Central Clarion Wildcats Boys Soccer Beats Karns City Again, With 5-1 Victory

(By Matt Lerch)

The Central Clarion Wildcats Boys Soccer team garnered winning satisfaction for the first time on Karns City turf on October 8, 2024 for the first time ever since the co-op began between Clarion and Clarion Limestone, perhaps the first time ever for both schools individually as well. The Wildcats were physically tired this evening after playing until almost 9PM at Keystone High School the previous evening, winning that contest 11-0 for the Wildcats’ tenth shutout of the season.

The Wildcats started the game against Karns City with the ball volleying to both ends of the field with Wildcat goalie Isaac Lerch fielding two shots from the Gremlins, one a bucket glove save. The Wildcat offense is used to playing on natural turf, but have played enough this season on artificial turf to make the quick adjustments. With the quick strike Wildcat offense always at hand, center midfielder Dany Schweitzer passed up field to attacking midfielder Brenden Bettwy who made a long shot to the right corner of the net sparking the scoreboard to 1-0. Soon after Lerch made a jump stop to keep the ball out of the Clarion net.

Schweitzer then took a long shot that was stopped by the tough Gremlin goalie in the top right of the goal. The Wildcats were then penalized with a free field kick from 25 yards out when the Gremlins’ striker kicked over the defensive wall and over the hands of goalie Lerch for a 1-1 tie.

As usual, co-captain Thomas Uckert, who made pass after pass to his teammates for shots on goal, finally made his own shot on goal but was stopped by the nimble Gremlins keeper. Co-captain Wyatt Boyden then had a scoring chance and ripped a shot just wide right of the goal. Left wing Layton Dunn then made an assist to Bettwy for his second goal of the evening making the score 2-1 in favor of the Wildcats.

Minutes later Boyden was taken down with the ball in the goalbox and was awarded a penalty kick against the goalie with a left shot on goal making the score 3-1 going into the half.

However, this is Karns City and with the Wildcats, Lions and Bobcats, this is a winless field for both Clarion and Clarion-Limestone schools as far as many know, especially with Karns City’s dominance throughout the last decade. With the history in mind and with the Wildcats shutting out Karns City on Clarion-Limestone turf earlier in the year, Central Clarion’s offense kept the pressure on as much as possible. Boyden fed an assist to Central Clarion striker Martin Ormeno which was foiled by the Gremlin defense. The Gremlins were then penalized at the 40 yard line and Uckert was awarded the penalty shot. Uckert then proceeded to make an impossible shot on goal but 50 yards later his ball went over the goal (Uckert also is the kicker for the Wildcats football team).

Uckert wasn’t done and released another blistering shot only to be stopped by the Gremlin goalie. Lerch was challenged again with a shot from wide right that narrowly missed the goal wide left with Lerch diving to protect the goal. The Gremlins continued to pursue the Wildcat defense and were able to make an attack on the right side of the field. The Gremlin right wing was then able to beat two Wildcat defenders making a dramatic cross to an awaiting Lerch with no Gremlin offensive support. Lerch cleared the ball to an awaiting defender, Mason Gourley. Gourley then juked three Gremlin midfielders in succession and passing to Bettwy. Bettwy then made a forward pass to attacking midfielder Nathan Frederick with blazing speed who shot on goal just missing wide left.

With multiple combinations of offensive efforts by the Wildcats, they were finally able to extend their lead against the Gremlins. The quickly accelerating Boyden passed the ball to Uckert who was able to use his ball handling skills to beat the defense and score making the Wildcats lead 4-1. Lerch then made two more consecutive saves, that were mild shots, but nonetheless were kept out of the goal. Lerch was called on again with a robust shot from a charging striker Gremlin stopped with a chest save.

Schweitzer then was able to evade several Gremlin defenders taking another shot on goal. This shot had such velocity that the exceptional Gremlin goalie couldn’t control the ball and the rebound came out to a charging Ormeno who made an easy goal off the rebound. Lerch was called on again, making the last save of the game ending with a score of 5-1.

The 14-2 Wildcats take their dominating record into the weekend where they travel on Saturday to West Shamokin in Rural Valley for the second to last game of the regular season.

(Great job, Wildcats!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for his article and photos!!)