Moravian Academy Edges Holy Redeemer 4-2 in State
Elena Reid's hat trick powered Moravian Academy past Holy Redeemer in the PIAA Class A girls soccer first round.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Soccer
Moravian Academy defeated Holy Redeemer 4-2 in the PIAA Class A girls soccer state tournament first round at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre Township. All four Moravian Academy goals came in the first 40 minutes, and the team will face the winner of Cam Hill and Hughesville in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Why it matters
The win advances Moravian Academy, which previously claimed the District 11 championship, deeper into the state tournament. Holy Redeemer, which finished 15-6-2 and captured a sixth straight District 2 Class A title, falls out of the bracket.
The final score was 4-2, with Holy Redeemer outshooting Moravian Academy 15 to 11 on goal attempts. Each side recorded five corner kicks, while goalkeepers Laurestine Moore and Sadie Werner made five and six saves respectively.
The players
Moravian Academy
A private school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, whose girls soccer program won the District 11 championship before this state tournament win.
Holy Redeemer
A Catholic high school in Wilkes-Barre area, Pennsylvania, whose girls soccer program has won six consecutive District 2 Class A championships.
The details
Elena Reid scored a hat trick in the first half, beating Holy Redeemer keeper Sadie Werner one-on-one after a run behind the defense, and Sarah Pulcini also scored for Moravian Academy. Lia Limongelli and Nina Lombardi scored for Holy Redeemer, with Lombardi's goal coming with 1:42 remaining.
Timeline
November 10, 2026: Moravian Academy defeats Holy Redeemer 4-2 at McCarthy Stadium in the state first round.
Tuesday: Moravian Academy plays the winner of Cam Hill and Hughesville in the state quarterfinals.
Season Trajectory
Holy Redeemer's loss ends a run of six straight District 2 Class A girls soccer championships that had made it a regional fixture. Moravian Academy's advance to the quarterfinals extends a season in which it already claimed the District 11 title.
The result sets up a Tuesday state quarterfinal for Moravian Academy that will determine whether the team advances further in the bracket. Fans tracking the state tournament can follow the Tuesday matchup against the Cam Hill and Hughesville winner.
The takeaway
Single-elimination state play rewards teams that score early and close out leads, as Moravian Academy did with all four goals in the first 40 minutes. Its Tuesday quarterfinal will test whether that early pressure holds against a new opponent.
What happens next
Moravian Academy plays the winner of Cam Hill and Hughesville in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Further reading
For more coverage of teams across the state, see Soccer in Pennsylvania.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times Leader.
