In non-league action Thursday, Sept. 9, Solanco hosted Octorara for Senior Night and their first-ever night game. "The booster club rented the portable lights," said athletic director Anthony Hall. "We can't play on the football field because of the sprinkler system."

Seniors Rebecca Bruno, Abigail Kennedy and Hannah Young were recognized prior to the game.

But all that emotion and excitement wasn't enough to propel Solanco past the visiting Braves who ran away with a 6-3 victory.

Solanco fell behind 5-0 after three quarters but wasn't ready to call it quits. As they did against Lancaster Catholic, the hosts rallied, scoring three goals, two by Bruno, who leads the team with 5 goals and 3 assists, and another by Sadie Cook, to get back in the game.

Less than 24 hours later, Solanco hosted McCaskey in the Section Three opener but couldn't find the back of the net in a 1-0 final.

"In both games we didn't really execute the basics as we should have," said head coach Whitney Hawkins. "The McCaskey game was also our Big Sister/ Little Sister game where we invited players from our summer camp to attend the game. They were announced as part of the starting lineup and ran out with a high school player."

Solanco dropped a 2-0 result at Lebanon last Tuesday.

GIRLS' SOCCER

The girls' soccer team ran its record to 5-0 with a 5-1 Section Three opening victory at Donegal Sept. 10 and a 3-0 shutout at Garden Spot one day later.

Emma Housekeeper, with two goals, sparked a balanced attack over the Indians. She was assisted by Alanna Brown and Meg Bailey, who also assisted Alyssa Harpe. Sarah Landis opened the scoring on an assist from Rilyn Saner and Maya Dolan notched an unassisted goal.

In New Holland on Saturday Solanco continued to share the ball with three different scorers. Bailey assisted Landis before netting an unassisted goal while Dolan, who took a pass from Saner, also found the back of the net.

"This team is coming together as a team like no other team I have coached," said head coach Ken Yoder. "There is a feeling that something special is happening. We have post-season ambitions, but we need to take one game at a time in order to get there. We are trying to focus and learn from each game as we go."

Last Wednesday the team defeated Octorara 3-1. Goal scorers were unavailable at press time.

FOOTBALL

Brody Mellinger, who rushed for 178-yards on 13 carries, scored four times and Trent McDowell kicked six PAT's as Solanco's Golden Mules (2-1) blanked the visiting Muhlenberg Muhls 42-0 on Sept. 10. The Mules finished with 427 total yards, all but doubling Muhlenberg's 213.

Elijah Reimold (83 rushing yards) got the scoring started with an early 32-yard scamper and Mellinger added the first of four straight touchdowns. His two-yard keeper made it 14-0 at the end of one. Another two-yard dash and an eight-yard run extended Solanco's led to 28-0 at the break.

The hosts added two more third quarter scores to pull away. Mellinger broke free for a 96-yard run and later Josiah Forren's interception and ensuing 86-yard return set up Brian Coleman's three-yard romp to cap the scoring. Forren also anchored the defense with seven tackles and Cole Gladfelter added one sack.

BOYS' SOCCER

The boys' soccer team opened Section Three play with a home game against Donegal Sept. 10 but the result favored the Indians 5-1. Clint Grawe's goal prevented the shutout.

In Hamburg on Saturday, Solanco earned its first win, edging Schuylkill Haven 2-1 in penalty kicks.

"Schuylkill Haven scored an own goal to make it 1-1," explained head coach Brandon Smith. "Brady Janssen and Gannon Kilgore scored the penalty kicks while Ben Drumm saved four of the five PK shots taken."

That vaulted Solanco to the championship game where they unfortunately lost to Hamburg 1-0.

"Happy for this group to get the first win of the season," said Smith. "They get better every day."

TENNIS

The tennis team, missing two players, suffered its first shutout of the season to Cocalico last Monday and fell 6-1 to Penn Manor one day later. They are 2-5 to date.

At No. 2, Adrienne Dolan's 6-3, 6-3 win over Erin Shipley prevented a shutout.

Ava Peiffer, at No. 4, put up the best numbers of the week, winning nine games.

GOLF

Solanco moved to 18-1 with a 22-stroke lead over the rest of the section last Wednesday at Foxchase. Andy Teaman's 79 was low score of the day with Logan Wagner one stroke back. Brayden Herr (87) and Nathan Tucker (97) rounded out the counters. Anna Sexton (101) and Hodson Brown (105) also competed.

CROSS COUNTRY

At Township last Tuesday the boy's team held off CV 25-32 and beat Ephrata 19-38 before falling to the hosts 15-51. Anthony Solis and Wyatt Tomison finished 8th and 9th respectively with Avery Jacobsen in 14th. Jimmy Hartigan (21st) and Joey Hartigan (26th) rounded out the top five.

"The guys ran great in the heat and executed the plan," said head coach Andrew Musselman. "They will continue to improve."

The girls failed to field a full squad and suffered three losses. Christine Wagner's 22:32 was good for 11th place. Stella Woy was 32nd and Nicole Dodson was 37th.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team dropped to 1-1 with a tough 3-2 loss at Lebanon Thursday, Sept. 9. After taking a 2-1 lead, Solanco dropped the fourth set 25-23 and the final set 15-9. Jaidee Beam, with 7 kills and Trinity Erismen, with 6 aces and 5 assists, highlighted the offense while Karleigh Good's 12 digs and Sophia Stoltzfus, with 7 blocks, were the standouts on defense.

"We were up in the fourth set and didn't close out. Unforced errors were the key in the fifth set," said head coach Dillon Costrello. "Trinity Erisman and Madi Davis controlled the offense the best they could. Sophia Stoltzfus and Martha Weaver were giving us good touches out of the middle, defensively, and libero Marissa Cannizzaro was solid defensively."

In tournament action on Sept. 11, Solanco slipped (25-15, 25-17, 25-18) against Dallastown and West Perry (26-24, 25-16, 27-25).

At home Tuesday against L-S, Solanco battled but came up short in a tightly contested 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-16) loss. Davis put up six assists, five went to Anya Fisher for kills. Cannizarro added two aces, Kate Unger, Fisher and Alaina Herr each blocked once, while Karina Shaiebly recorded six digs.