COLLEGE SIGNING: Daniel Boone’s Howiszak making way to Mansfield

Kelly Howiszak has signed a letter of intent to continue her soccer career at Mansfield University in the fall. (JRC file photo)

By Dennis Weller
sports@pottsmerc.com

Kelly Howiszak thought that she wanted to go to a college in the city. Then the Daniel Boone senior visited and fell in love with Mansfield University, located in a scenic town of 3,600 in the north central part of the state, and she decided that’s where she wanted to continue her studies and soccer career.

Howiszak plans to major in chemistry and minor in forensic science and hopes to make an immediate contribution to the NCAA Division II and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member Mountaineers following four varied and successful years of sports at Daniel Boone.

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COLLEGE SIGNING: Bears’ Lentz heading to Mansfield for soccer

Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Boyertown’s Danielle Lentz signs a letter of intent to play soccer at Mansfield as her mother Paula Lentz and coach Bill Goddard look on.

By Dennis Weller
sports@pottsmerc.com

BOYERTOWN — When the Boyertown girls soccer team recorded an incredible 16 straight shutouts on the way to the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship last fall, senior Danielle Lentz was right in the middle of everything in more ways than one.
The defense-minded center-midfielder was not only an integral part of that impenetrable defense, but she also showed that she could put the ball in the net. She knocked in the winning penalty kick in the PAC-10 final against Owen J. Roberts, giving the Bears a second straight title and third in her four years on the field.
And while her high school playing days may be over, Lentz is all ready to go at it again in the fall after signing a National Letter of Intent to continue her studies and play soccer at Mansfield University. She plans to major in psychology at the NCAA Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference school of over 3,000 students in the north central part of the state, a half mile from the New York border.

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ALL-AREA: OJR’s Morgan joins rare company as two-time Player of Year

By Austin Hertzog
ahertzog@pottsmerc.com


BUCKTOWN — Being the best player on one of the four best teams in all of Pennsylvania wasn’t enough.
Emily Morgan still had a senior season to play, and she was determined to be even better.
How much more could she give after being the motor in the center of midfield for an Owen J. Roberts team that made an emotionally-charged run to the PIAA semifinals, rallying around one another in the wake of teammate Kelsey Kramer’s untimely death?
The ‘D’ in Morgan’s DNA stands for defense, her ability to tackle, dispossess an opposing player, and positional intelligence second to no one in the area for quite some time. So in her final scholastic season Morgan decided she needed to go on the attack.
“I said to my mom at the start of the year, ‘I want to score goals.’ Last year I had around seven goals and, not that a midfielder is supposed to be the leading goalscorer or be the biggest presence in attacking, but at the same time you (need to be influential).
“My main focus was working on my attacking game. I feel like I can always do better, but I did better than last year.”
Morgan brought her usual defensive excellence as a senior and contributed 11 goals and eight assists — reaching double-digit goals like she hoped — to a Wildcat team that finished 17-4-2 this season.
“That was a luxury — every time we stepped on the field we knew we had the best player on the field,” OJR coach Joe Margusity said. “Everything flowed through her during the game.”
The abundant team success of her junior season couldn’t be matched in her senior season, but Morgan brought what she does best and more to solidify her place as one of the finest players to come through the highly-successful Owen J. Roberts program.
Morgan’s spot as one of the area’s best is now solidified on the short list of players to be named The Mercury All-Area Girls Soccer Player of the Year twice. She joins past OJR standouts Laura Kane (1998, 2000) and Jen Michewicz (1999, 2001) as a rare two-time recipient.

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ALL-AREA: GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS

Phoenixville senior Maddie Fritsche (16) and Upper Perkiomen junior Kayla Smith have been selected to the All-Area girls soccer first team. (File photo by Barry Taglieber)

FIRST TEAM
Emily Diehl, Boyertown
Junior forward recorded her third straight double-digit goal season — 14 goals, 6 assists — as the Bears’ unwavering frontline presence. ... Propelled Boyertown to a second straight PAC-10 championship and the second round of the District 1-AAA playoffs while amassing a 16-2-2 record.

Maddi Fritsche, Phoenixville
Senior defender made it possible for the Phantoms’ strength to be defense, helping her team reach the PAC-10 playoffs and the semifinals of the District 1-AA playoffs. ... Led Phoenixville to a 10-7-2 record, its best mark in five years.

Danielle Lentz, Boyertown
Senior midfielder was a four-year starter and leader in the middle for the Bears while recording six goals and one assist. ... Scored the game-winning penalty kick in Boyertown’s PAC-10 title game win, and the defensive-minded midfielder was integral in her team’s stunning 16-game shutout streak on the way to the District 1-AAA quarterfinals and 16-2-2 overall record.

Gabby McKee, Owen J. Roberts
Junior defender continued to show her poise and quality, leading the Wildcats back line for the third straight year. ... Her ability on free kicks helped her tally seven goals and seven assists, huge numbers for a defender. ... A two-time Mercury All-Area first teamer, McKee led OJR to a 17-4-2 record, the PAC-10 final and the District 1-AAA quarterfinals.

Lauren Mengel, Boyertown
Senior defender provided consistency and mental toughness from the left back position for the Bears’ record-setting defensive effort this season. ... Her and the PAC-10 champion Bears surrendered just six goals all season while rattling off a 16-game shutout streak, the second-best run in state history. ... Two-sport standout who will continuer her soccer and lacrosse careers at the University of Bridgeport.

Emily Morgan, Owen J. Roberts
Senior midfielder pulled the strings in the middle again for the Wildcats while getting more involved in the attack in her final year, amassing 11 goals and seven assists. ... The rare two-time Mercury All-Area Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Morgan was selected to the PSCA All-State team after leading OJR to the PAC-10 title game, the District 1-AAA quarterfinals, and a 17-4-2 record.

Juliana Provini, Owen J. Roberts
Junior forward was the area’s most dynamic attacking threat, leading the Wildcats with 24 goals and 10 assists. ... Selected as an NSCAA Region II All-American, Provini helped OJR to a 17-4-2 record while reaching the PAC-10 final and the District 1-AAA quarterfinals.

Kayla Smith, Upper Perkiomen
Junior forward was the key offensive difference maker for the Indians, leading the team in goals (10) and assists (7). ... Led Indians to the PAC-10 semifinals, a berth in the District 1-AA playoffs, and a winning record in the 14 games she played (missed six games due to injury).

Simone Stewart, Spring-Ford
Senior forward led the rising Rams in scoring with seven goals. ... Led Spring-Ford to a win in the District 1-AAA playoffs after earning the No. 11 seed and an impressive 12-5-3 record.

Sammy Stipa, Spring-Ford
Junior midfielder was the Rams’ top facilitator while scoring four goals, her athleticism aiding why the Rams were one of the league’s most dangerous teams. ... A multi-sport standout who was an all-state selection in basketball a year ago, she helped the Rams to a 12-5-3 record and win in the District 1-AAA playoffs.

Sarafina Valenti, Boyertown
Freshman goalkeeper played well beyond her years and came away with an unforgettable season in recording 16 straight shutouts — the second-best streak in state history. ... Allowed just six goals all year and led the Bears to victory in penalty kicks in the PAC-10 title game. ... Along with the PAC-10 championship win, helped the Bears finish 16-2-2 and reach the District 1-AAA quarterfinals.

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