Clarion-Limestone Lions Boys Soccer Bounces Back With Shutout Of ECC

(By Matt Lerch)

The Clarion-Limestone Lions Boys Soccer team bounced back on Monday night, September 25th, at Elk County Catholic by adding their fifth shoutout of the year, winning 3-0. Their undefeated season ended on Saturday September 23rd, when the Forest Area Fires played an outstanding game, winning against the Lions 1-0.

But the win against ECC was more than sweet for the Lions, it was retribution against the Crusaders, the team that knocked the Lions out of the State playoff run last fall.

With a chill in the air and a mist covering the field for most of the game, the Lions played a tough game under the ECC lights.

The action began with the Crusaders showing their impressive speed by taking two consecutive shots on Lions goalkeeper Isaac Lerch. Inside midfielder Brenden Bettwy returned the attack and crossed a pass to Nathan Frederick who was just short of pulling the trigger on a promising volley. Outside midfielder Wyatt Boyden had an early opportunity on a corner kick with the ECC goalie coming out to rob the Lions attackers with a stop.

Bettwy made a scoring attempt carrying the ball through several midfielders and ripped the ball just over the goal.

Lerch was coming under pressure when defender Carter Brown turned away an ECC attack. Defender Chris Kim had an outstanding game stopping multiple offensive forays by not only stealing the ball but making clean passes out of the zone.

The score was still 0-0 midway through the first half when Quinn O’Neil passed wide to a charging Layton Dunn, when Dunn found Matin Ormeno who shot only to have another Lions shot stopped by the stout ECC goalie.

But things were about to change. Frederick started an advance passing into the middle of the field when inside midfielder Thomas Uckert dribbled past several defenders and scored on ECC making it 1-0.

Defender Jason Megnin took a foul kick at midfield to Boyden, who with a high leg, stopped the ball and on the bounce took the shot only to be stopped by the goalie.

Lerch then was tested with a bullet shot with a slippery ball after a centerfield penalty, making a catch and then stopping another long shot from midfield.

Finally, the classic Lions passing offense clicked like clockwork.

Bettwy passed to Uckert at midfield and Boyden waving his hand, found the ball on his foot and took the shot, which rebounded off the goalie and a charging forward Dany Schweitzer cleaned up the mess with a shot to the back of the net.

With two minutes left in the half, ECC was trying to go into the half with some momentum from a score. They were relentless with a good chance coming from a long throw in directly at the goal mouth. The ECC striker headed the ball, bouncing it off another Crusader midfielder and Lerch covered with a sliding low shot save.

At the half it was 2-0 Lions.

At the open of the second half the hustle of the ECC offense was evident. They wanted a goal and fast. Several shots on Lerch went wide but were kicked with such velocity one ball almost reached the highway many yards behind the goal. Lerch had to make another stop for the C-L when the Lions made a counter offensive.

Boyden kicked another shot low with an electric play and was stopped by the goalie. The ball seemed to go evenly back and forth with Lerch making another stop. But this time Bettwy took the ball down the field and seemingly effortlessly shot from just past midfield with a high shot, just over the fingertips of the ECC goalie for the final goal giving the Lions a 3-0 lead.

Blaise Cunningham had a good opportunity, crossing a shot to Dunn who kicked only to be stopped by the defense.

ECC with their outstanding speed was able to penetrate the Lions defense and shot on Lerch, who made a hand save at the top of the net, with ball spinning over the crossbar.

The incredible defense, bolstered by Brady Pierce, was able to stop another quality ECC advance. Winger Ky Clark stole the ball from the Crusaders and advanced the ball up to Ormeno whose shot was saved by ECC in the goal.

Lerch had several more shots to save but another ECC chance hit the crossbar when a strong shot dinged the bar just over his hands. Lerch stopped 14 shots on the evening.

The Lions record is now 7-1 going into Tuesday evening with a contest at Clarion Area versus Punxsutawney. The Lions are active for the rest of the week when they travel to Karns City for a rematch on Thursday and host Ridgway on Saturday at Clarion-Limestone.

(Great Work, Lions!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for his article and photos!!)