Aubrey Ressler and Caleigh Vincent earning the top two spots in Tuesday's Section Three girls' cross-country race at Lancaster Catholic didn't put Pequea over the top. The Braves fell to Columbia and Catholic though Ressler, with a time of 20:27 and Vincent (21:02) led the pack.

Abby Beiler's time of 22:53 qualified for fourth place while Izzy Hershy ran at a 25:47 clip - good for eighth place.

"Izzy Hershey only started running with the team three weeks ago," head coach Keith Andrew noted.

The boys' team downed Columbia 15-50 but fell to Catholic 22-35.

Leading Pequea was Cameron Beiler, running at 18:32 and finishing third. Hugh Johnson (5th, 19:14) Nathan Sensenig (9th, 20:47) and Ryan Flaim (10th, 21:03) also made the top 10.

On Saturday, September 10, the Braves took part in the PenntrackXC Invitational at Kutztown University.

"Aubrey Ressler finished 14th overall in 21:10 and received a medal," Andrew said.

"Junior Caleigh Vincent finished in 30th place with a time of 22:26, which was 1:43 faster than her time on the same course last year," Andrew added. "Sophomore Abby Beiler was 3:04 faster than last year with a time of 25:27."

Hershey ran a 28:07 course at Kutztown.

Senior captain Cam Beiler was the boys' top finisher with a time of 19:22.

"Since he ran this race last year, we have seen improvement in his time," Andrew said. "He was 1:13 faster this year."

Sensenig posted a time of 20:59 and Flaim finished the course in 21:06 - more than three minutes faster than last year

GIRLS' SOCCER

In a tough Section Four scrum, the Pequea Valley girls' soccer team came up short against Lancaster Mennonite on Monday, September 12 at Kinzers. The Blazers beat the Braves 2-1 with both Blazer goals coming in the first half.

Abrielle Fisher cut the lead in half, scoring 61 minutes into the game off an Elena Esh assist.

Carissa Mulder snagged seven saves. Mulder was coming off a 5-0 shutout (2 saves) victory two days earlier in a non-league home game with Biglerville.

"Carissa was the junior varsity goalie last year," explained head coach Steve Morris. "She is stepping up to that leadership role this year."

Eight different players were involved in the scoring with Trinity Rosa recording the team's first goal with Abrielle Fisher assisting. Esh scored off a Rosa assist in the opening minute of the second half.

"Elena Esh has led our team in scoring in both her sophomore and junior years," Morris said. "She finished nicely - just inside the post."

Kendyl Keen made it 3-0 five minutes into the second half, capitalizing on an assist by Morgan Graham, a sophomore who's expected to contribute consistently to the offense.

"Morgan Graham was second on our team in scoring last year," Morris noted.

Avery Fisher scored the team's fourth goal off an assist by Janae Patterson.

"I was able to give some minutes to other players," Morris said. "Janae saw her first varsity minutes and scored a goal, which was exciting."

Patterson scored off an Ellie Rishel assist in the 67th minute.

The defense was solid on Wednesday, September 14 as the Braves visited Annville-Cleona. Pequea Valley posted a 3-0 win with Rosa and both Fisher girls each registered a goal.

Rosa broke the scoreless deadlock four minutes into the second half. Avery Fisher scored off a Keen assist in the 63rd minute. Abrielle Fisher made it 3-0 six minutes later. The Braves evened their record at 3-3-1.

FOOTBALL

Pequea Valley football coach Mike Choi had talked about the Braves playing a game where things would all fall into place in terms of defensive coverage, offensive assignments and the inexperienced squad gaining confidence.

The Braves played such a game on Friday night, September 9.

In the non-league home game with Hanover, the Braves went into the fourth quarter trailing the Nighthawks by only one point. Hanover scored once more in the final period to edge the Braves 13-6.

"It was everything you want to see in a high school football game," Choi said. "We feel good about that game because it showed growth in our program."

The Braves were in it until the final minute of the game.

Cameron Bergman, who had two receptions for 47 yards on the night, hauled in a pass at the Nighthawks' 35-yard line.

"Our kids ran down and spiked the ball, so we were on their 35-yard line with about 29 seconds left," Choi described. "They got a sack, and we didn't have any timeouts left."

Both defenses were stingy. The Braves also stepped up the special teams play in a crucial point.

"On the last two possessions, they tried to go for it on fourth down and we stopped them both times," Choi recalled. "On their second touchdown, we blocked the extra point kick.

"In a big moment like that, we stepped up with a big play."

Pequea Valley fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter. The Braves (0-3) trimmed the deficit to one point when Orlando Stoltzfus (70 yards on 8 carries) broke free for a 32-yard rushing touchdown.

"On our scoring drive, we ran a wing-T offense," said Choi. "We were able to move the ball six to eight yards at a time and take time off the clock.

"Everybody did their job blocking," continued the coach. "Our touchdown came when we really needed it."

Though the Braves fell short, Choi emphasized, "We got the effort you look for in a football team. It was something we were very proud of."

TENNIS

On consecutive days, the Braves faced Section Three foes in girls' tennis competition. On Tuesday, September 13, they defeated Northern Lebanon on the road by a 4-3 margin. The next day Annville-Cleona claimed a 7-0 win at Kinzers, dropping the Braves to 1-5 on the year.

In their victory over the Vikings, Kayleigh Jarvis and Cassidy Werner eked out a 9-7 victory. Makenna Fritz and Miyah Kurtz were on the short end of an 8-5 final at second doubles.

Also posting points for the Braves in singles play were Jarvis, who took number one singles 6-2, 7-5 and Warner, who won at second singles 6-0, 6-0.

Jarvis played a solid first singles in the A-C match, rebounding from a 6-2 loss to win 6-3 in the second set before bowing out to Isabel Harnish 10-4.

GOLF

The Pequea golfers finished second behind Lancaster Country Day on Tuesday, September 13 at Pine Meadows. Pequea Valley shot 356 to edge Annville-Cleona by one stroke. Lancaster Mennonite (401), Northern Lebanon (437) and Lebanon (447) followed.

Cole Stoltzfus shot 78-three strokes behind course leader Winston Thai of LCD. Matt Lapp shot an 80 while Dylan Stoltzfus finished with a 96 and Josh Stoltzfus a 102.

The Braves improved to 12-3 on the year.

BOYS' SOCCER

Coming off two close contests the previous week, the Pequea Valley boys' soccer team faced two opponents in high-scoring games, beginning with Biglerville on Saturday, September 10.

In that non-league game, the Nighthawks scored five times in the first half and went on to beat the Braves 5-1 at home.

The Braves maintained the pressure for as long as possible, finally breaking through with an Ian Waldron goal in the 78th minute. The junior scored off an Ethan Gerber assist.

Monday September 12 PV fell 4-0 to Lancaster Mennonite.