Villa Joseph Marie reaches state final

EXETER TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Alexa Fabbri has been to Hersheypark Stadium before.

When she was a freshman on the Villa Joseph Marie soccer team three years ago, she played for a state championship on the Hershey turf.

It didn't go the way Fabbri and the Jems wanted.

Murphy Agnew, just a sophomore, hasn't had the opportunity to play for a state title in her still-young high school career.

That's about to change.

On Tuesday night, Fabbri played as if she wanted to get back to Hershey, and Agnew showed she was up to a new challenge.

Agnew scored twice and Fabbri anchored a defensive unit that earned its seventh consecutive shutout as the Jems defeated Northwestern Lehigh, 3-0, in a PIAA Class AA semifinal at Exeter Township High School.

Villa Joseph Marie returns to the state final for the first time since that 2011 loss. On Saturday, the Jems will face District 10's Villa Maria at 11 a.m.

"We can't put it into words," Fabbri said. "We can't tell [your teammates] how good it feels until you are actually there. It is just a blessing to be back again."

As for the memories, a return trip to Hershey evokes "a lot of emotions," Fabbri said, "both good and bad."

"As a freshman, being able to play was an honor," she said. "Even though the score wasn't in our favor, you learn from mistakes."

The mistakes were few and far between for the Jems (21-1) against Northwestern Lehigh (22-2). A goal by Agnew with 31/2 minutes remaining in the first half jump-started Villa Joe.

"We got such a rush of energy after that goal," Agnew said. "We knew we could do it after that goal."

The dynamic forward added her second of the game, and 35th of the year, in the 56th minute.

"It was just icing on the cake," Agnew said. "It was a safety - it made us feel more comfortable in the back."

Fabbri has been to Hershey before. On Saturday, she'll be back.

Northwestern Lehigh 0 0 – 0

Villa Joseph Marie 1 2 – 3

Goals: VJM-Murphy Agnew 2, Casey Kilchrist.

Saves: NL-Laura Hill 4; VJM-Gretchen Frantz 3.