When Wyoming Area scored two goals in the first 10:14 of its second trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association field hockey playoffs, Lewisburg and the District 4 champions 13-game unbeaten streak were in serious trouble.

A Lady Warriors defense that has posted 14 shutouts this season held the Green Dragons without a second-half shot on goal Tuesday while protecting the lead and sending Wyoming Area into the state Class A quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory at Central Columbia High School.

All-state goalie Ellie Glatz made four saves and got plenty of support from a defensive unit that has been strong all season.

“The defense had a great game,” Wyoming Area coach Erin McGinley said.

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Only Wyoming Seminary has managed more than one goal against Wyoming Area (19-2-1) and the defending state champion Blue Knights had to work for three and two goals in their two meetings with the Lady Warriors.

“Our defense is very fit,” McGinley said. “They’re able to track down able ball. They’re able to get involved in the play and they’re pretty good with the decision-making, when they need to go, when they need to stay and what they need to do with it.

“We’ve gotten much stronger in possessing the ball, creating good balls up the field and not just throwing the ball away when we win it back.”

Sophomore Megan Beppler went the distance at center back against Lewisburg, which came in averaging more than five goals per game. Senior Morgan Beppler, Megan’s sister, and freshman Morgan Janeski started and were joined by sophomore Brianna Braccini in a rotation at the two outside back positions.

Sophomore Makenzie Switzer handles the defensive center midfield position, supporting a defense which went seven straight games without allowing a goal at one point this season.

“We work so hard on possession,” McGinley said. “‘OK, you win the tackle, now you need to beat the person you won the ball from and you need to be able to get the ball up field and to a teammate’.

“That’s been huge in us being able to create good defense and transition.”

Toni Minichello led Wyoming Area on the offensive end while helping the team win its first-round state game for the second straight year.

Minichello assisted Lauren Parente’s goal 4:03 into the game, then scored the other two goals herself, completing the game’s scoring just 1:23 into the second half.

Kari Melberger assisted both Minichello goals.

Kayla Kiwak took the original shot on the game’s first goal. Minichello got to the rebound and sent the ball to Parente for the goal.

Wyoming Area turned consecutive penalty corner chances into the second goal.

Both teams finished with six penalty corners.

The win sent Wyoming Area into Saturday’s state quarterfinal game against Boiling Springs, a 1-0 overtime winner over Shady Side Academy in the first round.

Wyoming Area goalkeeper Ellie Glatz, left, shown here kicking the ball away on a shot by Wilkes-Barre Area’s Hannah Chocallo in WVC field hockey action earlier this season, made four saves and got plenty of support from the Lady Warriors’ in the state Class 4A quarterfinals.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_TTL090519WyoArea-WBA-fh_2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area goalkeeper Ellie Glatz, left, shown here kicking the ball away on a shot by Wilkes-Barre Area’s Hannah Chocallo in WVC field hockey action earlier this season, made four saves and got plenty of support from the Lady Warriors’ in the state Class 4A quarterfinals. Sunday Dispatch file photo

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

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