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Twin Valley holds on to down Wilson in field hockey

When Wilson and Twin Valley get together for a field hockey game, there usually is plenty at stake and it’s almost certain to go down to the wire.

Although Twin Valley scored twice in the first nine minutes, Wednesday’s Berks Field Hockey League Division I showdown ended up getting back on script.

“We came out really strong but they’re a fast team, they’re very talented,” said Twin Valley senior Makayla Carahaly. “We’ve always been back and forth with them since our freshmen year.”

Carahaly scored both early goals and Twin Valley held on to defeat Wilson 2-1 to take control of the Berks I race.

The Raiders (8-0, 10-1) moved a step closer to clinching the Berks I title with their second one-goal win over the Bulldogs (6-2, 8-3) this season. Six of the last seven games between the two teams have been decided by one goal.

“It was a nail-biter right to the end as it usually is when we play Wilson,” said Cathy DeSantis, who was filling in for vacationing head coach Kim Walsh. “I think our defense did a nice job and I think our goalie did an outstanding job.”

Maddie Stevens made five saves, including a couple big stops in the fourth quarter when Wilson brought plenty of offensive pressure. She also came out of the goal to break up other Wilson scoring chances and helped the Raiders fend off two untimed penalty corners at the end of the game.

“I just had to focus on the save and getting the ball out as a team,” Stevens said. “We had to really hold strong on defense and hold them back.”

The Raiders started strong on offense with Carahaly scoring on two tip-ins off penalty corners. Emma Winther assisted on the first goal less than three minutes into the game and Natali Foster assisted on the second midway through the first quarter.

“They were just right to me and there was an open goal,” Carahaly said.

But Wilson wasn’t done. The Bulldogs trimmed the Raiders’ lead in half when Caroline Horace scored off an assist from Kayla Wilkes midway through the second quarter.

But Wilson was unable to score the equalizer despite securing nine corners. Twin Valley finished with 10.

Olivia Baxewanis and the Wilson defense blanked Twin Valley after allowing the two early goals. Baxewanis had five saves but Wilson couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

“We didn’t follow the game plan,” said Wilson coach Kim Underwood, “You can’t win games when you don’t follow the game plan.”

Part of the plan was to keep the ball out of the middle of the field and prevent Twin Valley from securing penalty corners.

Foster helped set up both goals and was credited with her 101st career assist. It was Foster’s first home game since she became the first Berks player and only the second in Pennsylvania to score 100 goals and reach 100 assists in her career.


Source: Berkshire mont

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