Rocket Launchers
SLIPPERY ROCK — Hannah Burtner stood in the Slippery Rock huddle, smile beaming.
When told Villa Maria had beaten General McLane, setting up a clash between the Rockets and the Victors in the District 10 Class 2A title game — at home, no less — Burtner, a senior captain, could not contain her enthusiasm.
“Let's get them!” She bellowed.
Slippery Rock (14-1) had no trouble getting Franklin in the semifinal Wednesday night at Troy-Alan Stadium.
The Rockets scored four goals in the first 19 minutes on the way to an 8-0 win over the Knights to set up a championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday against Villa, which knocked off General McLane, 2-1, in the other semifinal.
Scoring goals hasn't been a problem for Slippery Rock this season with 84 in 14 games coming into Wednesday night.Defense hasn't been much of an issue, either. The Rockets have given up five goals all season.“That's something we've done all season,” said Slippery Rock coach Sarah Vemilya. “Our girls are eager to score goals. They want to score goals. I'm not going to stop that. I encourage them all the more. That's what they've been after all season.”Slippery Rock has had 15 players score at least one goal this season.Burtner and Isabelle Willison each scored two goals against Franklin.Leading scored Amanda Lewis also found the net. So did Hannah Plunkard, Olivia Rock and Tory Hinchberger.“Who's going to be our person that night, right?” Vemilya said. “It can be anyone on any given night. That's what makes us so dangerous. I don't know who it is going to be. The girls are eager to share it and spread it around. It makes it a very nice, balanced team.”And a nightmare for opponents.“I'd like to think so,” Vemilya said, a smile creasing her mask.Willison said team chemistry has contributed to the goal-scoring surge.“We all have great chemistry,” Willison said. “We all get along really well and have a strong bond. I think that shows on the field.”The score could have been much more lopsided were it not for Franklin goalkeeper Mallory Wetjen, who had 22 saves.Franklin didn't get the ball past midfield for the first 22 minutes of the game and didn't have a shot on goal — or any shot, for that matter.“If we didn't have the defense that we do,” Burtner said, “I don't think we'd be here.”And here is a place the Rockets never thought they'd be in a season that was seemingly always in jeopardy because of COVID-19.“Looking at a season that we didn't think was going to happen, having an outcome like this is unimaginable,” Vemilya said. “We're so blessed to have this opportunity. Having it at home — I never though tin my wildest dreams we'd end up with this.”
