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Clarion-Limestone Lions Boys Soccer team defeats Redbank Bulldogs, Bingham Spectacular in Goal

Images by Matt Lerch – Above: Tyler Bingham making a save

(By Matt Lerch)

There’s an old saying, offense sells the tickets, but defense wins the games. This was what unfolded under the lights in New Bethlehem, PA on a chilly 40 degree and windy yet clear Monday night on October 17, 2022. The Clarion-Limestone Lions evened up the series this fall against the Redbank Bulldogs by winning on Redbank turf 3-1 increasing their incredible season record to 13-2.

The Lions quick offense kept the Bulldogs defense on their heels all night and was as always, opportunistic. The Lions’ senior goalkeeper, Tyler Bingham, was on a mission after suffering the only notable loss of the whole season to Redbank early in the season. This was a different day and in Bingham’s eyes, it was retribution.

Bingham had to lead for the Lions early in the contest when the Bulldogs were rewarded a penalty kick. The Lions head coach Don Montgomery was pleased to see his goalkeeper make a deflecting diving save to his right at the 21:15 mark keeping the game scoreless.

The Lions offense anchored by Senior Bailee Verdill, started the scoring at 33:18 after he readily accepted a through ball pass from Sophomore Thomas Uckert making the score 1-0.

Notably, Lions Sophomore Brady Pierce held the left side of the defense down in the first half “picking the pocket” of the veteran Redbank winger stopping advances cold and starting several Lions offensive attacks. Sophomore center defender Carter Brown intercepted Redbank advances with headball after headball, beating the Redbank midfielders to misguided optimistic Redbank goalie kicks.

Carter Brown with a header

Bolstered by the Lions bend-don’t-break defense, Bingham started the contest saving 11 shots on goal in the first half. The combination of the collective young defense was warmed up and ready for the second half.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the Redbank offense showed grit and determination on their recognition of the Seniors night by scoring a goal early in the second half at 39:31 tying the game 1-1 on a penalty kick against the already-peppered Bingham.

But the quick-strike Lions offense responded in less than two minutes with an astounding corner kick from Sophomore left-footed Wyatt Bingham on a corner kick. During the mad scramble of Lion offense and Bulldog defense in the goalbox of Boyden’s kick, an advancing Verdill somehow saw the untouched ball come through to the back of the goalmouth scoring on an incredible slider down low, with the Redbank goalie in great position. With the 2-1 lead, there was not just the strong Redbank offense Bingham had to worry about, there was still almost the whole second half to worry about.

Brendan Bettwy

Time and time again in the second half, Bingham was under attack, after all this was Senior night and Redbank is always strong in offensive attacks. The midfield controlled all night long by freshman Brendan Bettwy, Senior Reese Geiger and Junior Blaise Cunningham kept the Redbank offense honest. But Bettwy was on fire. Time and time again he used his vertical leap to outjump header opportunities and his speed and agility to juke and outrun his counterparts to keep Bingham safe and advance the ball.

But the night of scoring wasn’t over for the Lions. With 7 minutes left in the contest, another blast by Boyden on a corner kick found the ball ricocheting around the Redbank goalkeeper and speedy forward Freshman Dany Schweitzer solidified Clarion-Limestone’s victory making the score 3-1.

Center defender Sophomore Jason Megnin in the second half was masterful in his shutdown defense, able to cut angles down for keeper Bingham to make saves that were less stringent for the exhausted Clarion Limestone goalkeeper. With Megnin’s performance along with Brown, Pierce and Sophomore Isaac Lerch, the Lions’ goalkeeper Bingham added another 13 saves in net in the second half increasing his saves to 24 in the game.

The Lions finish their regular season this Wednesday (October 19th) against DuBois High School at home.

(Way to go, Lions!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for his article and pics!!)