The Black Knights blanked the Buckskins in a key Section One boys' soccer match on Thursday, September 30. With the 2-0 victory, Hempfield stayed atop the section standings with a 6-1-0 Lancaster-Lebanon League record.

At the midway mark of the first half, Dylan Luong scored off a Nate Schwartz assist. Schwartz provided the assist for Brady King's goal seven minutes later.

In their six league victories, the Knights have outscored their opponents 19-2. The offense kept the pressure on for the Conestoga Valley match on Thursday, directing 11 shots toward the Buckskins' net where CV goalie Luke Snader made nine saves.

On the Hempfield side of the pitch, Matthew Roth collected three saves in the shutout.

"Going into the season, we thought defense was going to be a strength for us," said head coach Mark Ashley. "We have three seniors - Caden Bonner, Gunner Schwanger, and Andrew Potter - who have been solid defenders in the back. We've also been able to rotate in underclassmen to supplement and support those guys."

Relying on the three senior backs along with central defensive midfielder Luke Kramer could be among the reasons for the success on defense.

The defense held Manheim Township scoreless in a Section One match on Monday. The Streaks and Knights (6-1-1) played to a scoreless draw.

VOLLEYBALL

In their fight to remain unbeaten in L-L League play, the Knights faced Manheim Township in a Section One girls' volleyball match on the road, Thursday September 30.

Hempfield came away with a 25-20 victory in the first set and outlasted Township 28-26 in the second set before finishing off the 3-0 victory 25-13.

Camile De La Torre helped detour Township's comeback bid as she registered eight kills for the Knights (7-0). Faith McGowan and Kendyl Peters added five kills.

Melody Butzer dished out 22 assists to her Hempfield teammates. Peyton Fisher served up four aces and Allison Cummings led her team in digs with 12.

The loss dropped Township to 4-2 in league play (4-3 overall).

FOOTBALL

Cam Harbaugh's three touchdown passes plus a balanced rushing attack that featured 72 yards by Stephen Katch (two touchdowns) and 71 yards by Evan Smith, the Knights won 41-6 at McCaskey on Friday, October 1. The win was Hempfield's second in a row, raising the Knights' record to 4-2 (1-0 in league).

Harbaugh, who threw for 188 yards on 10 completions, connected with Thomas Minnich twice for scoring passes. He also found Adam Acker for a 34-yard TD pass in the third quarter. Cody Gehres relieved Harbaugh later in the second half. Gehres completed all three of his pass attempts, including a five-yard TD toss to Micah Gates.

Minnich had 110 yards of receiving yards on five catches. Andy Garcia caught two passes for 61 yards.

TENNIS

In the L-L League Championships, Lydia Sullivan and Megan Wendell helped pace Hempfield to a 3-0 victory over Lampeter-Strasburg on Thursday, September 30, at Landisville. The pair posted a 6-4, 6-1 win at number one doubles.

Grace Lehman earned a 6-2, 6-0 victory over her L-S opponent at number one singles while Alex Gregory sealed the win for the Knights, taking the number three singles 6-0, 6-3.

At number two doubles, Sabrina DeLeon and Lindsay Over had not finished their match. Sophie Carson also hadn't finished at number two singles when the three team points necessary already belonged to the Knights.

The semifinals saw the Knights post another 3-0 victory, this time against Lancaster Catholic on Monday, October 4.

Wendell and Sullivan took their doubles match 6-0, 6-1. In singles matches, Carson won 6-2, 6-0 and Gregory won 6-0, 6-0.

The Knights squared off against reigning champ Manheim Township on Tuesday at the Hempfield Rec Center. The Streaks (13-0) earned a 3-1 win, defending their league title and bringing home the trophy for the seventh straight season.

DeLeon and Over played a tough second doubles, beating Katie Pan and Camille Honrade of Township 6-0 in the second set. That victory, however, was sandwiched between 6-1, 6-3 losses.

At number one doubles, Sullivan and Wendell lost a close 6-4 opening set and were up 7-6 in a second set that did not need to finish.

Gregory earned a team point for Hempfield (13-2). She swept the number three singles 6-0, 6-0. Lehman lost a tough 6-3, 6-3 match to MT's Avery Palandjian at number one singles.

GIRLS' SOCCER

The girls' soccer team gained some late-season momentum, posting consecutive Section One victories. On September 30, the Knights blanked Conestoga Valley 2-0 on the road. In a Saturday afternoon game two days later, they edged Manheim Township 2-1, coming back with two second-half goals for another road win.

Abbie Reed gave Township a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute of the game. Georgia Kielmeyer scored the equalizer 10 minutes into the second half off a Katherine Morgan assist. The Knights took the lead as Morgan assisted on Maya Trowbridge's goal.

Emileigh Antesberger grabbed six saves to help Hempfield hang on and improve to 3-4-1 in league play.

Trowbridge recorded an assist in the CV game while Tessa Groff and Brianna Zickefoose each netted a goal. Antesberger claimed six saves in the shutout.

FIELD HOCKEY

The Knights (7-6-1) played back-to-back matches that ended with the score of 2-0. On October 1, the Knights fell to Cedar Crest and three days later, they blanked Penn Manor, improving to 5-4-1 in league play.

In Millersville, Eryn Murphy recorded five saves in the shutout. Keira Boensch and Mauren Krauser scored fourth-quarter goals to propel the offense. Kelsea Dague recorded one assist.

CROSS COUNTRY

With Ella Wolfe and Molly Siebert leading the pace, the girls' cross country team defeated Penn Manor and Solanco at Penn Manor on Tuesday, October 5. Wolfe won the race at 20:07 while Siebert (20:47) took third overall.

In a span of 38 seconds, six straight Hempfield runners crossed the finish line. Earning sixth place through 11th were Lucy Bishop (22:06), Mackenzie Ridilla (22:24), Paige Harrington (22:30), Callie Herr (22:36), Norah Rynier (22:40) and Leah Forry (22:44).

Ava Pagano (13th, 22:52) and Lydia Herr (15th, 24:24) also finished strong.

The Knights (4-4) defeated Penn Manor 19-44 and downed Solanco 21-40.

In the boys' race, Hempfield (8-0) dominated with a 15-50 defeat of Manor and 15-48 triumph over Solanco.

Claiming the top five spots were Aidan Hodge (16:21), Dale Winand (16:25), Joe Fahrney (16:33) Isaiah Hollinger (17:04) and Sam Freedman (17:06).

Seventh place went to Emerson Long (17:15), who was followed by Sam Meyer (17:16) and Chris Titter (17:24). Ryan French's time of 17:38 was good for 11th place. Logan Muhlberg (18:30) took 15th.