The Mountaineers played even with Downingtown West for the first quarter and half before the Whippets finished the game with an 11-2 scoring run to secure a 13-4 win.

 

"I didn't want the season to end but I'm very proud of what this team has done," Ephrata coach Kevin Pletz said. "It was a season of firsts for us. We won the L-L and District Three titles for the first time. I'm proud of these guys."

 

The Mounts (22-3) struck first when Mason Quickel found Evan Hornberger midway through the first quarter, before DW netted two straight goals to take a 2-1 lead with 10:07 left in the first half.

 

Tucker Keefer's pass to Hornberger three minutes later tied the game at 2-2. The Whippets (22-1) ended the second quarter with four unanswered goals.

 

"I think nerves were a factor early in the game," Pletz said. "And then they put in a lot of goals in the second and third quarters and that took the wind from us."

 

Downingtown scored four unanswered goals in the third to lead 10-2 and started the fourth with a score. Keefer stopped the onslaught with a goal at 5:58 for Ephrata and added another a minute later.

 

"They put a lot of pressure on us," Pletz said. "And we didn't handle it as well as we usually do."

 

Keefer and Hornberger finished with two goals each for the Mounts and Brian Neff stopped nine shots in goal.

 

The Whippets were paced by Ryan Hibbs' four goals and goalie Alex Cuttics' seven saves.