Not only has it been 51 years since Manheim Township’s only appearance in the District 3 Class 3A finale, but Saturday was also the first time the Blue Streaks ever won gold in the championship game.
Township defeated Lower Dauphin 2-1 in overtime. The contest was about as vigorous of pace as one could expect from both highly skilled squads.
As it was Township’s first time adorning gold, they pushed for the final point. Brooke Weaver carried the ball to the baseline and then saw her teammate Rhylee Givens standing at the stroke mark. Kai Killian came out of the cage far enough to add pressure to Weaver.
But, Weaver was able to pass in time to connect to Givens stick. Givens anticipated the pass and knocked it into the cage to end the match.
3:07 remaining in the first, Manheim Township scores on a corner. 1-0 Blue Steaks pic.twitter.com/hU02okMS2j— FemaleAthleteNews (@Female_FANews) November 4, 2023
Everything else in between was exciting, competitive, top-shelf hockey. Athletes on both teams were intercepting and cutting off their opponents by one or two steps.
Shots were even on both ledgers at 5 apiece. But, Lower Dauphin did have double the opportunities on penalty corners with 10 to the Blue Streaks five.
This was the second consecutive game of the postseason that Manheim Township won in overtime. The Blue Streaks first goal was scored in the first quarter on a corner.
Lower Dauphin’s only goal of the game was owned by Katelyn Strawser, who scored on a penalty stroke.
LD’s Katelyn Strawser scores her stroke. Ties the game 1-1 with Manheim Twp. pic.twitter.com/lOyiyXyNqf
— FemaleAthleteNews (@Female_FANews) November 4, 2023
Manheim Township 1-0-0-0-1: 2
Goals: Julia Weaver, 1; Givens, 1
Assists: Brooke Weaver, 1
Shots: 5
Penalty Corners: 5
Saves: Zoe Caloviras, 3
