Penn Manor's tennis team earned its first league win of the season with a hard-fought 4-3 final at McCaskey Sept. 24. Catherine Rabatin's 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 iced the victory.

Manor jumped out to a 3-0 lead in doubles play with Rabatin and Erin Shipley winning 8-1, Lydia Meier and Harper Crowl dominating 8-2 and Autumn Kirkley and Haley Hutchinson pulling out an 8-5 win for a doubles sweep.

Last Tuesday the girls dropped a tight one, 4-3 against CV. Rabatin and Shipley won quickly, 8-1 while Kirkley and Hutchinson added an 8-4 win.

Rabatin also posted a quick 6-0, 6-0 win in singles while "Autumn had another marathon match, ultimately losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-10, splitting sets and then losing in the third set tie breaker," said head coach Amanda Pryzbylkowski. "It was a very tight match the whole way."

FOOTBALL

For the second week in a row, the Comets earned a come-from-behind victory. Junior QB Eli Warfel found a double-teamed DeShawn Stanley in the corner for a 19-yard TD with 4:47 left to play. It proved to be the game-winner as the Comets "stopped Solanco on fourth-and-two around the 30," said head coach John Brubaker. "That was huge. The game wasn't decided until the end."

It also moved the Comets (4-1) to the top of Section One.

The Mules opened the scoring on a 7-yard run with 4:51 left in the first quarter. Manor tied it up when Warfel (9-of -13, 142 yards, 58 rushing yards on 13 carries) found Clark Wagstaff with an 8-yard strike with 1:26 left in the half. Solanco forged ahead on Trent McDowell's 39-yard field goal with 5.1 seconds remaining.

Manor took its first lead of the night on Warfel's 14-yard pass to Stanley early in the fourth only to see the Mules answer the challenge, pushing ahead 17-14 on a six-yard run, setting up Warfel's game-winner to Stanley (3 catches, 45 yards) just over two minutes later.

"It was nice to have some success throwing the ball since they were geared up to stop the run," said Brubaker. "They have a strong offensive line, so our defense had their hands full. Erik Hinkle led the way with nine solo tackles. He's having a phenomenal year. Jimmy Keck and Adam Ditmer also had a big night defensively with a combined 13 solo tackles.

"This is a good momentum builder," he added. "Every week is going to be a challenge, but I like our chances."

GOLF

Penn Manor's young golfers continue to impress. Last Monday at the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships at Honey Brook, the Comets wrapped up a third-place finish (318 points) behind Lampeter-Strasburg (308) and Manheim Township (309).

Jesse Shue's 76 was low score for the Comets and left him in a tie for eighth place. JP Radwanski (79), Aiden Doyle (81) and Keegan Dings (82) rounded out the counters while Seb Elias (84), Brayden Souder (94) and Maggie Eckroat (97) also competed.

"I can't tell you the last time we had six players (Doyle, Shue, Radwanski, Dings, Eckroat, and Elias - first alternate) qualify for districts," said head coach Tom Reustle. "They have been working hard all season and both Jesse and Keegan were only a few strokes from being the top qualifier."

The cut for the boys' tournament was 83 while the girls had to shoot 104 or less.

The District Three tournament will be held Oct. 8-9 in York County at Honey Run.

VOLLEYBALL

The Comets suffered their second five game match of the season in a tightly contested outing at Cedar Crest Sept. 23. Up two games to one, Manor struggled down the stretch, bowing out 25-17 and 15-10.

Cassidy McCollum matched Crest's Alyssa Riley with 16 kills. She also posted seven aces and recorded 18 digs in a solid all-around effort. Emma Saylor led with 17 assists and Lezlie Nguyen put up three blocks.

Saturday afternoon's battle in Ephrata went three games and was decided by 16 points. Ephrata finished in front 25-20, 25-20, 25-19.

"Errors have ultimately been the issue," said head coach Tim Joyce. "We're still getting back on our feet after having a disruption to our season due to illness. We've been missing players for the last three matches."

McCollum was held to seven kills in the loss. Nguyen finished with a pair of aces and three blocks, Saylor put up eight assists and Jordan Bailey scrambled for eight digs.

At Warwick last Tuesday the Comets came up short 25-12, 25-21, 25-11. The Warriors put down 15 kills to help pull away. McCollum was tops with five kills and seven digs. Saylor finished with six assists, Eliana Knaub finished with two aces and Nguyen added one block.

BOYS' SOCCER

In non-league action in Red Lion Friday, Sept. 24 Aidan Smith notched his sixth goal of the season, an unassisted first half tally that stood as the game-winner.

Back in league play last Tuesday, the Comets suffered a second loss to Hempfield. The Knights won 2-0 on Sept. 10 and swept the series with a 3-1 home win.

Behind nine shots and six corners, Hempfield built a 2-0 first half advantage. Both teams traded goals after the break with Smith assisting Zach Erb with Manor's lone tally. Drew Lebo recorded six saves.

GIRLS' SOCCER

Hempfield's girls' soccer team, with just two wins to date, proved they are better than their record as they went toe-to-toe with Penn Manor last Tuesday. The Comets, with 18 goals scored, recorded six shots on goal, managed just one corner and still came out a winner, 1-0. Lily Sugra assisted Carolyn Hinkle in the 44th minute for the only goal needed. Allison Burkholder recorded 11 saves and Kelsie Hilken two as the Comets improved to 6-1 overall.

FIELD HOCKEY

After suffering their first loss of the season (1-0 to Warwick) the Comets regrouped and took care of Cedar Crest last Monday at Comet Field. With 13 shots on goal and eight corners, Manor racked up three goals in a shutout victory.

Tristan Groff scored the only goal Manor really needed in the first quarter. Riley Robinson's goal midway through the third quarter provided a bit of insurance while Malayna Kahl's fourth quarter tally put the game out of reach. Cecily Charles needed just three saves to preserve the victory.

In Neffsville last Tuesday the Comets notched a second 1-0 victory over Manheim Township. Grace Gerner, assisted by Caity McGough, scored her fifth goal of the season and the game-winner with 11:20 left in the third quarter, pushing the Comets to 11-1 overall.