Dock Mennonite falls to Wyoming Area in PIAA-1A quarterfinals

WHITEHALL >> Dock Mennonite Academy’s season came to an end with a 5-0 loss against Wyoming Area in the PIAA-1A state quarterfinals Saturday afternoon at Whitehall High School.

“(Wyoming Area is) just really disciplined,” Dock coach Michelle Waldspurger said. “They had their sticks down. They were just always low and ready. We’re a young team. I return everyone but one next year, it was a great experience. Moving ahead we have some things to do in the offseason, but a great season overall.”

The Pioneers were on the defensive end for a majority of the game. They faced 14 corners and 12 shots on goal. They successfully defended 11 of the corners and goalkeeper Haley Harper made seven saves.

Wyoming Area took a 1-0 lead when they scored on a corner in the fifth minute. That score stood for 21 minutes until the Warriors made it 2-0 right before halftime.

The teams played through a consistent drizzle for most of the first half. The rain and wind picked up after Wyoming Area’s second goal and continued through the end of the game. The 2-0 score stood until halftime, when both teams and the referees went into the locker rooms to escape the elements for a few minutes.

Wyoming Area pulled away in the third quarter, doubling its lead with back-to-back goals in the 37th and 38th minutes before making it 5-0 in the 45th.

Dock played Wyoming Area even in the fourth quarter, successfully defending three corners.

The Pioneers finish their season with a trip to the District 1 championship game and a state playoff win.

“We had an awesome season,” Waldspurger said. “I can’t complain. It was a rebuilding year for us, so for us to go to the district final and for us to go to states and to win a state game, that’s awesome. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. That was led by our senior Lydia Longacre. She’s just a great person. She’s done a great job for us this year. I’m happy that she had an awesome season.”