Exeter girls soccer continues strong season with big win over Gov. Mifflin
Oct. 4—Exeter entered its game against Gov. Mifflin needing a win to keep pace with Wilson atop the Berks Girls Soccer League Division I standings.
But that was not the Eagles' main source of motivation on Tuesday night.
Exeter was playing for coach Milt Scholl, who missed the game as he tended to an undisclosed personal matter.
The Eagles delivered, earning a dominant 6-2 win over the Mustangs in a Berks I game at Reiffton.
"That was all heart, passion, desire, skill and determination," said assistant coach Mike Lee, who led the team in Scholl's absence. "They did it for their head coach, in addition to themselves. They unified together for themselves and for him."
With the win, the Eagles (6-2, 9-4) remain just a half-game behind division-leading Wilson (6-1-1, 12-2-1) and a half-game ahead of third-place Gov. Mifflin (5-2-1, 8-5-1) with two league games remaining. The Bulldogs will host Exeter next Tuesday.
"This is what we've been working for since last season," sophomore Chayse Flood said. "We've put time and energy in, and it's showing."
Exeter took a 2-0 early lead in the first half and cruised to the victory, its second largest in league play this season. The result marked just the third time the Eagles have scored six or more goals in a game this year.
"The camaraderie with the girls is coming together stronger," Lee said. "They're trusting in one another and they believe in one another and it's just showing on the field."
Flood led the team with four goals and an assist, while sophomore Mackenzie Mentzer and freshman Haven Bessemer each finished with a goal and an assist.
"Chayse is a very coachable player," Lee said about Flood. "She's trusting in herself, believing in herself and believing in her teammates and it's just all showing."
Flood, a forward, leads the team with 12 goals and also has four assists. Mentzer, a midfielder, ranks second on the team with 11 goals and leads Exeter with seven assists.
"She's a workhorse," Lee said about Mentzer. "She's believing in herself more and her teammates."
With Flood and Mentzer leading the way, the Eagles are in the thick of the playoff hunt after going just 3-14-1 a season ago. Exeter lost nine of its final 10 games of the 2022 season.
"I think our energy is such a change from last year," Mentzer said. "We just want everything so much more."
The Eagles completed the regular season sweep of the Mustangs on Tuesday night for the first time since 2020. Exeter defeated Mifflin 2-0 in September.
"The message from our team to the county is — we're coming," Lee said. "We're making a statement."
With the league on notice and the regular season winding down, the Eagles have their sights set on qualifying for the postseason.
"This is what we've wanted for years," Flood said. "Everything that we've worked for this season, we want to see it in action."
