Hempfield edged Manheim Township 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, September 29. It was the Knights' second straight Section One victory by a one-goal margin.

"We had played them to a scoreless draw earlier in the season," Hempfield coach Mark Ashley pointed out. "We were both undefeated - each with the one tie from having played each other - coming into Thursday's game. We knew this game would be important in the section standings."

The Blue Streaks, (5-1-1) had tied the game on Max Schaub's goal four minutes after Zach Antesberger (Diellon Trinaku assist) had broken a scoreless deadlock in the Knights' favor at the midway mark of the second half.

"Both teams came out with a lot of energy - very intense defending, great challenges and 50-50 balls," Ashley said. "Keepers came up big on both sides.

"Diellon was able to redirect a ball toward the far post and Zach was able to run in and touch it just past the keeper's outstretched arms," Ashley added.

Goalie Matthew Roth grabbed nine saves in front of the Hempfield net.

"Roth made a point-blank save on Schaub late in regulation - pretty much him and Roth," Ashley explained.

Devin Schmitt scored the game winner eight minutes into extra time. With a handball by the Streaks in the box, the Knights were awarded a penalty kick which Schmitt converted.

Ashley explained a near miss that could have gone in and wrapped this up in regulation.

"Just as time expired, Kena Bekere's header off a corner kick hit the cross bar, came down in front of the goal and Jack Tankesley got a second header that hit the ground and bounced over the goal," he explained.

The Knights improved to 7-0-1 in league play by defeating McCaskey on Monday, 3-1. They out-shot the Red Tornado 10-4 with Roth making three saves. Benjamin Singizwa and Dylan Luong each scored as did freshman Mac Sulborski with his first varsity goal.

FOOTBALL

With the ball on the four-yard line, Grant Hoover took the handoff and cut through the umpteenth opening his offensive linemen created for him on Friday night, September 30, and slipped through for a fourth-quarter touchdown. The scoring play put the Knights up 34-0 en route to a 34-7 defeat of Section One foe Penn Manor at Hempfield's Homecoming game.

Prior to the snap, Hoover had accumulated 196 rushing yards, thus finishing with an even 200 on 16 carries.

"I love our offensive line," the senior halfback said after the game. "I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing without them."

Both the Comets and the Knights entered the game with a record of 2-0 in section play. The Knights improved to 3-0 (5-1 overall) while Penn Manor fell to 2-1, 3-3.

Hempfield dominated early, scoring three touchdowns in the opening period. Junior defensive lineman Deyvid Palepale scooped up a fumble and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown. Jackson Landis later connected with Gabe Benjamin on a 46-yard touchdown pass and Hoover capped the first-quarter scoring with his first touchdown.

"Grant is an outstanding football player and an even better teammate," head coach George Eager said. "He's an outstanding person whose play speaks for itself. He works extremely hard at practices, so he leads by example."

Hempfield took the commanding lead and the Knights' defense found plenty of penetration to hurry Manor quarterback Eli Warfel.

"Our coaches watch other teams' plays, and they prepare us for whatever it is we have to do - whether it's pass rush or stacking the box," Hoover explained.

"Defensively, our guys did a good job of staying disciplined," Eager said. "We wanted to stop the option that Penn Manor runs. Our early lead got them out of their run game and from there we were able to bring some pressure on pass plays.

"Overall, it was a good solid performance, excluding the penalties," added the coach.

Ah, yes, the penalties.

There were multiple flags thrown for both teams, penalizing players for holding, personal fouls, et all.

"Penalties really hurt us on the field - long runs and passes getting called back," Hoover said. "We have some things to work on."

In the third quarter Landis (15-for-20, 181 yards) hit Benjamin for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Cannon Biscoe hit his fourth PAT of the night. Biscoe repeatedly prevented the Comets from kick returns by booting kickoffs beyond the endzone.

Warfel connected with Dhamir Wesley on a fourth-quarter touchdown toss for Manor's only score of the game.

GIRLS' SOCCER

Two nights after having won their second Section One game of the year, the Black Knights lost to section rival Manheim Township 6-0 on Thursday, September 29. With the defeat, Hempfield fell to 2-5-0 in league play (5-6-1 overall).

Liza Suydam scored twice for the Streaks while Ava Byrne provided a goal and an assist. Township remained unbeaten (12-0-0), improving to 7-0-0 in the league.

In a very close contest at Cedar Crest on Monday, October 3, the Falcons' Alaina Miller scored twice, including the eventual game winner in the 73rd minute to give the Falcons a 2-1 win.

Maya Trowbridge had given Hempfield a 1-0 lead 14 minutes into the contest.

Hempfield' goalie Emileigh Antesberger was truly put to the test and came through with 12 saves.

FIELD HOCKEY

With Warwick's Bree Zoccolo recording a hat trick, the Warriors topped Hempfield 3-0 on Friday September 30 at Warwick. Zoccolo scored twice in the first quarter and completed the hat trick in the second stanza.

The Hempfield defense, led by Paige Brosig's 10 saves in goal, kept the Warriors scoreless in the second half. Warwick improved to 7-3-0 (3-2-0 league) while the Knights fell to 1-11-0, 0-5-0.

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL

The Knights' 3-1 victory at Manheim Township on Tuesday, October 4, improved the team's unbeaten mark to 8-0, still holding a slim lead over Conestoga Valley (7-1) for first place in Section One.

Hempfield topped Township 25-11 in the first set, coming back from a 25-23 setback to take the next two 25-8 and 25-14.

Addie Leber's match-leading 16 kills paced Hempfield as did Melody Butzer's 31 assists, two blocks and three aces. Sarah Hess also had a pair of blocks while Kate Howard recorded 17 digs.

The previous Thursday, the Knights topped Penn Manor 25-13, 25-16 and 25-13 at Hempfield with Leder racking up 13 kills. Senior Paige Brillhart served up four aces. Howard was the leader in digs (17) and Butzer distributed 29 assists while Hess had two more blocks in the Section One win.