McConnellsburg High School - Sparta / Flashlites Yearbook (McConnellsburg, PA)

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They’ll Be Fine Varsity Players Junior Varsity sports usually receive little, if any. publicity though the JV soccer team did deserve a lot of credit. The players recorded a fine record, winning nine games and tying two while losing only three. MHS outscored their opponents 34-11. One of the most exciting games occured when the Spartans traveled to Greencastle. The Spartans dominated the game but couldn't score. Finally with 45 seconds left to play, the Spartans scored to win the game. Next the Spartans traveled to Mercersburg to play a thrilling game with the Academy. The game was scoreless until the Spartans connected on a penalty kick. Only 16 seconds later Mercersburg battled back to tie the score at one all. Then with 10 seconds left to play in the game. Jeff Sherman scored for the Spartans as time ran out. Coach Kendall said, The team played well. I think they should make fine varsity players. MHS OPP 5 Hyndman 0 5 Cumberland Valley 0 Christian 9 at Broadfording Academy 0 3 at James Buchanan 3 3 Greencastle 0 0 at Fairfield I 1 at Waynesboro I 4 at Fannett-Metal I 0 James Buchanan 0 1 at Greencastle 0 3 at Mercersburg Academy I 0 Fairfield 0 3 Waynesboro I 0 Mercersburg Academy 4 season record 9-3-3 Fullback. Keith Newell clears the ball out of dangerous area in a game against Mercersburg Academy. The Spartans won the game 3-1. Jeff Sher- man scored the winning goal with 10 seconds left in the game. o

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Even while finishing the season with an average 11-8-1 season, the Spartan soccer team managed a birth in the PIAA soccer championships. When practice started in mid August it was still questionable as to how the Spartans would Upp«r: Robert Koontz. kick the ball into a Mercersburg Academy player with Chri Garber ( K ) looking on and Bill Cover ( 15) coming to help. The Spartan lo t the game 4 to I. Lower. Melvin Peck ( 14) and the ballboys show their excitement over McConnellsburg's only goal against Mount Lebonon. Kevin Kendall not pictured, scored the goal with 13.56 remaining in the first half. fare in the upcoming season. The team had only a few returning seniors, which definitely made the Spartans a young team. But the juniors who made up the largest part of the team were fairly well experienced and skilled, and Coach Cover was confident that they could fill the vacancies left by last years graduating players. As the soccer season opened against Hyndman, it seemed as though the long hours of practice and extra time spent playing in the special summer league was paying off for the young Spartan team. They easily defeated Hyndman 7-1. But it didn’t stop there. The team won its next four games including a league match against James Buchanan, thus bringing their record to 5-0 and 1-0 in Blue Mountain League competition. The once questionable Spartans seemed invincible It looked like an excellent season was in store for Coach Cover and the Spartans. But things turned sour for the Spartans when they dropped their next two games to Greencastle and Fairfield, both league rivals, ruining hopes for winning the first half of the season of Blue Mountain competition. The Spartans started the second half strongly, but after two victories, lost their next four games, ended the season with a tie and another loss, making their final record 9-7-1. The Spartans efforts then turned to the upcoming District 5 play-off game. They once again defeated Hyndman 7-0 to advance to the final game of the district play-offs against Salisbury. The Salisbury game started out slowly until the Spartans scored late in the first quarter. Salisbury quickly countered, tying the score at I apiece. This situation was only temporary as the Spartans came back with another score to go a head and then two others to defeat Salisbury and become the District 5 champs for the second year in a row. The Spartans had made the state play- offs. despite a somewhat disappointing regular season. They now faced a considerably stronger Mt. Lebonon team in the first round state game. The Spartans played a strong game but couldn’t hold the eventual state champion Mt. Lebonon team back. Mt. Lebonon defeated the Spartans 7-1, thus ending their season on a losing note, and making the Spartans final record 11-8-1.

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— V Left: Hidden among three Mercersburg Academy players is linesman. Joe Murdock. Murdock's trying to get control of the ball before it goes out of bounds. Below: The defense is always there as Wade Mellott ( 17) and Tony Kylor ( 6) both attempt to clear the ball. Mark Hollmshead ( 13) in the background is ready to back them up. if necessary. Front: Kerry Randier. Jeff Sherman. Bobby Morgan. Kenny Welsh. Keith Newell. Joe Murdock. Back: Matt Cover. Greg Strait. Tony Kylor. Wade Mellott. Mark Hollmshead. Jay Cutchall. Greg Deneen. Not Pictured — Todd Souders.