Emerson Shauger (#11) along with the rest of the Saucon Valley Panthers cranked up the pressure on the Moravian Academy Lions.
Last Thursday, the Saucon Valley girls lacrosse team defeated Moravian Academy 16-6. On Tuesday, the Lady Panthers made the trip to visit Moravian Academy for the rematch. The Lions were probably hoping to get a little payback, but when the game was over, Saucon once again defeated Moravian 16-6.
Just like in their first meeting this season, it was Moravian Academy who struck first. And, just like in the first game, a minute later Saucon senior, Katherine Naiburg hit the equalizer for the Panthers.
Saucon senior Kat Naiburg (#12) powers in for a score.
Naiburg got Saucon Valley started and classmate Siobhan Coakley followed Naiburg’s lead. Coakley received a crafty feed from Maria Donahue who was behind the Moravian goal. Coakley cut to the doorstep of the goal and quickly one-timed Donahue’s offering into the Lions’ net for a score. With 21:30 yet to play in the 1st half Saucon Valley took the lead from Moravian and would never give it back.
About three minutes later Saucon Valley junior Camryn Zavacky assisted on a Naiburg score with another pass from behind the Moravian goal. Similar to the Panthers previous point, Naiburg received the pass and scored as she cut through the arc toward the goal. Moravian Academy answered right back about a minute later to make it a 3-2 game with just over seventeen minutes left to play in the 1st half.
Kiele Riefenstahl (#31) drives and dishes for the Panthers.
For the remainder of the 1st half Saucon Valley dominated. Six different Panthers chipped in to score eight unanswered goals. Camryn Zavacky, Kiele Riefenstahl (2), Maria Donahue (2), Brooke Riefenstahl, Katherine Naiburg and Salome Carr all combined to help build an 11-2 halftime advantage in favor of Saucon.
Salome Carr making a run from coast to coast.
After the brief intermission, Saucon Valley picked up where they had left off in the 1st half. The Panthers scored the first five goals after the break. Saucon received their 2nd half, offensive firepower from Katherine Naiburg, Camryn Zavacky, Maria Donahue (2), and Makenzie Shimko. Naiburg’s goal at 22:18 started the mercy-rule which activated the running clock that would shorten the game. Nonetheless, it was a community effort and the Panthers built a commanding 16-2 advantage over the Lions with 10:22 left to play.
From her midfield position, Saucon Valley’s Maria Donahue drives and dunks for a score.
Moravian Academy did finish strong with four unanswered goals during the last ten minutes of play, but too much damage had already been done. Saucon Valley defeated Moravian Academy by a 16-6 score.
It was another great team victory for the Panthers.
Panther Net-Flicks: Katherine Naiburg and Maria Donahue led the Panthers with four goals each. Camryn Zavacky and Kiele Riefenstahl both scored twice. Siobhan Coakley, Katie Marker, Brooke Riefenstahl and Makenzie Shimko each added a point for the Panthers. Salome Carr, Sarah Duffy, Kerry Lannon, Kimmy Polefka and Audrey Holland all played great defense for Saucon Valley.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (10-1) will load the bus and head to the far north for a clash with the Crestwood Comets (Wilkes Barre) on Thursday May, 2. This contest is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
About This Series: Andrew & Sonya Hughes of Hellertown are sponsoring girls sports coverage on Saucon Source to help recognize the achievements of female high school athletes in Saucon Valley, and in tribute to their own daughters, who were both stand-out student-athletes at their high school, where they played softball, soccer, basketball and field hockey. Between the two of them they earned 14 high school varsity letters. “Female athletics was a big part of our family life for many years, but that journey ended at the high school level six years ago,” Andrew Hughes says. “Through those amazing experiences we also noticed that females don’t seem to have the same level of exposure and support as their male counterparts. So we are very sensitive to situations where we perceive an imbalance of exposure of female student athlete participation in competitive high school sports. We also like to encourage greater involvement of young people in athletics. We would like to help the girls gain more exposure at your news source by adopting some girls high school teams.” Saucon Source thanks Andrew & Sonya Hughes for their generous support of local girls high school athletics.
