Eisenhower ended its season on a strong note, defeating Cambridge Springs 3-1 at home on senior recognition night behind a hat trick from senior standout Taylor Talasky.
The Devils struck first, when a direct kick led to a breakaway 14 minutes into the game.
Two minutes later, the Knights evened things up when Talasky scored her first on a pass from Sidney Wallin.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoos
Open field
Emily Warner and a Cambridge Springs player race to reach a ball in the middle of the field during the Knights 3-1 win on Wednesday at Eisenhower High School.
Talasky added her second five minutes later when she took a direct kick from just outside the box and buried it into the upper right-hand corner of the net, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead they held on to until halftime.
Cambridge Springs stepped their game up in the second half, controlling the ball and making crisp passes, but were unable to find the back of the net, thanks in part to 18 saves from Ike goalie Rachel Dinger.
Talasky finished off her scoring with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, knocking a ball high over the goalies head and into the side of the net.
"This was a big victory for us," said Ike head coach Kevin Weigel, whose Knights finish 6-8-2. "We've played in a lot of close games and struggled to put them away, so it felt good to go up 3-1 at the end. We controlled the ball well in the first half, but in the second half they started getting more possession and string together more passes in our end, and we struggled to get it out."
Weigel praised the all-around team effort and mentioned how well his defense played - including Erica Littlefield, Bizz Baran, and Kourtney Knapp, as well as strong performances from Reilly Franklin at midfield and Dinger in goal.
The Knights, who graduate Talasky, Baran and Knapp, end their season better than its 3-13 finish. Talasky finishes with 23 goals out of the team's 39 on the season.