MECHANICSBURG -- Two games into the state playoffs, and Lewisburg is still looking for its first serious challenge.
The Green Dragons advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history Saturday at Eagle View Middle School. Emily Lesher pocketed two goals and Kalyn Fisher recorded a goal and two assists as Lewisburg crushed St. Pius X 4-0 in the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals.
"We were ready today," said Green Dragons coach Jose Vega, who won his 39th game in just two seasons as Lewisburg's head coach. "We took it to them."
Lewisburg, the champion of District 4, has outscored its six playoff foes by a count of 32-3. Their two wins in states have come by a combined score of 10-1, following Tuesday's 6-1 victory over Montrose in the first round.
Lewisburg's next game will certainly be more of a challenge: Loyalsock, which topped Montoursville on penalty kicks in another quarterfinal Saturday. The Lancers are 3-1-2 against the Green Dragons over the last two years, but that one loss was a 3-1 setback in the district semifinals on Nov. 3. Their fourth meeting this year (the teams are 1-1-1 against each other) will be Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
"We're ready, we know how they play," Lesher said. "It's just a matter of determination."
St. Pius, the District 1 champion playing in the state playoffs for the first and last time -- the school is closing and will be replaced by the new Pope John Paul High School -- ends its season at 6-11-1.
"Lewisburg was definitely the better team today," Winged Lions coach Mark Beck said. "My hat's off to them; I wish them luck through the rest of the tournament."
The Green Dragons put the pressure on from the beginning, ultimately taking a 3-0 advantage less than 13 minutes into the game.
"In the beginning the ball movement was great," Vega said. "I was pleased with the way we moved the ball and controlled the game."
Lesher -- who came off the bench to replace senior forward Jenny Byerly (who later returned) after the latter collided with Pius keeper Meghan Morton and had to be helped off the field -- scored off an Andrea Cole assist in the fifth minute.
Cole lifted the ball into the box, and a Lions defender inadvertently headed it right to Lesher, who then dribbled in and blasted a shot past Morton.
"(Cole) sent a nice ball through, and (the defender) didn't make the nicest touch on it," Lesher said. "I got the opportunity and just took it to the goal."
Lesher was back at it in the seventh minute, knocking in a cross from Fisher on the right wing.
"I've been cold these past few games," Lesher said. "Just getting those goals boosted my confidence and sparked the team."
Fisher showed off her dribbling skills in the 13th minute. She juked past one defender to get into the box, made a move past another defender, then dribbled straight up the middle before launching a shot from 12 yards out that found the back of the net.
"Their team speed really helped them a lot today," Beck said. "That, combined with their skill and ball-handling."
Emily Cole finished the scoring off an assist from Fisher in the 61st minute. Cole and Fisher share the team lead for goals with 22.
The Lions had a good look in the 51st minute, as Abigail Kelly chipped a shot off a Savannah Widdicombe corner. But Dragons keeper Jenna Wargo made the stop for one of her two saves.
"It's really exciting that this is the furthest Lewisburg's gone," Fisher said. "We're pretty pumped about that, but we want to keep going."
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