Upper Merion puts full game together in win over Pottsgrove

UPPER MERION >> Two weeks ago, Upper Merion picked up a narrow one-goal win over Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division rival Pottsgrove.

In the rematch Monday afternoon, the Vikings won in much more convincing fashion. Ella Menke and Becca Shuler each scored three goals in a 7-0 win at Upper Merion Area High School.

“We had a lot more tempo,” Menke said, comparing Monday’s win to the 3-2 victory on Sept. 6. “The last couple games we haven’t been playing as well as we could, but I think we really stepped it up today and had composure. We all flowed really well together today.”

“We played four strong quarters,” Upper Merion coach Angie Yanocha said. “Last game we let down in the third quarter. That’s been one of our goals this season – to play four strong quarters. This game we were same intensity level, same strength all four quarters. That was the difference.”

The Vikings (5-4, 3-2 PAC Frontier) certainly put four quarter together Monday. They out-shot the Falcons (3-6, 1-4 PAC Frontier) 6-2 in the first half and led, 1-0, at the break. They won both the third and fourth quarters, 3-0.

The strong offensive game comes after Upper Merion scored just two goals against Spring-Ford last Wednesday and one against Phoenixville Friday.

“Our passing,” Menke pointed to for the offensive success. “We really had amazing passes. We were talking, too.”

“This group plays well together,” Yanocha added. “They feed off of each other. When a few players are playing well, it’s that contagious effect and ripple effect and we all play well.”

Menke got the scoring started early in the second quarter. Her goal 4:25 into the second gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead that would stand until halftime.

“I just kept my stick down on the post,” she said. “That’s my job. I just stayed on the ball and hit it right in.”

Menke made things happen for the second goal early in the third quarter. She knocked down a Pottsgrove free hit and passed through a Falcons defender to get the ball to Reese Doan, who relayed the ball to Rylie McGrath. McGrath’s shot was saved and Shuler was there to put the rebound into the back of the cage for a 2-0 lead.

Doan added a goal midway through the third quarter and Shuler made it 4-0 in the final 40 seconds of the third.

McGrath assisted on Menke’s goal early in the fourth quarter to make it 5-0. McGrath and Shuler worked together to find Menke to complete her hat trick with 8:55 left in the game. Shuler scored her third goal with 2:20 remaining to make it 7-0.

While the Upper Merion offense was scoring goals, the defense was limiting Pottsgrove’s opportunities. They held the Falcons to four shots on goal in the game and goalie Nuha Siddiqui denied all four. Pottsgrove’s best scoring chance came on a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter, but the shot hit the post and stayed out of the cage.

“My three midfielders really did a nice job of just keeping the ball in our offensive end,” Yanocha said. “Our defense sent some great passes up, which makes a difference. They all played together.”

The Vikings have PAC games against Owen J. Roberts and Pope John Paul II later this week. Pottsgrove will face Spring-Ford and Phoenixville.

Upper Merion 7, Pottsgrove 0

Pottsgrove 0 0 0 0 – 0

Upper Merion 0 1 3 3 – 7

Goals: UM: Ella Menke 3, Becca Shuler 3, Reese Doan.