The Hempfield girls' volleyball team strengthened its hold on first place in Section One of the Lancaster-Lebanon League with a 3-1 victory at Conestoga Valley on Thursday, October 6.

Throughout the evening, the Knights were unable to shake off the Buckskins. Hempfield won the opening set 25-20 only to see the home team rally for a 25-21 win in the second set. Following their 25-19 third set win, the Knights distanced themselves with a 25-16 win in set number four.

Part of the reason the Buckskins remained on Hempfield's heels was Becca Hartranft. She poured in 21 kills.

The Knights were led by Addie Leber's 11 kills and by Sarah Hess, who posted three blocks and served three aces. Melody Butzer dished out a match-high 35 assists. Kate Howard led the way in digs with 17.

With Leber and Hess each registering eight kills in Tuesday's home match, the Knights blanked Warwick, improving to 10-0 in L-L League play. Hempfield posted winning sets of 25-11, 27-17 and 25-12.

Butzer was all over the Warriors, delivering four aces, 24 assists and seven digs. Hess also registered three blocks.

FOOTBALL

When the Hempfield football team posted a 42-7 victory at home over McCaskey on September 16, some of the players pointed out that the upcoming game was on their minds - a clash with Section One arch rival Manheim Township on the road the following week.

Hempfield topped Township 17-14.

When the Knights defeated Section One rival Penn Manor at home on September 30, again the focus was for the following week - a showdown at Wilson where the winner would move into sole possession of first place.

Hempfield defeated Wilson 20-16 on Friday, October 7, improving to 4-0 in league play.

"I can't say enough about this team," head coach George Eager remarked. "They work extremely hard. This season is two years in the making. The seniors have bought into the program. It has paid off thus far, but we know we have more work to do."

Hempfield drove down for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. Trailing 16-10 heading into the final stanza, the Knights capped one drive with Cammon Biscoe's second field goal of the game - a 29-yard kick. The winning score came late in the game on a two-yard sneak by Stephen Katch.

Jackson Landis finished with 16 completions on 25 attempts, passing for 265 yards and one touchdown. On that final drive, Landis hit tight end Aidan Shorter on a key first down catch.

"Aidan Shorter is the unsung hero of the game," Eager said. "There was a fourth-down play where he was actually hit two yards short but was strong enough to drag a defender past the yardage needed for a first down. Without that play, we lose because it took place on our last drive of the game. He is also extremely valuable as a blocker but is athletic enough to make plays when he touches the ball."

Other weapons for the Knights included Micah Gates, who caught four passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Andy Garcia had 99 receiving yards on seven catches. Grant Hoover ran for 77 yards on 21 carries.

In addition, Julian Morales caught two passes for 22 yards.

FIELD HOCKEY

The field hockey team held tough against Dallastown on Monday evening, October 10 at Landisville. In the non-league game, the Knights only gave up one goal in the heartbreaking 1-0 loss.

Annabella Fimmano's goal in the first quarter was the only shot that made it past Hempfield goalie Paige Brosig (8 saves). The Black Knights fell to 1-14-0 on the year.

In a Section One game at home with first place Penn Manor, the Knights lost 6-0.

GIRLS' SOCCER

With a 3-0 loss at Penn Manor on Tuesday, October 11, the girls' soccer team wrapped up its 2022 campaign with a 2-8-0 league record (6-10-0 overall).

Holding the Comets to only one goal - Carly Keene's score at the midway mark of the first half - the Knights fell behind 2-0 in the 57th minute and gave up a third goal with seven minutes left in the match.

Facing 10 shots on goal, Emileigh Antesberger did make seven saves for Hempfield.

The Knights were coming off a 4-1 non-league victory at Cedar Cliff on Friday, October 7. In that match, Maya Trowbridge was either scoring or assisting on a score. She gave Hempfield a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute of the game and assisted Sam Earhart on the team's second goal.

After halftime and leading 2-1, the Knights increased their lead on Trowbridge's second goal. She assisted Ava Mayer 29 minutes into the second half for the 4-1 win as Antesberger recorded five saves.

BOYS SOCCER

The boys' soccer team remained undefeated (9-0-1) in league play with a decisive 6-0 win over Penn Manor at home on Tuesday October 11. Ben Ammon provided a goal and two assists for the Knights (11-3-2) while Dylan Luong, who scored the game's first goal, also notched an assist.

With goals by Luong, Ammon and Ben Singizwa, the Knights carried a 3-0 lead into intermission. Jack Tankesley, Justin Reinhart and Brady King scored second-half goals with King's coming off an Owen Mowery assist.

The Knights were coming off a 3-1 non-league win at Hershey, Saturday October 8. Devin Schmitt's goal gave the Knights a 1-0 lead they carried into the second half. Zach Antesberger scored off a Tankesley assist four minutes into the second half while Mac Szulborski made it a 3-0 game 24 minutes into the second half.

Ammon and Jase Colino also notched assists on the day.

Matthew Roth, who had four saves in the Hershey match, earned a shutout over Manor.

TENNIS

Sophie Carson won her opening match at Flight One singles of the L-L League Tennis Championships at Conestoga Valley on October 7. She beat Sam Williams of Manheim Central 6-2, 6-2 before losing to Jade Flores of CV 6-3, 3-6, 1-6. Carson did win 7-5, 6-2 in the consolation brackets over McCaskey's Lauren Snell.

Alex Gregory played to the championship match of Flight Two singles with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Penn Manor's Halye Hutchinson and a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Julia Laszakovits of Elizabethtown.

Megan Wendel made it to the Flight Four title match after a 6-0, 6-1 win and a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Penn Manor's Autumn Kirkley. She then topped Marissa Jacobs of Lancaster Country Day 6-3, 6-3.

In Flight One doubles, Carson and Gregory fell in the semifinals 2-6, 4-6.

Selena Felices and Nancy Winand posted a 9-7 Flight Three doubles win before losing a close 8-6 match in the next round.