'All we can really be happy with is coming out of the game with a good team win,' Cumberland Valley's Caylin Donlevy on beating Central Dauphin 5-2
While Cumberland Valley ousted Central Dauphin 5-2 at home Tuesday, the two teams are an example of high schools that continue to cultivate field hockey talent.
The contest sounds like a drubbing, but it wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Eagles had an epiphany to stay focused on a collective outcome.
“I think that it’s over and we have Mifflin County Thursday," Eagles junior Hayven Mumma said. "We need to play the same way we played today. Go out, hard and win, and be undefeated in the Commonwealth.”
Both the Eagles and the Rams are part of the Mid-Penn Conference's Commonwealth Division. It doesn't pale in comparison to the talent in any other Mid-Penn division, but it has in recent years been in the shadows of recognition that the Keystone Division gets.
Cumberland Valley is focused on winning the Commonwealth this season, and on making a mark beyond the regular season. Each of the 2022 District 3 championship teams were from the Mid-Penn Conference.
Two out of the three were from the elite Keystone Division and one from the conference's evolving Capital Division. It was identical with the 2022 PIAA state championships, too.
Two high school field hockey champs from the Keystone Division, and one from the Capital.
“I think, for us, it was getting a goal right away" senior captain Caylin Donlevy said after the game. "CV, Central Dauphin, is a big Commonwealth rivalry, always has been. So, I just wanted to come out, the team just wanted to come out, with the most intensity as possible; really show them what we have to offer and we were going to push until the last second as a team, together.”
Donlevy scored in under a minute. But, her ice breaker was answered quickly by Central Dauphin's Syncere Matthews, who scored just over two minutes later.
The score was even at one in the first. CV and CD's used quick receptions, fast feet, and dynamic pulls, which left their opponents in the rearview. The athletes were muscling their way around the field trying to define who was boss.
There was no answer to that question in the second, as neither team was able to find the cage. It remained either team's game to win in the third.
The gameplay remained an up and down the field matchup trying to expose weaknesses. The third was a repeat of the first with Cumberland Valley scoring on a corner.
Morgan Smeltz inserted to freshman Marissa Muza, who slammed the ball into the lower left pocket of the cage.
Just shy of 60 seconds after the Eagles’ goal, Central Dauphin’s Gabrielle Brightbill ripped a pass toward cage, which was deflected by a Cumberland Valley player. Brightball’s pass nearly went out of bounds, but Kaylee Zellers continued to play it inside the Rams’ attack circle.
She turned, shot, and scored, leveling the score 2-2.
It wasn't until the fourth that the Eagles repeatedly earned a series of corners, four in a row, that they found their fearlessness. Lexi Hunter nearly laid out in front of the goalie - but not obstructing her - for a tip off a hard drive from Mumma.
The slight deflection was just enough to take the lead. Muza added to the party with a perfectly arced lift above all of Central Dauphin's defense and goalie Jacklyn Roslee.
“I think they’re not expecting goals to go high, ya know, I think they’re expecting ground balls," Muza said. "It’s especially fun when a goal like that goes in. Just trying to get as many goals as you can.”
After Cumberland Valley scored its third goal, they regrouped with a quick timeout. Head coach Ashley Hooper and her assistants wanted to break Central Dauphin's response pattern.
"The first three quarters, we definitely weren't passing as much as we normally do as a team," Mumma said. "CV vs CD, we all wanted it so badly that we were all kind of frantic. Fourth quarter, we realized we can do this, like, just shove it and give it to them. Rely on everyone as a team."
Mumma's goal, which was the final goal, was one of the few dramatic scored by both teams. On a corner, the ball was sent to the top of the circle. The initial shot was defended by Central Dauphin.
Cumberland Valley worked it around the top of the circle, and Muza reversed hit the ball onto the goalie's pads, where several rebounders were parked. Mumma watched the ball patiently move around the circle, and then put all her weight onto her front foot and pounded it into the cage.
"All we can really be happy with is coming out of the game with a good team win." Donlevy said. "We used each other. This is our big goal of the season, beat Central Dauphin. And, so I think getting this goal really propels us to what we want to next accomplish. I’m really proud of our work today.”
Hooper said her team did "a lot well," but added, that she would like to see them finish their shots to increase their scoring percentage.
"After the third goal, we called a timeout to resettle them because CD had done a really nice job after our first two goals, coming back quickly down on us," Hooper said. "We just took a breath and played very well. Then it clicked, like, oh yeah, we can keep scoring."
The motto for Cumberland Valley this year is "all or nothing," she said.
"Practice has been intense," Hooper said. "That makes it easier in tough games."
Central Dauphin tried to come back, but could barely get the ball beyond the 50 yard line in the fourth.
“Half of their confidence is knowing that they are good little players,” Rams head coach Cheryl Capozzoli said. "They played together. We’ve really been working on one touches, quick passes, and movement of the ball to space and then communicating. This was the best I’ve seen them play. I know it doesn’t feel like it. When the corners happen, sometimes things break down. But, on the field, I’m proud of them."
Holly DeAngelo and Sara Yeselavage helped power through their offense and defense on several pivotal plays.
"And, I had freshmen in there," Capozzoli said. "First time players for a lot of these girls who need that experience. Every day, we get better and better. We scored our goals. They were from the field. If you can go down by one or two and come back, that’s half the battle. But the two late goals they had, that’s when we went down. But, I’m proud of them. Our theme is unity and playing together all 11. They’re all important."