Drive for 5 complete after Porterville's 11-2 battering

If future opponents want tape on how to play Porterville star Coriann Snyder, they can call Monache coach Ryan Atchley and hole guard Ally Bernard.

Typically, Porterville’s hole set is finished destroying teams by the end of the first or second quarter en route to another Panther blowout, but Snyder was held to two goals in the first half.

It didn’t matter, however, as Porterville went on to close out the season with an 11-2 victory and give coach Richard Taylor his fifth straight EYL title — an achievement that probably jolted his senses even more after he was shoved into the water by his squad.

“Nope,” Taylor said when asked if he ever gets sick of being thrown in. “It never gets old.”

Snyder eventually got rolling with three more goals in the second half to finish with a game-high of five, but Taylor admitted she and her Panther teammates needed to work for each one of them.

“I thought the last time we played them (a 16-3 victory at Monache), they didn’t have their best team out,” Taylor said, “but they played us strong here and made us work. Monache’s a very good team.”

For one quarter anyway, the Marauders looked well on their way to an upset. Amanda Kaye scored early from six meters out and Monache played stifling defense to hold that lead the entire quarter until Snyder scored with 55 seconds left.

Sisters Matlyn and Jenna Morris scored back-to-back goals in the second period, but Monache was no doubt in the thick of things at the half, down 4-1 — largely due to the play of Bernard.

“We’re in every single game because of how solid her defense is,” Atchley said. “There’s no denying that she can play with Cori. But we played two quarters without probably one of the best defenders in the Valley.”

That’s because Bernard earned her third kickout early in the third quarter, leaving the duties of guarding Snyder up to Jessica Santos and freshman Elizabeth Jacobs.

“That’s a big adjustment,” Atchley admitted. “With Ally in the game, we can hang. Jessica and Elizabeth were great but Snyder’s size (was too much).”

Atchley lauded the play of Santos, who played the majority of the game on the verge of ejection, and freshman Mary Crocker, who scored the team’s only other goal — a rifle of a shot that bounced off Porterville goalie Raven Kapphahn.

But that was just about all Kapphahn allowed past her.

“Raven played phenomenal,” Atchley said. “That’s the only word I can think of. She made some spectacular saves.”

There were concerns whether anyone could replace all-EYL goalie Megan Harrison, who graduated last year. But Kapphahn’s play has quickly allowed the Panthers to move on.

“Raven’s been my biggest surprise,” Taylor said. “She’s stepped up and has great passes and she works so hard in practice.”

Caitlyn Hill scored two goals, one of which was perhaps the play of the game. After a teammate’s missed shot and everyone else had already begun swimming the other direction, Hill beat Monache goalie Mary Imbach to the loose ball and flipped it over both their heads for the 7-2 lead.

Cousin Kyle Hill added two goals and Jenna Morris scored one.

“We’re a pretty balanced team,” Taylor said. “I really think our strongest part is our defense. We just keep trying to chip away at them.”

Having seen the Panthers three times this season, Atchley conceded Porterville’s style is deceiving.

“We’re always with them early,” Atchley said, “but they kinda chip away — one goal here, two goals there — and all of the sudden you’re down eight or nine. That’s a tough team to hold under 20 goals.”

Taylor’s just grateful the Marauders gave them a battle heading into postseason play, which begins next week.

“I would much rather play a game like this every time than play a game where we win by 20,” he said.