LEWISBURG -- One of the characteristics of a championship team is the ability to make adjustments. Boy, did Selinsgrove ever adjust on Wednesday.
After a scoreless first half, the Seals adjusted to the tune of five second-half goals in rolling to their fifth consecutive District 4 Class AA title with a 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten Bloomsburg at Bucknell University's Graham Field.
The Seals (20-1), seeded No. 2 in districts, will make their eighth consecutive trip to the PIAA Class AA tournament beginning next week. Selinsgrove will take on the second-place team from District 11 on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Top seed Bloomsburg (19-1), making its first appearance at states, will play the runner-up from District 3, with the site and time pending.
The Panthers' game plan was simple enough: pack the circle with enough players to create multiple layers of defenders between the cage and Selinsgrove's bevy of goal-scorers. It worked for a half, but the Seals made the necessary changes during the five-minute intermission.
"We talked about creating more corners and more breakaways," said Seals coach Cathy Keiser. "Our forwards needed to be more active, and we needed to be quicker on our free hits. We just needed to create more space and move more in the circle.
"My assistants (Roz Camp and Cheri Long) do a great job of seeing what's going on. Having more eyes is certainly helpful."
The shift in strategy paid off almost immediately, when Hope Burke converted off pads just a minute and a half into the second 30 minutes on a play that began with a free hit from the Bloomsburg 28.
"You struggle so much for that first goal, and then after that they start believing in themselves again," Keiser said.
Ashtin Klingler made it 2-0 at the 20:30 mark off an assist from Gina Kellett on the last of four consecutive Selinsgrove corners. The Seals produced 16 of their 20 corners in the second half.
Just a minute later, it was 3-0 when Candice Smith scored off an assist from Rachael Lawton -- again, off a corner.
"Before the game we discussed how the first 15 minutes were crucial, and I can't say enough about how we played in the first half. We couldn't leave anybody inside the 25 open. We had to mark them, and everybody stepped up," said Bloomsburg coach Chuck Baker. "The problem was the first 15 minutes of the second half. We had a lapse of about seven to eight minutes there, and (Selinsgrove) had more people crashing the cage in the second half. It's hard to pick up that many loose people."
The Seals made it 4-0 at the 14:20 mark when Klingler scored off pads following a free hit from the right side, and Coli Deckard added the final score with just under a minute remaining off an assist from Smith.
"We knew we were controlling the game (in the first half)," Keiser said. "We just had to step it up in the second half."
Baker noted how the game changed following Klingler's first goal, the second of the game.
"Their first two goals were scrambles in front of the cage. After (it became 2-0), our game plan had to change after that," he said.
Panthers goalkeeper Chelsi Oxenrider finished with 24 saves on 29 Selinsgrove shots, including a barrage of 19 in the second half. Seals keeper Amber Wendt finished with five saves, including two sprawling saves on one-on-one opportunities in the second half that preserved the shutout.
Before their halftime adjustment, the Seals were frustrated by long stretches of possession but nothing to show for it.
"They just loaded everybody in the circle," Keiser said. "We tried to create some things, but we're just not used to seeing a team stuff the circle like that."
Baker said the Panthers' experience against a perennial power will serve them well next week.
"(Selinsgrove is) a quality team, a quality program," he said. "We realize now that we can compete against a team of that caliber. We're in a new place we haven't been before."
Sports
Related Photos
-
Robert Inglis
Discussion
High school field hockey: Seals unload for 5 second-half goals en route to fifth straight D-4 title
Seals score 5 2nd-half goals en route to 5th straight D-4 title
- Sports
-
-
H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
As soon as the Class AA boys javelin throwers were finished Friday morning, Lewisburg’s Brandon Smith left his fellow competitors at the throwing area and took off for Seth Grove Stadium track, trying to hurry while negotiating the heavy foot traffic of fans, coaches and athletes.
-
Keller runs to his first victory
Amazing. That was the simple reply from Cody Keller after capping the long comeback from injury win his first sprint car race Saturday night at Selinsgrove Speedway.
-
Zaktansky: Life lessons learned from an earthworm
On my hands and knees, I slogged forward.
The steady rain had long before soaked through my clothes and turned the ground underneath me into a slick film of runny mud. My back hurt, my fingers were caked with brown goop and my mouth was aching from holding a small flashlight as I slowly scanned the backyard. -
Indigo buntings grace the Valley
Summer is the best time for viewing a spectrum of colorful birds.
Like most bird species, it is the male who exhibits bright coloration. From the orange and black patterns of the northern oriole to the scarlet tanager and yellow warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak — all make a spectacle of themselves. -
Don Steese column: Counting the days
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the start of the summer vacation season. Kids are out school, the weather is beautiful and all is well with the world ... except for folks like myself, who find themselves counting the days until fall.
-
Hartley, Billas fight off heat
Melanie Hartley was drained, a puddle of nerves and perspiration after a brutal 400-meter dash. While the official thermometer at Shippensburg University flirted with 90 degrees on Saturday, the heavy dose of humidity had the packed house at Seth Grove Stadium sweltering.
-
Moore bags two medals
Matt Moore is a hard guy to please. Or at least, he finds it hard to take pleasure in his own track and field performances.
-
Ken Maurer column: More talk about bass
This past week I attended 2 meetings involving the PFBC.
The first was in Harrisburg where fish commission officials explained to the state senators why they want the DEP to place the Susquehanna River on the “impaired” list. DEP has refused once, and the PFBC has reapplied. -
Scott Dudinskie's high school baseball column: Reich still going strong
Bryan Reich feels it with every pitch he throws. Some would call it pain, maybe discomfort. The Milton right-hander chooses "annoyance."
-
State Track & Field updates
Get updates throughout the day on how Valley athletes are faring at the PIAA Track & Field Championships in Shippensburg.
- More Sports Headlines
-
H.S. Track & Field notebook: Better late than never
