It was one of the top plays of the entire Lebanon County scholastic season. It was a play which helped define and shape the Elco girls’ soccer team’s fall.
What else would you expect from an MVP?
Just moments after being named the most valuable player in Section Three of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, Ryelle Shuey showed why. Shuey’s goal with 1:26 remaining lifted the Raiders to a 3-2 victory over Schuylkill Haven, in Monday’s opening round match of the District Three Class AA postseason, contested at Elco Stadium.
But it was certainly no ordinary goal. From the middle of the pitch, 30 yards out, Shuey gathered a loose ball, and in one smooth motion turned and lofted a perfect chip that beat the Schuylkill Valley keeper high.
The tally completed a Raider rally from a 2-0 deficit, which they faced 16 minutes into the second half. The freshman forward had tied the score at two with 16:45 remaining on a perfectly place penalty kick and also assisted on teammate Jenna Oliviero’s goal that got Elco on the board.
With the result, Elco, the reigning Lancaster-Lebanon Section Three champion, moved to 15-4-1 overall and into the quarterfinal round of districts.
– Jeff Falk