Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Cambria Heights’ Mele Lavelua moves the ball by Juniata’s Cassi Parson (left) and Camryn Burd.
PATTON — Brooklyn Galinis scored more than 100 goals at Cambria Heights, helped the Lady Highlanders win their first District 6 soccer championship in school history as a junior and helped Heights earn the top playoff seed and 16 wins this year.
But after her high school career came to a close Monday in a 2-1 loss in the District 6 Class 2A semifinals at Ameriserv Bank Field, Galinis wasn’t focused on any of that.
“I’ll never forget my team. They were my best friends,” Galinis said. “They were always there to support everyone. We were like a big family. I’ll never forget that about this team.”
The Lady Highlanders took a 1-0 lead with 7:50 to play in the first half when Juniata keeper Yaa Serwaa stopped Galinis’ shot but freshman Mele Lavelua put in the rebound.
Juniata senior Mylee Landis nearly tied the game with 28 seconds to play in the first half, but Heights keeper Emma Gilbey stopped her breakaway shot.
10/27/25 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski /
Cambria Heights’ Kallie Wiedeman challenges Juniata’s Mallory Garver to the ball.
Cambria Heights got a corner kick 30 seconds into the second half but couldn’t convert and had limited offensive opportunities after that.
“I thought the second half was back and forth,” Cambria Heights coach Nikki Spanik said. “They controlled it a lot in the middle and did not make it easy for us. We made one defensive mistake and it led to a goal.”
Mallory Garver drilled a corner kick for Juniata directly to Landis, who drove it past Gilbey to tie the game with 28:26 left to play.
Some of Cambria Heights’ struggles came from an adjustment Juniata made from playing the Lady Highlanders in last year’s semifinal — a game Heights won 3-0.
“We played them last year and knew the style they wanted to play,” Juniata coach Garrick Paden said. “They wanted to go long, so we just adapted and played a girl long, played a sweeper, which we haven’t ever done. We like to control possession, but if their game plan was to go over the top, we figured we could take it away and see what happened. It worked out.”
Neither team had many good opportunities down the stretch until Landis took a shot in traffic with 2:31 left. Gilbey got two hands on the ball, but the momentum of the shot carried it past her into the net for the go-ahead goal.
“I didn’t think it was going in,” Landis said. “But when it went in, I was so happy. My team came together, and we were just trying to get the ball in the net and that happened. I believed in us every game. I also believe we can win the next game, go to states and keep winning.”
Juniata will play in the District 6 2A championship against Forest Hills, which defeated Central 4-1 in the other semifinal, on Thursday.
“It feels great. I have been with a lot of these girls since they were in seventh grade,” Paden said. “They have been saying since then that they want to win District 6. It’s a goal they have been working for, and Cambria Heights is a great team. We knew it was going to be a tight game, and we came in and finished it. It feels amazing.”
Along with Galinis, Cambria Heights graduates seniors Bailey Hammerle, Hallie Hayes, Brielle McMillen, Kinley Rogal and Morgan Ross.
“This group of seniors is extra special,” Spanik said. “Each one of them has a unique personality that goes along with their unique style of play. They are tough, dedicated and overall I think it’s one of our best groups.”
Heights finished 16-3-1, and Juniata improved to 12-6.
“I’m beyond proud of everyone on the team,” Galinis said. “We made history. It obviously didn’t go the way we wanted tonight, but we have a ton to be proud of. I’ll remember the fight we had in us. We always fought until the end, even tonight.”
Cambria Heights tested itself against some of the best teams in the area and played a tough schedule outside the Heritage Conference that included Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, Clearfield and West Branch.
“We’re still a good team that accomplished a lot,” Spanik said. “Over the last seven years, we improved our record each year. We lost to a great team tonight.”
SCORE BY HALVES
Juniata 0 2 — 2
Cambria Heights 1 0 — 1
First Half: CH–Lavelua (unassisted), 7:50.
Second Half: J–Landis (Garver), 28:26; J–Landis (unassisted), 2:31.
Records: Juniata (12-6-0); Cambria Heights (16-3-1).