When Southern Lehigh and Blue Mountain faced off exactly one month ago, it was Blue Eagle freshman Reegan Spangler who shined to lead her team to a 2-0 non-conference win.
The young standout showed up again on an even bigger stage as her goal insured Hailey Scheuer’s spectacular opener to lift the top-seeded Blue Eagles to a 5-0 win over No. 3 Southern Lehigh in Wednesday night’s District 11 3A championship at Whitehall High School.
It marked the sixth district title in program history for Blue Mountain, and the first since a three-peat from 2016-2018. The Blue Eagles qualified for the PIAA 3A Tournament as well with the victory.
“It feels so good. This was our goal from the beginning of the season,” Scheuer said. “I’m so happy that we get to go to states. I’m just so happy our season is continuing on from this point. I love this team.”
The Blue Eagles provided much of the early pressure, which Scheuer paid off with a brilliant solo run that started near midfield and ended with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper that she slotted into the back of the net.
“Whoever passed the ball to me had a great pass to me. It started off my run right to my foot,” Schuerer said. “When I start going, I kind of just keep going until something opens up or a defender steps in, but I just saw the goal and two girls to beat, so I just took it. I had an okay shot; it got pretty lucky to go in, but it was a good run.”
Southern Lehigh coach Rick Dreves’ team never quite got its footing from there, and after a bit of a lull in the middle of the first half, Spangler made her presence felt to eventually double the Blue Eagle lead.
A scrum in the Southern Lehigh box led to the ball falling to the freshman in near the penalty spot, but her initial shot ricocheted off the crossbar with seven minutes left on the first half clock. Four minutes later, she didn’t make the same mistake.
The ball settled into a similar position for Spangler who patiently waited, pulled it back onto her right foot and buried a low shot past Southern Lehigh’s Molly Pavis to double the lead just before halftime.
“I am so proud of her. Throughout the season, she has grown so much, and I am just so happy for her,” Scheurer said of Spangler. “She is such a great player, and I’m so happy to have her on our team and out wide.”
It took less than a minute after the intermission for Scheuer to deliver a beautiful cross that set up Lexi Waschko for a back-breaking third goal by the Blue Eagles before Kelly Canfield set up Waschko again with 26:24 left in the game. Kyleigh Batory added a fifth from long distance later on to punctuate a dominant win worthy of a championship trophy.
Southern Lehigh senior Saige Smith converted on a free kick delivered by her twin sister, Farrah, and knocked into her path by fellow senior Abbie Bealer to get a goal back in the final minutes.
It was a goal that all three senior captains had a piece in to cap incredible careers for the group of 10 four-year players who reached three championships including a district championship win in 2023.
“That was probably one of the best goals all season just because it was with Farrah, Abbie and I, and we’re like sisters,” Saige Smith said. “It was really fun to do, so I’m glad I could put it in the net.”
Farrah Smith, the team’s leading scorer and an outstanding midfielder, will only look back with fond memories over her four years of Southern Lehigh soccer.
“Having nine other seniors is definitely special. You don’t come across that a lot, and it’s really taught me to value my time on the field,” Smith said. “They are literally my best friends, so we do everything together and I’ve definitely valued their friendship and their support. It taught me that it’s okay to lean on others when you need a pick-me-up, and I’ve loved every second of it.”
Dreves spoke glowingly about the production, leadership and growth from a deep senior class that he knows was special.
“The seniors of the group have done amazing things. It’s their unity together as a group that drove most of the offseason,” Dreves said. “It keeps them together as a group. The pasta parties, all the stuff that they do, the intangibles, is driven mostly by the seniors and having 10 of them this year was a blessing.
“They leave a good legacy behind and the next group, the smaller group of juniors, will want to step up and continue the tradition.”
Derek Bast is a freelance sports writer who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast or reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
