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BRADFORD -- Hollidaysburg's chances vastly out-numbered those of Bradford.
But, in a game where the Golden Tigers boys soccer team was frequently on the attack, it was Hollidaysburg's opponent who was able to take advantage of its opportunities.
Bradford's Jake Franz scored five minutes into overtime of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A sub-regional at Parkway Field, sealing a 2-1 victory for the District 9-champion Owls. The golden goal was Franz's second of the game, ending Hollidaysburg's season at 14-5.
"I told the guys, it doesn't even feel like a loss," Hollidaysburg coach Craig Shale said. "We played so well, we dominated and had chance after chance. It came down to one chance and (Franz) took it; he's a good player. I don't know how we lost that game; it's a shocker."
After a scoreless opening period, the sides traded goals within less than 30 seconds of each other early in the second.
After Bradford failed to clear a ball in the 42nd minute, Hollidaysburg's Eric Arbogast patiently settled it, found room to get to his right foot and buried a shot into the left-hand corner of the net. It was the breakthrough his team had sought for an entire half prior, but unfortunately for the Tigers, it wouldn't last long.
Bradford immediately responded, as Mitch Strauss set up Franz in the box and the junior equalized. After a scoreless half and an offensive flurry, the sides were back to even.
Hollidaysburg went back on the offensive after the goal exchange and Arbogast almost scored a second in the 53rd minute. He took a long pass and got behind the Owls defense, but Owls goalkeeper Tristan Dragoone came out to make a sliding save and Arbogast, an all-state selection from the Mountain League, tripped up on his way to the rebound.
The Tigers continued to build attacks as the second half ticked away, but Bradford began to find its offensive footing, too. The sides traded chances for the rest of regulation, including a shot by Hollidaysburg's Nate Crum that rang hard off the crossbar with 90 seconds left.
"I thought we closed down (Franz) well in the second half," Shale said. "We put an extra player up front and had all the play in our attacking half. All they did was clear the ball, but their guy finished when he needed to. It doesn't matter how much possession you have if you don't score. There wasn't much more we could do."
Dragoone made 13 saves in net for Bradford, proving important in repelling the Tigers' attacks. Bradford advanced to the first round of the PIAA tournament.
"It just came down to who put their chances away," Shale said. "We played really good soccer, and there's not much more I can ask. Somebody had to score and we didn't. It's just one of those games."
SCORE BY HALVES
Hollidaysburg 0 1 0 -- 1
Bradford 0 1 1 -- 2
Second half: H--Arbogast (unassisted), 4:58; B--Franz (Strauss), 2:15.
Overtime: B--Franz (unassisted), 4:20.