin held on, winning 9-8, to advance to this weekend’s state tournament at North Penn. Big Red, with a spirited home crowd backing them, came back from deficits of 5-1 and 7-3 to get within 7-6 and later 9-8.

“We worked really hard,” keeper Caine Dusza said of the season. “We came from practically nothing and we built ourselves up to a state-level team. Unfortunately we couldn’t get there, but we worked really hard in the offseason and during the fall and this is what it came down to.”

Souderton, down 7-3 at the break, scored the first three goals of the third quarter to come roaring back. Jake Kramer (two goals) helped things out at the offensive end while the defense clamped down.

“Our idea was to be in a zone drop, but after we scored, we were gonna press,” Hay said. “Once we were behind, we decided to press everywhere. That takes a lot of energy, and we paid the price with fatigue and that’s maybe why some of those shots that usually go in did not.

“Our legs just weren’t underneath us because we were pressing so hard. It’s a really tough loss. We really wanted to advance to the state tournament but I’m really proud of my guys.”

Mifflin led 9-6 before Souderton — once again — came back, cutting it to 9-8 in the final minute.

The Mustangs were paced by Aidan Hassler, who scored twice in the first quarter to help Mifflin with its early surge and then added a goal in the third and another in the fourth.

Aiden McCurley added a hat trick for the Mustangs, who needed every bit of offense to fend off Big Red.

“We turned it around but couldn’t pull it off completely,” said Dusza, one of the Indians’ seniors, who looks to play on the college level. “It was a good run.”