SOUTH LEBANON – The Cedar Crest girls’ soccer team is seeking to get better, gain experience and come together as a unit. Not only are they not adverse to putting in a little overtime to attain their goals, the Falcons are discovering that it’s also a pretty good place to do it.
On a cool Saturday morning on the old Cedar Crest varsity field, the Falcons worked overtime to edge the Cocalico Eagles, 3-2. The contest was a mere 11 seconds away from being declared a draw, when Abrielle Miller’s big kick in double overtime found the back of the net.
With the clock running down, Miller accepted a feed from teammate and sister Alaina Miller and boomed a 30-yarder towards the center of the Cocalico net. Eagle goalie Maddie Beichner was in position to make the save, but the hard shot squirted through her gloves and into the back of the net.
“It was a good team effort,” said Cedar Crest head coach Scott Steffen. “I think we’re in a good place right now. We have young players. We just have to get them making better decisions.
“Overall, I’m pleased where we’re at,” added Steffen. “We’ve just got to keep improving. You don’t get there without experience.”
In light of the positive result, Cedar Crest improved to 2-2-1 on the fall. The Falcons are now 2-0-1 in overtime this season.
The outcome left Cocalico 1-3 overall.
“I think it was just a result of us pressing,” said Steffen of Miller’s game-winner. “We had an opportunity for that outside shot a number of times today and didn’t capitalize.
“At times, I thought we played really well, moving the ball and creating opportunities,” continued Steffen. “Other times we fell off. But overall it was a good effort.”
What Miller’s goal also did was prevent a total and disappointing collapse, after the Falcons had built a 2-0 lead early in the second half.
Cedar Crest’s Kayla Myer had opened the scoring 12 minutes into the contest, when she converted a long but precise service from Abrielle Miller, while stationed at the left post. Then, 15 minutes into the second half, Alaina Miller found Hannah Menicheschi with a short, quick touch, and Menicheschi made no mistakes from in close.
“We’ve been playing well offensively,” said Steffen. “We’re creating a lot of opportunities. That’s a major improvement for us. Every soccer coach will tell you, ‘You need to finish.'”
But Cedar Crest could not make its two-goal advantage stand up, mostly because of the difficulties it experienced marking Cocalico standout Rachel Eberly. Eberly tallied a pair of Eagle goals in a three-minute span late in the second half, both coming on well-placed shots.
The Eagles carried the momentum generated by Eberly’s goals into overtime.
“We played well early,” said Steffen. “We left Rachel alone. Taking nothing away from her, but we could’ve stepped to the ball better. But I thought we got the momentum back.
“I tip my hat to a good player,” Steffen continued. “My kids respect that. But you have to step up, challenge her and not give her that space.”
After the dust had settled, Cedar Crest out shot Cocalico 11-10. Each side took three corner kicks.
“At the start of the season, we weren’t at our best,” said Steffen. “But yesterday (Friday) and today the effort was much better. I think we’re on the right track.”
| Date | Opponents | Outcomes | |
| 9/03 3:45 pm | Cedar Crest at Cedar Cliff | 1 2 | Nonleague |
| 9/04 12:45 pm | Palmyra at Cedar Crest | 2 3 | Nonleague |
| 9/08 7:00 pm | Conestoga Valley at Cedar Crest | League | |
| 9/10 4:00 pm | Cedar Crest at Manheim Township | League | |
| 9/11 10:00 am | Cocalico at Cedar Crest | Nonleague | |
| 9/14 7:00 pm | Cedar Crest at Penn Manor | League | |
| 9/16 7:00 pm | Warwick at Cedar Crest | League | |
| 9/18 7:00 pm | Elco at Cedar Crest | Nonleague | |
| 9/20 7:00 pm | Hempfield at Cedar Crest | League | |
| 9/22 4:00 pm | Cedar Crest at Conestoga Valley | League | |
| 9/28 7:00 pm | Manheim Township at Cedar Crest | League | |
| 9/30 7:00 pm | Penn Manor at Cedar Crest | League | |
| 10/02 6:00 pm | Exeter at Cedar Crest | Nonleague | |
| 10/05 7:30 pm | Cedar Crest at Warwick | League | |
| 10/07 7:00 pm | Cedar Crest at Hempfield | League | |
| 10/08 4:30 pm | Cedar Crest at South Western | Nonleague | |
| 10/14 7:00 pm | Northern Lebanon at Cedar Crest | Nonleague |
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