LEWISBURG — There are lies, and then there are statistics.
Comparing the stats from Tuesday’s Heartland Athletic Conference Division I game between Mifflinburg and Lewisburg, one would hardly expect a three-goal difference in the outcome.
But that’s exactly what happened, as Mifflinburg made the most of its opportunities in a 3-0 victory in the HAC-I opener for both teams.
Making her first start in cage for the varsity, sophomore Dani Ard ranged far and wide to turn away 11 shots, and the Wildcats produced two second-half goals on just three official shots to pull away for the win, despite being outshot 12-6 and outcornered 11-9 on the afternoon.
“That’s the nature of the beast,” Mifflinburg (2-0, 1-0 HAC-I) coach Ann Beckley said. “It was a good win. I’m thrilled with how we stepped up.”
It was a difficult afternoon for Lewisburg coach Emily O’Connor, who watched her team dominate time of possession in the second half but come up empty on the scoreboard.
“We had some opportunities and didn’t capitalize. It was frustrating for everybody,” O’Connor said. “We just weren’t finishing.”
The Wildcats were dominant in possession in the first half, but took just a 1-0 lead into the break. Abby Nolan scored off Sam Chlebowski’s assist with 11:50 left in the half, following Mifflinburg’s third of seven penalty corners in the opening 30 minutes.
The Green Dragons were a different team in the second half, piling up 10 corners during long stretches of possession. But Ard was stellar in goal, often venturing yards outside of the cage to take on challengers while earning 10 of her 11 saves.
“She did an excellent job,” Beckley said. “She is so quick and aggressive to the ball, and she sees the ball really well. When you get so many corners in a row, you’re always thinking (the opponent) is going to scrape one in.”
Ard admitted to some pre-game jitters as she prepared to take on the Union County rivals.
“I was very nervous. I was shaking,” said Ard, who made several saves closer to the circle than the cage. “It’s a technique I learned (in camp). I like to come out because it shows (the opposing player) more goalie, and they don’t like that.”
Mifflinburg made it 2-0 with 10:02 remaining when Nikki Brouse scored off a Brad Catherman assist following an extended possession, one of the few for Mifflinburg in the second half.
Catherman closed out the scoring with 1:32 remaining when he drove home a tough-angle shot from the right side after dribbling in from the top of the circle.
“Once the second (goal) went in, we were able to play more of a flowing game,” Beckley said. “(Before that), we just couldn’t maintain possession. We couldn’t keep the ball on our sticks. I think we looked a little tired, because the kids have been really intense in practice.”
O’Connor was able to take some solace in the Green Dragons’ showing in the second half.
“We’re not going to hang our heads over this. We can take some positives away,” O’Connor said. “The score didn’t reflect the game.”
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