The golf team, virtually unaffected by the corona virus, wrapped up their regular season on September 18 and then competed in the L-L League Golf Championships Monday, Sept. 21 at Meadia Heights.
Sophomore Logan Wagner fired an 81 in the September 18th regular season finale at Ephrata and clinched a second straight Section Two scoring title. His 78.6 average edged Garden Spot's Zach Lessley (80.2).
"This is definitely a first," said head coach Greg Minnich. "I haven't had anyone win two scoring titles in 15 years."
Freshmen Brayden Herr (87) and Nathan Tucker (98) and Anna Sexton (91) all contributed best-ever tournament scores while Andy Teaman (91) and Olivia Lasko (102) rounded out the scoring.
The team, with a 350 score, fell two strokes shy of upending Garden Spot (348) and was one stroke behind E-town. The Mules finish with a 14-9 Section Two mark, following GS (22-1) and ET (18-5).
Their championship round at Meadia featured similar results. Wagner's 81 put him in a 7-way tie for the fifth lowest score and qualified him for the District Three Championships.
Teaman (97), Herr (98), Lasko (104) and Sexton (108) also competed. Lasko's score was the sixth lowest score in the girls' tournament.
"We played at Meadia the Monday before leagues and improved seven strokes," Minnich noted. "The course was definitely tougher at leagues so that is good incentive for next year."
TENNIS
The racket club went into week two of the season on a three match win streak, including shutouts over Lebanon and Garden Spot. That momentum, however, was halted with a 7-0 loss at Manheim Central on Sept. 21. Playing No. 2, Perla Benitez put up the best numbers of the day, pulling off a 6-3 opening set over Casandra Ginder before falling short 6-4, 10-8.
"That was a tough tiebreaker loss for Perla who split sets last year against Ginder as well," said head coach Annie Hammel who returns to the sidelines.
In a tightly contested matchup Wednesday, Solanco fell short against Ephrata, 4-3. "They seemed a little more experienced with match play and finishing points," noted Hammel. "We need to be a little more consistent."
Benitez and Sidney Beyer pulled out the only doubles win and the two squads split in singles play. Benitez rallied to win a tiebreaker (5-7, 6-3 (10-3) at No. 2 and Beyer pulled out a No. 4 win, 7-5, 7-5.
FIELD HOCKEY
A penalty stroke with 7:32 left in overtime was the deciding factor in Solanco's season opening loss to visiting Garden Spot last Wednesday. Despite taking the early lead on a first quarter goal by Mariah Stoltzfus. The Spartans tied the game with 8:09 left in the third, setting the stage for the extra period.
Both squads threatened in overtime but Spot was awarded a stroke when Amanda Leeland's fastbreak effort was aggressively denied by Solanco keeper Kimmy Beacham.
"Kimmy almost saved that stroke," said head coach Whitney Hawkins. "I thought she had a great game. They all played well. We just need to work on remaining composed in the circle. We would have liked the 'W' but are happy to start with an overtime game."
CROSS COUNTRY
In their season opener last Thursday, and under first year head coach Kyle Nardella, Solanco's harrier teams went 0-4 in a tri-meet at Hempfield.
Freshman Lilly Soulliard, with a 19:55 second place effort, was Solanco's highest finisher. Emma Baxter (7), Christine Wagner (12), Nicole Dodson (15), and Olivia Singleton (16) rounded out the top five as Solanco fell to Lebanon and the hosting Black Knights.
Sophomore Anthony Solis, a district qualifier last year, was tops for the boys, taking 10th overall in 17:14. Avery Jacobsen (14), Wyatt Tomison (17), Jimmy Hartigan (20) and Joey Hartigan (21) completed the top five scoring.
"Hempfield is at a different level as a team but we were happy with some individual performances," said Nardella, an assistant at Solanco the past eight years. "The girls are young (three freshmen, no seniors) and were missing two key individuals due to injury. They will only get stronger as the season goes on."
BOYS' SOCCER
First year head coach Brandon Smith brings a new standard and philosophy to Solanco soccer. "The history of this program is just that, history. We can't undo it. What we can do is focus on right now," he said. "We can continue to get better every day, perfect fundamentals and play for each other. When you put those variables together, positive things can happen.
"This group has a lot of pride in what they do," he added. "They want to get better."
Solanco opened its season against Lancaster Mennonite, one of the best teams in the district, last Wednesday. "Yes we lost 7-0 but we stuck together and did not give up," Smith said. "Everything is brand new this year. We had the right thoughts about finding the right angles, movement off the ball, and making the simple pass. Now we need to add speed, accuracy, and communication."
GIRLS' SOCCER
After setting a school record for wins last year (14-6-2), the girls' soccer team opened Section Three play last Wednesday with a 2-0 home win over Lancaster Mennonite. Meg Bailey's first half goal in a crowded box proved to be the game-winner but Rilyn Saner added an insurance goal with nine minutes remaining. They outshot the Blazers 13-5 with the bulk of their opportunities coming in the second half.
Caroline Drumm recorded five saves.
With eight returning starters, Solanco's expectation of returning to the post-season remains their number one goal.
VOLLEYBALL
First year head coach Dillion Costrello has high hopes that Solanco will improve on last year's 4-18 record. They return five seniors and have a strong junior class.
They opened the season with a 3-0 loss at Elizabethtown on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Bears, with 16 kills and three aces, held the visitors to single digits in game one and went on to win 25-11, 25-10.
Maggie Perry anchored the defense with five digs, Jada Dow finished with a pair of kills, Emma Canale put up two blocks and Anya Fisher served up one ace.
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