Dock Girls Soccer prepared all week for their biggest match of the season against Faith Christian Academy. After a tough loss in the district finals last fall, the Lady Pioneers focused on their positivity, team chemistry and intensity, and what they needed to do to show up ready to play on Friday afternoon. Faith came out strong, winning most of the 50/50 air balls and causing a lot of miscommunications with Dock's defensive positioning. Once Dock settled into their style of play, and matched Faith’s intensity, the Lady Pioneers found themselves putting a lot of pressure on Faith's back line. Dock's forwards, freshman Shelby Lapp and junior Billinda Leisner, created a lot of chaos for Faith defensively. After multiple scoring opportunities, and a breakaway attempt from freshman Shelby Lapp, both teams remained scoreless going into halftime. Dock's defensive line proved to be solid the entire game. Outside backs, Ava Stokes and Jenna Detweiler were able to force Faith's forwards wide, without any real dangerous scoring opportunities. Center backs Tess Bergey and Abby Mellinger controlled most of the defensive play, clearing the ball out when needed, and forcing Faith to play outside. Dock’s strongest contribution of the game came from the central midfielders, Kenzie Derstine, and Eden Loux. Senior Kenzie Derstine battled the entire game against Faith’s strong midfield. Derstine earned Dock's first goal of the match in the 42nd minute. Less than 3 minutes into the second half, Derstine received a quick restart from Megan Wenzel's throw in about 30 yards from the goal. Derstine took a quick prep touch and hit a half volley towards goal. Faith's goalkeeper was unable to make the save on the upper 90 shot, and Dock took the lead 1-0. Keeping up the intensity and communication, Dock continued to put pressure on Faith, and found the open gaps all over the field. Leisner was able to find Shelby Lapp off a throw in with a quick deflection past Faith's center back. Junior Ashley Lapp ran through to find herself on a breakaway with Faith's goalkeeper. Lapp placed her shot near post from inside the box to bring Dock's lead to 2-0.  Less than 3 minutes later, senior Megan Wenzel once again found Derstine off a throw in, in Faith's final third. Derstine headed the ball to herself over Faith's defender to find the ball on the 6-yard box. Derstine quickly half volleyed another upper ninety shot near post to finalize the score 3-0 for Dock. Dock dropped one of their forwards to the central midfield to control the ball and create a more defensive system of play for the remainder of the game. Dock was able to keep the 3-0 lead until the final whistle blew to mark their biggest win of the season so far. The Lady Pioneers travel to MaST Charter on Monday at 3:45pm.   Dock Mennonite Academy: *Goals- 1) Kenzie Derstine (assisted by Megan Wenzel) - 42:15 2) Ashley Lapp (assisted by Shelby Lapp) - 61:42 3) Kenzie Derstine (assisted by Megan Wenzel) - 64:57 *Shots on Goal- 12 *Corner Kicks- 4

Dock Girls Soccer traveled to Palisades High School on Thursday afternoon to face their first competition against the Pirates in years. Dock managed to control most of the game with multiple scoring opportunities in the first half. Center midfielders Kenzie Derstine, Tess Bergey and Eden Loux dominated in the middle of the field. The Pioneers were dominant in controlling most of the 50/50 balls out of the air and were able to stay composed to find feet. The Lady Pioneers often switched the field through the center trio. Junior Ashley Lapp found the open space on the outside of the field the entire game to create strong scoring chances for Dock. Ashley Lapp, Kenzie Derstine and Billinda Leisner worked together to constantly get out of pressure and find the quick ball through. Leisner had multiple close encounters in the first half alone. Unable to capitalize on their chances, Dock was tied 0-0 at half time. Dock came out strong and with intensity in the second half. Much of the second half was on Palisades' defensive side. Palisades had their best scoring opportunity half way through the second half with a break down on the flank. Their outside mid was able to beat our back line to find their open target in the middle of the box. Senior goalkeeper, Katherine Kardos, tried to make the save, but was unable to get a hand on it. Palisades took the lead 1-0. With approximately 7 minutes left in the game, freshman, Shelby Lapp, was able to control the ball in the middle of the field and found the gap between Palisades defensive line. Leisner used her speed to get behind Palisades' defender to have a shot at the top of the box. Leisner found the back of the net to tie the game and take the Lady Pioneers into their first overtime match of the season. The first 10 minutes of overtime came and went with Dock controlling most of the play. Less than two minutes into the second overtime, Leisner found herself through Palisades back line once again, and took a beautiful shot over Palisades goalkeeper to end the game, Dock winning 2-1. Dock's next match is Friday, September 23rd against Delco.    Dock Mennonite Academy: *Goals- 1) Billinda Leisner (assisted by Shelby Lapp) - 73:12 2) Billinda Leisner (unassisted) - 91:23 (second OT) *Shots On Goal- 14 *Corner Kicks- 5

