Rawson sparks Lewisburg's 8th straight win
Oct. 19—MIFFLINBURG — Erica Rawson didn't envision herself becoming a key cog in Lewisburg's scoring machine this season, not even after opening it with a four-goal game.
The defending district champion Green Dragons had too many established scorers for a first-year starter to make much of an impact, she reasoned.
That was 20 goals and nearly 50 points ago.
Now Rawson is a headliner in a super-charged attack that overwhelmed playoff-bound Mifflinburg 9-0 in a Heartland Athletic Conference crossover game Thursday.
"I didn't think I would score that much this season, honestly, because of the people around me," said the junior after contributing to Lewisburg's first three goals in its regular-season finale. "We have a bunch of talented forwards and mids, who all can score, so I didn't really think I'd get that much.
"It's really nice, though. It's definitely helped me with my confidence and my playing skills."
Rawson scored two goals and assisted on another, Whitney Berge added a goal and two assists to surpass 100 career points, and the Green Dragons all but clinched the district's top playoff seed with their eighth consecutive victory.
"(The Wildcats') record's really good, so we didn't know what to expect coming in," said Lewisburg coach Tonya Berge. "I was happy to see that we could dominate as much as we did because they're a good team."
Lewisburg (15-2) will likely hold off Central Columbia, last year's District 4 runner-up, for the No. 1 seed in the Class A tournament. Mifflinburg (12-5-1), which closed with three scoreless losses, appears locked into the No. 5 seed and a first-round road game.
"No matter what opponent we have to be able to play our game, and I don't think we did (Thursday)," said Wildcats coach Emily Stauffer. "I think there was a glimpse of it, which was good. Especially at the end (of the game), we had a little link-up sequence that looked good. Second quarter, we came out and got a corner right away.
"So there were moments that we played Mifflinburg hockey, but for the majority we didn't."
Then again, it's difficult to play any way but on your heels against a team that has scored at least five goals in six straight games and seven or more times in its last three.
Rawson broke the ice midway through the first quarter not long after the Green Dragons' second penalty corner. She dribbled from the left flank, carried the ball toward the baseline, and made a nifty back-stick flip past a defender and into the cage through a mailbox-sized hole between Wildcats goalie Lilee Dorman (23 saves) and the left post.
Before the period ended, Rawson had two touches on a scramble in front of the cage, including the tip to Whitney Berge for the goal that pushed her past 100 points. It was the senior's career-best 15th goal of the season and 39th of her career.
Rawson then finished another threat midway through the second quarter, igniting a surge of three goals in five minutes that gave Lewisburg a 5-0 halftime lead.
"Erica's worked really hard to get where she is. I'm super-proud of her because she has done really well for us," said Tonya Berge. "I'm happy that we have so many (players) that can contribute on the forward line — and not only the forward line. The midfielders have been contributing a lot this year, as well."
All-state senior Avery Mast's career-high 23rd goal upped her career total to 49. Maddy Moyers then made it 5-0 with a goal to replicate her freshman scoring line (13 goals, six assists, 34 points).
The Green Dragons constantly pressed Mifflinburg, at one point having only goalie Addy Shedleski on the defensive half the field. The Wildcats often stepped to the ball for an initial stop — whether blocking up the middle of the circle or sweeping the goal line (Olivia Beck, Calleigh Hoy and Aubrey Fluman had defensive saves) — but they couldn't stem the momentum. Within 20, 30 seconds, Lewisburg was back on top of them.
"It even translates to our attack," said Stauffer. "We were often able to make one skill, but after that they took the ball away and we weren't able to link up or continue our skill."
The Green Dragons tacked on in the second half, with rare goals from sophomore Lilly Alabakoff (her second of the season) and freshmen Ella Carr (second) and Emma Bailey (first).
"I just think our passing has definitely improved a bunch," Rawson said. "Our connections as a team since the beginning of the season, we've been improving every game and practice.
"How we played was a good confidence-booster going into playoffs."
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LEWISBURG 9, MIFFLINBURG 0
First quarter
L: Erica Rawson, 7:56; L: Whitney Berge (Rawson), 0:31.
Second quarter
L: Rawson, 7:24; L: Avery Mast (Tia Berge), 6:28; L: Maddy Moyers (W. Berge), 2:09.
Third quarter
L: Emma Trupp (Mast), 12:20; L: Lilly Alabakoff (T. Berge), 1:10.
Fourth quarter
L: Ella Carr (W. Berge), 3:26; L: Emma Bailey, 0:21.
Shots: L 35-2. Corners: L 13-2. Defensive saves: Mifflinburg 3 (Olivia Beck, Calleigh Hoy, Aubrey Fluman). Saves: Lewisburg 2 (Addy Shedleski); Mifflinburg 23 (Lilee Dorman).
