Palmyra, the District 3 Class 2A champions and runner-up Warwick met for the second time in two weeks after the Cougars shutout the Warriors 5-0 on Nov. 1 in the D3 title clash.

There was no such domination from either squad on this cloudy and chilly late autumn afternoon as Palmyra and Warwick waged a back-and-forth battle, literally matching each other goal for goal and save for save.

“That’s what makes (Warwick) be here, how good their defense is. We were putting pressure on. And I think the way were we able to be carrying the attack left us confident that we could get it done. We just needed a couple of breaks,” Harshman said.

“We did make a couple of adjustments based on stuff that we had seen from them on corners in games since our game. We had some film of their games through the state tournament, and we did make a couple of adjustments on defensive corners. When you play eight postseason games and give up three goals – that is outstanding defense,” Harshman said.

CLICK ON THE ABOVE PHOTO FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS.

Below is the Palmyra team winning photo:

Witt’s game-winner, her second goal of the afternoon, capped an exciting second half that followed a scoreless first half standoff.

Warwick’s Addie Martin broke the seal in the 41st minute but Palmyra shot right back with Witt’s first marker some 37 seconds later to knot the game at 1-1, which Is how the third quarter ended.

Weaver gave Palmyra a short-lived advantage when she wound up and rifled a shot off a corner insert into the back of the cage with 10:57 left in regulation.

Warwick answered less than two minute later off a corner, when a high arcing shot was saved, by Bennett, and the rebound was deposited into the cage by Elena Care with 9:20 to play.

Witt was able to sneak a shot past Warwick goalkeeper Lizzy Matthews five minutes later and the Palmyra defense held off the Warriors final attempt to send the game into an overtime session.

“It was a back-and-forth game and I’m just extremely proud of our kids. That’s a great hockey club over there in Warwick,” Harshman said. “I will say this. I think the two best teams in Pennsylvania were here today in double-A. I feel strongly about that.

“We played each other in the District final and they went through their bracket, we went through our bracket, so I feel very confident the best two teams in double-A were here,” Harshman said.

PALMYRA 3, WARWICK 2

Warwick 0 0 1 1 – 2

Palmyra 0 0 1 2 – 3

First quarter

No scoring

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

W-Addie Martin 41:00

P-Madelyn Witt 41:37

Fourth quarter

P-Jovie Weaver (Maddie Gingrich) 50:03

W-Elena Care 51:40

P-Witt 55:42

Shots on goal: Warwick 7, Palmyra 12

Saves: Warwick: Elizabeth Matthews 9; Palmyra: Abby Bennett 5

Corners: Warwick 6, Palmyra 14