Lampeter-Strasburg competed in the Ben Bloser Invitational at Big Spring High School, Sept. 18 and earned the first-place trophy (Class AA) with 36 points. Susquehannock was a distant second with 103 points. This is the same course used for the PIAA District 3 Championship meet.

"It was a hot day, a big meet, and a challenging course," said head coach Mari Cunningham. "All of our runners rose to the occasion and ran well. This group of boys is very motivated."

Collin Whitaker was the overall winner with an impressive 15:56. Parker Stoner (6th), Adian Elia (8th), Ben Devine (12th), Luke Vranich (15th) and David Pritchard (25th) earned top 25 medals.

Jaclyn Martin earned an 8th place finish as the girls only medal winner.

Last Tuesday at Cocalico the boys' moved to 7-0 with sweeps against the Eagles and Columbia. Elia, Vranich, Whitaker, Devine and Stoner secured the first five places.

Taking seven of the top eight places, the girls swept Cocalico and Columbia. Martin, Aubrey Magagna, Molly Wissler, Keira Smecker, Jocelyn Wolff, Abby Welchans and Morgan Wright finished 2nd through 8th, respectively.

FIELD HOCKEY

After starting the season 0-3, the field hockey team righted the ship. Friday's (Sept. 17) 5-0 win over Cocalico was a second straight shutout for the Pioneers and their third league win.

LS took advantage of early opportunities, building a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and scoring two more in the second. Alexa Turner's hat trick, along with two assists from Marissa Rice, sparked the offense. Keiva Middleton and Ally Raub also scored while Tori Heiserman and Lyndi Wall picked up assists.

"It's always nice to get the win but I thought we looked a little slow," said head coach Katrina Swarr. "On the plus side, Brooke Zuber stopped her first career penalty shot."

Last Monday, however, an evenly matched outing went in favor of Donegal as Grace Dickenson's first period goal proved to be the game winner. The Pioneers out cornered the Indians 9-7 but had two fewer shots on goal. Both teams sit at 3-1.

TENNIS

The tennis team notched its second straight shutout and third of the season with last Monday's 7-0 final over Garden Spot. They were coming off a 5-0 whitewash over Octorara Sept. 17.

Ryan and Kylie Gerhardt earned an 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles and then secured straight set singles wins with Ryan claiming No. 1 and Kylie No. 2.

Laura Leaman, who won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3, teamed with Kati Platt for a second dominating doubles match.

Wrapping up doubles play with an 8-0 result was Maddie Snyder and Katie Fin while Lindsey Steele secured the No. 4 single win, 6-2, 6-4.

Earlier at Octorara Ryan Gerhardt, Kylie Gerhardt and Leaman claimed the top three singles matches while Platt and Snyder along with Steele and Jess Salgado dominated with 6-0, 6-0 doubles wins.

FOOTBALL

Solanco took an early lead Friday, Sept. 17 in Lampeter, scoring on the game's opening drive when Robert Castagna threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Elijah Cunningham, capping a 64-yard drive. But it was the Pioneers that rose to the top, scoring three straight touchdowns and four over the last three quarters to pull away with a 28-14 victory, leaving the Milk Jug trophy in Lampeter.

"It's difficult to replicate the speed of option football in practice," said head coach Victor Ridenour. "The turning point to the game was our defense adapting to the speed of their offense as early as they did. The defense stepped up again. Our sophomores, as a whole, stepped in and played well."

L-S took the lead for good with two second quarter touchdowns. Berkeley Wagner (9-for-12, 92 yards passing, 52 yards rushing) hit Hunter Hildenbrand (4 receptions) with a 13-yard strike with 6:40 left in the half and Jonathan Mellinger (28 rushing yards) scored from one yard out at the 2:24 mark for a 14-7 lead at the break.

The hosts looked to pull away on a 12-yard run by Julian Lopez early in the third, but Solanco closed the gap to 12-14 on a 17-yard run by Josian Forren with 24 second left in the period.

L-S chewed up the clock in the fourth and gained some distance with an 8-play scoring drive that resulted in Mellinger's second TD of the game, a 15-yard run.

Defensively, Jackson Heeter recorded 16 tackles, Nick DelGrande added nine and Luke Hines finished with six as L-S improved to 3-1.

GOLF

In a tune-up for the league meet, the golf team scrimmaged Pequea Valley last Monday at Honeybrook, with Matt Wilson (74), Morgan Smith (78), Ben Wilson (79) and Gehrig Harsh (80) posting solid scores.

"The league meet is at Honeybrook so I wanted to make sure everyone was familiar with the course," said head coach Mike Chioda. "The boys are one match away from our third undefeated season."

GIRLS' SOCCER

After three straight shutout wins, the Lady Pioneers found themselves on the other side of that result, dropping a 5-0 final against undefeated Manheim Township Saturday, Sept. 18. The Streaks held a slim 1-0 lead at the half but pulled away after the break.

Last Tuesday in New Holland the girls' generated four goals in a lopsided win over Garden Spot. Madison Malcolm and Leigha Saubaugh scored before and after the Spartan's lone tally in the first half. Madison Brubaker and Molly Bucher added second half goals, with Chloe Bucher recording two assists, as L-S pulled away.

VOLLEYBALL

In Section Two play Thursday, Sept. 16, the Pioneers dropped a disappointing 3-0 result to Manheim Central after losing the first two games by a combined six points. Manheim held on to win 25-23 and 25-21 before pulling away with a 25-13 third game.

Hannah Williams led the way with seven assists and four aces. Alexis Moran blocked three times, Chloe Nolt put down four kills and Morgan Lapp recorded six digs.

BOYS' SOCCER

Saturday, Sept. 18 the Pioneers suffered their fourth one goal loss of the season, a 3-2 final at Warwick. The game-winner proved to be a first half goal by Warwick's Tyler Mitchell as both teams found the back of the net twice in the second half. Marco Caruso and Landon Rice were the unassisted goal scorers for LS.

Last Monday, after a scoreless first half, the Pioneers gave up three second half goals in a 3-1 loss to the visiting Spartans. Christian Medina's goal with six minutes left to play prevented the shutout.