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EBENSBURG -- Monday night during the District 6 Class 2A boys soccer semifinals, Central Cambria learned just how cruel soccer can be.
One moment you have the lead, a breakaway opportunity later on doesn't get put away to seal the win. Then before you know it, you allow a goal late in regulation and ultimately are put away in overtime.
The Red Devils let their lead slip away late, and in the end, fell once again to Juniata. This year they lost, 2-1, in overtime at the Red Devilplex.
"We left some stuff on the table in the first half, but we came out focused in the second half, played very aggressive, had some things go our way and unfortunately some things didn't go our way in the end," Central Cambria coach Jason Zaffuto said. "It's always heartbreaking at the end of regulation to give up a goal that puts it into overtime, and it's never fun to lose a game in overtime. "
The Indians controlled much of the pace of play toward the end of the first half and had a 4-1 shots on goal advantage. A pair of key saves by Wyatt Link kept the game scoreless at the break.
The Red Devils started getting better ball movement in the second half and it showed as they got their lone goal with a couple of passes before Jack Trostle put it away just over 10 minutes into the half.
"We have speed, but we wanted to move the ball inside and outside to move some defenders. We also made a concerted every to pressure the first touch and win balls out of the air."
That's when Indian goalkeeper Wyatt Dessin put the clamps down stopping eight out of the Devils nine shots.
"We controlled and dominated, and we still found ourselves down 1-0," Juniata coach Jared Byler said. "Even in that 1-0, I was confident in these guys, they've been in these situations before, and they just know how to grind things out."
Byler's crew proved their coach right as Brant Walters found the upper right corner and deposited the game tying goal. Bryce Rush put away the game deciding score in the overtime period about midway through the extra session.
"Before the year started we kind of thought it was going to be a little weaker of a year, and it was going to be a rebuilding season," Zaffuto said. "These kids stepped up in ways I did not expect. They were tight, they played smart, and earned everything they got."
Zaffuto credits the seniors for taking the lead.
"This group of seniors really stepped up and became the leaders that I always hoped that we have," he said. "They brought everybody together. It's always a point that we try to empower our leaders here. These guys really led the team in a lot of ways that even I as a coach can't."
SCORE BY HALVES
Juniata 0 1 1 -- 2
Central Cambria 0 1 0 -- 1
First Half: None
Second Half: CC--Trostle (Lasinsky), 52:54; J--Walters (unassisted), 74:04.
First Overtime: J--Rush (unassisted), 88:04.
Records: Juniata (10-9), Central Cambria (13-6).