Ella McKernan (2) scored the lone goal of the game on an assist from teammate Nina Angeli, left. McKernan scored at the 9:05 mark in the first period against Wyoming Seminary in the Class A District 2 championship game at Wyoming Valley West Stadium.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
The Wyoming Area Warriors defeated Wyoming Seminary 1-0 at Wyoming Valley West Stadium on Tuesday evening to capture the Class A District 2 title.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Wyoming Seminary goalie Laine Cabell (64) gets a stick on a shot on goal by Wyoming Area’s Bianca Pizano (3).
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Assistant Wyoming Area field hockey coach Lexi Crossley, left, is set to place a gold medal around the neck of junior Nina Angeli.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Wyoming Area seniors Alexys Moore, left, and Bianca Pizano, plant a kiss on the 1A D2 Championship placque in a 1-0 win over defending state champions Wyoming Seminary.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
KINGSTON – Wyoming Area’s control of midfield action and its defensive work shut down Wyoming Seminary for three quarters in Tuesday night’s District 2 Class A field hockey final at Wyoming Valley West’s Spartan Stadium.
Then, the Lady Warriors turned to Rylee Muniz to finish off the four-time defending state champions.
Muniz’s clutch play in goal completed the shutout and locked up Wyoming Area’s first district championship with a 1-0 victory.
“In the fourth quarter, I wanted to take it home,” said Muniz, who made four of her six saves over the final 15 minutes. “It meant a lot to me and my team.
“I knew how much they were relying on me.”
Ella McKernan’s first-quarter goal sent Wyoming Area into the fourth quarter with a 1-0 lead. The Lady Warriors also had statistical advantages of 8-4 in shots and 7-3 in penalty corners at that point.
By the time the fourth quarter ended, the teams were even in shots at 10 and even in penalty corners with seven. But, Muniz made sure the scoreboard never changed.
“Rylee did fantastic,” Bednarski said. “I couldn’t ask for any more from her today.
“I’m super happy for her and so proud of her.”
Muniz, who first started playing goalie as a seventh-grader, showed a combination of solid positioning on hard shots off penalty corners and aggressive attacking as fastbreaks approached her.
Two quick passes off a penalty corner play set up a blast from University of North Carolina commit Ella Barbacci with 11:38 left, but Muniz blocked it with her leg pads.
Addy Dragwa came through with a defensive save with 10:40 left, then Muniz made three more saves in a two-minute stretch, all on quality scoring opportunities for Virginia-bound Emma Watchilla midway through the quarter.
The goalie came diving out to stop a breakaway on what she called her “favorite” save of the game. A penalty corner followed and Muniz again knocked away a drive before coming out of the cage to stop another rush into the circle.
Those plays all served to make sure McKernan’s goal 5:55 into the game held up as the winner.
The result ended years of Wyoming Area chasing Wyoming Seminary, trying to win District 2 or the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 title for the first time despite being good enough to play in two of the last three state Final Fours in Class A. It also ended the coaching career of Karen Klassner, who produced 757 wins and 10 state titles at Wyoming Seminary.
“It’s been a good run for District 2 and for Wyoming Seminary, so I’m proud of the whole area,” said Klassner, who noted that she planned to cheer on Wyoming Area’s state-title quest. “ … For me, it’s been a great career.
“I tried to perpetuate the sport. That was my goal and I think the district and everyone involved did a great job of doing that.”
Wyoming Area had lost a pair of one-goal games, one of them in overtime, trying to rally from behind against Wyoming Seminary. This time, the Warriors broke in front.
Neither team had taken a shot and Wyoming Seminary had attempted the only penalty corner when Lyla Rehill slipped pass behind Blue Knights goalie Laine Cabell to Nina Angeli racing toward the left post.
Angeli had an open cage, but was still moving fast and approaching the end line. She sent a shot toward the right post where McKernan had also gotten behind Cabell and was ready to stuff it into the cage uncontested from close range.
“At first I thought it was going in,” McKernan said. “I just had to make sure.”
Muniz made sure the lead never got away, making the Lady Warriors district champions in former record-setting Wyoming Area scorer Bree Bednarski’s first season as coach at her alma mater.
“It feels awesome,” Bednarski said. “ … Wyoming Area is up and coming right now.
“We’re very excited.”
