Eagles Eliminate Mounts

The Cocalico and Ephrata boys soccer teams brought a combined 11 straight shutouts into their L-L quarterfinal Saturday at Lancaster Catholic’s Crusader Stadium.

The Mountaineers (12-5-1) were riding a three-game scoreless run.

Having just commandeered the first L-L section title in program history on Thursday, Cocalico (16-1) owned an eight-game streak, dating back to Sept. 17.

Something had to give.

“We have a lot of confidence... in team defense,” Eagles coach Derek Sipe said. “We were confident there was going to be a zero on the other side.”

“Neither of us give up goals,” said Ephrata coach Rob Deininger. “We only give up one goal a game, no matter who it is. Most of ‘em we win. This one, we came up a little short.”

With 6:42 to play in the first half, the Eagles Aaron Weitzel left-footed a free kick from the right side, about 30 yards out.

It curled into the box and off the hands of Mounts keeper Cole Hummel, nestling into the net.

Cocalico made it stand in a 1-0 victory, the Eagles’ first playoff victory.

“We’ve kind of been checking off, the past three weeks, a lot of ‘never- haves’ for our program,” said Sipe.

The Eagles dominated the first 20-plus minutes of the contest, collecting five corners and five shots on goal, but did not score.

“I thought that might make the game not turn in our favor,” said Sipe, “to have that high pressure and not be able to capitalize on it.”

“The first 20 minutes ... they were all over us,” Deininger said. “It presented some problems.”

Back Timothy Kitchen kept the Eagles off the board in the 15th minute with a key save at the far post.

Finally crossing midfield in the 17th minute, the Mounts began to stir as the half wound down.

Then Weitzel struck.

“He (Hummel) had it in his hand,” Deininger said. “(He) looked up for a second ... and it went in.

“He’s been unbelievable all year,” Deininger continued. “He’s kept us in everything, he’s the reason we’re here.”

The second half was quite different as the Mounts mounted a frenetic comeback try.

“The last 10, 15 (minutes) we found our feet,” Deininger said. “We had a lot of opportunities.”

Five to be precise, none better than Tyler Shue’s open look, with keeper Peyton Stetter off his line, in the final minute. Shue’s shot hit the crossbar and time ran out.