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The goal cage literally blew over.
No, it had nothing to do with one of Jill Witmer's rocket shots, although that would come later.
The wicked winds that swept across Hershey High School's new artificial turf field caused a momentary delay in the game, but could not delay the Penn Manor field hockey team's quest for advancement.
The reigning PIAA Class AAA champion Comets (22-0-1), behind a pair of goals from Witmer, blanked Cumberland Valley 2-0 to move into the semifinal round of the District Three Tournament.
Awaiting the Comets is nemesis Lower Dauphin, which sent Manor into the consolation bracket a year ago en route to capturing district gold. The Falcons toppled Cocalico 5-1 Saturday to advance. PM will host LD at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Manheim Township.
Hempfield, a 3-2 winner over Manheim Central in Saturday's quarterfinals, meets Hershey at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Central Dauphin's Landis Field.
Also moving into the semifinals, albeit in the Class AA field, are Donegal and Lancaster Mennonite, which both turned in 3-0 victories.
The No. 7 seed Indians (19-4) came alive in the second half to knock off second-seeded and previously unbeaten Bermudian Springs (19-1) at Hershey, while the 12th-seeded Blazers took out No. 13 Milton Hershey at Central Dauphin.
Donegal will face No. 3 seed Palmyra at 6 p.m. Tuesday back at Hershey High School. Palmyra beat Donegal 2-1 in the final of its own Cougar Tournament Sept. 26.
LM will take on top-seeded Oley Valley in Tuesday's semis at 6 p.m. at Governor Mifflin. OV, which beat Biglerville 4-1 in the quarterfinals, defeated the Blazers 2-1 in overtime for the district title last year.
The quarterfinal losers can play back to earn one of five berths in each class in the PIAA Tournament.
"The [difference in] skill level was very evident. Theirs was above ours," BS coach Neil Bixler said of the Indians, who had advantages of 9-3 in penalty corners and 14-3 in shots.
"In our league you get challenged two or three times. Then you get to this level and play is a 360-degree turn. It's just so much better."
You'd have a hard time convincing Donegal coach Jessica Shellenberger that her team played at a high level. The Indians couldn't find their passing game nor scoring touch during the first 30 minutes of play.
"It was a hot mess," Shellenberger said of her team's performance.
However, the second half was a different story as junior midfielder Laura Gebhart's incredible dodge, dribble, dodge and blast left Bixler in awe and finally put the Indians on board.
"That goal was just amazing," Bixler said of Gebhart's icebreaker 8:04 after the break. "You might hold a player like [Gebhart] down 40 or even 50 minutes, but you can't for hold her down forever. Eventually she's going to make something happen."
That opened the floodgates for Donegal, as Sammi Yoder followed eight minutes later, before Jenna Hunter iced it with about 10 minutes left to play. BS had yielded only five goals all season before losing to Donegal.
As for the Comets, Witmer staked them to a 1-0 lead 25:50 into the game, dribbling into the circle, drawing the goalie toward her, then putting the ball into the cage.
Her second goal, 7:39 into the second half, was even more spectacular as she ripped a chip shot from deep and to the left of the cage.
"That was a rocket. That was one that really took the starch out," Cumberland Valley coach Patrick Weigle said of Witmer's blast.
"There are not too many girls that can do that [shot]," said PM coach Matt Soto.
"I just wanted to hit it high and hard," said Witmer, a Maryland recruit.
The Comets dominated statistically, with advantages of 19-2 in corners and 13-1 in shots. Had it not been for four defensive stick saves by the Eagles' Lauren Mariano, Manor would have won 6-0.
Cumberland Valley (14-7) also gave the Comets something to work on as they struggled against the Eagles' defense on corners that had goalie Peyton Smith (seven saves) coming out high to defend along with two rushers.
"It's a wrinkle we hadn't seen, but that's good. Now we know we need to work on that," Soto said of the corner defense.
Lancaster Mennonite (16-5) also dominated statistically and on the scoreboard, with Kristen Stoltzfus' goal with 5:30 left in the first half all the offense LM would need.
Celina Nissley and Danielle Peirson added second-half scores for the Blazers, who outshot the Spartans 16-2 and led 14-6 in corners in a game played at Central Dauphin.
pkauffman@lnpnews.com
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