Dock Girls Soccer felt confident and strong going into their Monday night match up against Saucon Valley High School. Right off of the tap, Saucon Valley came out with intensity and drive to cause a lot of chaos for Dock. After the first 15 minutes, Dock was finally able to get organized in the midfield and focused on shutting down the target players for Saucon Valley. In the first half, Dock had multiple scoring opportunities, including two very close headers off of corner kicks, but were unable to finish on any of them. Remaining 0-0 at halftime, Dock had to make some adjustments to try to strengthen their attack on Saucon Valley's back line. The Lady Pioneers proved to be much more focused on offense in the second half. The girls doubled their shots from the first half, but were still unable to capitalize on any scoring opportunities. Dock was awarded a penalty shot in the 69 minute for a foul on Billinda Leisner in the box. Leisner stepped up to take the kick, and shot just over the cross bar. Center midfielders Kenzie Derstine, Tess Bergey, Eden Loux and Ashley Lapp had strong team chemistry and composure but were unable to stop Saucon Valley's #11, Ava Riehl. With less than 7 minutes to go in the game, Saucon Valley found the gap between Dock's defenders to find Ava Riehl with the through ball. Riehl took a couple of quick touches and had a shot far post, to score the only goal of the game on Dock's goalkeeper Emily Markel. Dock had two great chances after Saucon Valley's goal, on a breakaway and shot at the top of the box, but were unsuccessful with their attempts. Dock Girls Soccer ended their game with the 0-1 loss to Saucon Valley. Dock's next game is Thursday evening at 7:00 pm against The Christian Academy.   Dock Mennonite Academy: *Shots on Goal- 18 *Corner Kicks- 6 *Goalkeeper Saves- 3   *Saucon Valley High School: *Goals- Ava Riehl - 73:32 *Shots on Goal - 7 *Corner Kicks - 4

Dock Girls Soccer hosted Calvary Christian Academy, Friday night under the lights. The Lady Pioneers came out ready to go after a focused and strong warm-up. Captains Kenzie Derstine, Ashley Lapp and Billinda Leisner kept the team chemistry strong going into the game. Right off of the tap, Dock was able to control most of the possession. The combination passing was successful all over the field. With multiple scoring opportunities, Dock was not able to earn their first goal of the match until just 6:29 left in the half. Junior Ashley Lapp was able to get out of pressure from two Calvary defenders and found Billinda Leisner with the run on the left side. Leisner took a couple of touches inside the box and slotted the ball across the box to freshman Shelby Lapp making the supporting run. Lapp hit a one time shot to find the back of the net. Just a few minutes later, Kenzie Derstine was able to settle a ball out of the air and switched the field to find Billinda Leisner on the flank once again. Leisner took her touches in, and was able to find the space past 3 Calvary defenders. She hit a quick low shot as Calvary's goalkeeper was unable to get to it in time. Dock kept the lead 2-0 going into halftime. Dock came out strong in the second half focusing on keeping the ball and finding the open space to start the attack. Junior Ashley Lapp found the open space on the left side of the field. Leisner played a quick through ball to Lapp on the run. Lapp took her first touch in to beat Calvary's defender and found herself one on one with Calvary's goalkeeper. Lapp placed her shot near post to bring Dock's lead 3-0. Dock's strong defensive line, Ava Stokes, Abby Mellinger and Caitlin May, kept most of the play on Calvary's half. Less than 7 minutes to go in the game, senior Kenzie Derstine took on three Calvary defenders to find the open space inside the box. Unable to get a clear shot on goal, Derstine dropped the ball to the top of the box at Leisner's feet. Leisner took a couple of touches across the box to find the open lane. Leisner was able to get a strong shot off. Calvary's goalkeeper came up big, but gave up the rebound. Sophomore Hailey Cummings was there to finish the rebound and Dock took the lead 4-0.  Dock kept the strong lead but Calvary was able to capitalize on their best scoring opportunity. Calvary's defender played a long ball over top of Dock's back line. Dock's defenders were able to apply pressure but Calvary's forward found their center midfielder making a run and placed the ball through. Calvary's center midfielder was one on one with Dock's goalkeeper, Katherine Kardos. Kardos came off her line quickly to cut off the angles, but Calvary was able to slot the ball under her hands to give Calvary their only point of the game. Dock Girls Soccer plays home on Monday evening at 7:00pm against Saucon Valley High School.   Dock Mennonite Academy:  *Goals- 1) Shelby Lapp (assisted by Billinda Leisner) - 33:31 2) Billinda Leisner (assisted by Kenzie Derstine) - 39:41 3) Ashley Lapp (assisted by Billinda Leisner) - 44:46 4) Hailey Cummings (assisted by Billinda Leisner) - 73:09   *Shots on Goal- 12 *Corner Kicks- 10   Calvary Christian Academy: *Goals- #9 - 78:34 *Shots on Goal- 2 *Corner Kicks- 0