Central Clarion Wildcats Boys Soccer Continues Undefeated Season against North Clarion Wolves

Photos courtesy of Matt Lerch – Above: Isaac Lerch

(Matt Lerch)

The Central Clarion Wildcats boys soccer team increased their undefeated season to 5-0 and shut out the North Clarion Wolves 6-0, their fifth shut out of the season. The game on Thursday, September 5th was played in high temperatures at the North Clarion field during a doubleheader with the respective girls teams playing afterwards.

The efficient Central Clarion offense started shooting the ball on North Clarion goalie, Logan Bish early in the contest. Central Clarion’s Brenden Bettwy shot a corner loft to Thomas Uckert who was stopped by Bish. Nathan Frederick advanced the ball through traffic and took a shot only to be rebuffed by Bish. North Clarion started their own offense as well, challenging Wildcats goalie Isaac Lerch, with three shots early in the first half, but were unable to score.

Striker Martin Ormeno crossed a pass up high for Bettwy who headed the ball into the goal and the save was made by Bish. Bettwy created a combination with Uckert who took the shot and scored for a 1-0 lead at 23:19 left in the half. Lerch then made a stop off a corner kick with the ball bouncing downfield. On the counter offensive right wing Wyatt Boyden made a long pass to Ormeno who then made a cross pass to Bettwy who was then rejected by Bish. Midfielder Dany Schweitzer made a great pass to Boyden who shot and scored at 17:10 to make the score 2-0. Another opportunity for Central Clarion occurred when Bish was clearing the ball when Boyden intercepted the ball from the defense, passed to Schweitzer who shot and was blocked again by Bish.

The defense for Central Clarion was again put to the test as center defender Jason Megnin was able to break up another play by the Wolves’ offense. Right defender Chris Kim was able to clog up several fast opportunities for the Wolves. Kim then cleared the ball when midfielder Quinn O’Neil passed up field to Bettwy whose shot missed by inches on the top left corner of the goal. Three more saves by Lerch ended the half with the Wildcats hanging on to a slim lead of 2-0.

The open of the second half saw the Wolves attacking more aggressively with Lerch having to make a save over his defenders’ heads. Lerch chalked up 3 more saves when the Wildcats offense came alive and Uckert assisted Ormeno making the score 3-0 at 30:52 left in the second half. And 52 seconds later, Schweitzer assisted Uckert for a 4-0 lead. Lerch had to make another save as his intrepid defense had to keep helping him with continual Wolves’ advances.

Then came the time of the contest where the shut out streak could have ended abruptly. A penalty occurred inside the goal box against the Wildcats with a free penalty kick one-on-one with the goalie. With a blistering low left kick by Kaden Baumcratz, Lerch was able to make a one handed save with the ball spinning left of the goal and out of bounds. But the celebration lasted seconds as the corner kick was blasted perfectly in the center of the goal box, Lerch pounding the ball upwards with both fists, creating another corner kick from the other side. The Central Clarion defense assuaged the attack and quickly drove the ball out of the Wildcats end of the field.

The Wolves developed another play from their fullbacks, making a long pass up field with only a speeding Wolves’ striker able to reach the ball, then with blazing speed defender Carter Brown came back to stop the play and force the ball out of bounds. Midfielder Ky Clark took a shot on goal that was stopped. Frederick created a play from the left when he spotted Boyden charging who shot and scored at 10:08 for a 5-0 lead. Another free penalty kick was shot, this time on the Wolves by Boyden, making his hat trick goal with 6:55 left.

The Wildcats meet Dubois Area High School Beavers at Clarion-Limestone Field at 5PM on Wednesday, September 11th to see if they can keep their record undefeated.

(Keep up the good work, Wildcats!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for the article and photos!!)

(Clarion Sports Zone Note: the doubleheader, was a big fundraiser for North Clarion athlete Grace Carroll, who is battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The Forest Fires Girls Soccer team, [also a co-op with North Clarion], hosted the fundraiser for Miss Carroll.)