Tigers rise to top again
D6 3A boys soccer
Trending
Following his team's 4-0 win over Central Mountain in the District 6 Class 4A championship at Mansion Park, Hollidaysburg boys soccer coach Craig Shale was blunt when replying to Wednesday night's first question … "What was your halftime speech?"
"Be unselfish," replied the 17-year head coach. "We were trying to do too much. Just keep the ball moving, and if someone is open, get them the ball."
The unbeaten Tigers listened. They turned a 1-0 halftime advantage quickly into a 3-0 lead less than six minutes into the second half on the way to their 20th win in as many games.
"Our passes weren't going in the beginning. You have to get up on them quick or else they will get room to get goals, and then it can be anyone's game," said Tiger senior Braden Callahan, who had one goal and an assist.
Central Mountain (7-13) -- and keeper Clay Confer -- played the Tigers tough in the first half. Ryan Frank had Hollidaysburg's first two shots on goal in the first 4:50 of the game, but Confer was there each time. Nate Crum had one shot sail up and over the cage at the 34:15 mark.
"I felt we were in control but we were not really playing our game," Shale said. "But that first goal settled some nerves."
Hollidaysburg, which outshot the Wildcats 15-3 in the first half, finally scored when Shushant Dahal found a loose ball that came in off a shot attempt by Callahan at the 5:07 mark.
"All our guys can play. It was just a matter of moving the ball, keeping possession and finding the open man," Shale said.
Hollidaysburg took off in the second half with three shots on goal in the first 3:20 of the frame. Callahan and Frank missed the first two, but Callahan's shot off a corner kick from Frank found the back of the cage at the 36:40 mark for the 2-0 lead.
"In the second half we had a lot more moving and passing. We were not getting frustrated with ourselves and we were working as a team more," Callahan said.
Exactly 2:18 seconds later, Frank got the ball on the left side of the field, and with his left foot, fired one past Confer for a 3-0 lead.
"The first 10 to 15 minutes of the second half, that is how our guys can play," said Shale, whose club outshot Central Mountain 35-6 overall.
Dahal scored the final goal with 13:42 to play on an assist from Callahan. Senior keeper Dilan Wasney and his defensive front -- Parker Zonts, Owen Bender, Derek Desort and Spencer DelGiudice -- kept Central Mountain frustrated for most of the night.
"We played more aggressive in the second half," Zonts, a senior, said. "We took it to them instead of just waiting back for them to make a mistake. I was pretty nervous in the first half. We couldn't make anything of our chances."
Hollidaysburg, which won its third straight title, will take on the WPIAL champion next Tuesday in the first round of states at a site and time to be determined. Shale liked the fact that Central Mountain provided a formidable challenge for his team.
"They had a losing record, but they play a really good schedule. They split with Altoona, they lost 2-1 to Williamsport, and they only lost 3-2 to Selinsgrove. We beat Selinsgrove 3-2," he said. "Our schedule isn't half as tough as theirs. Now, we are just hoping for a good showing against whomever we play in the next round."
Confer finished with 14 saves, while Wasney stopped four shots.
SCORE BY HALVES
Central Mountain 0 0 -- 0
Hollidaysburg 1 3 -- 4
First Half: H--Dahal (unassisted), 5:07
Second Half: H--Callahan (Frank), 36:40; H--Frank (unassisted), 34:22; H--Dahal (Callahan), 13:42.
Records: Hollidaysburg (20-0), Central Mountain (7-13).