High School Soccer

Dibert’s two goals help Central beat Lady Marauders

By John Hartsock

jhartsock@altoonamirror.com

ROARING SPRING -- Last season, the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy girls soccer program came within one win of a berth in the Class 1A state championship game, reaching the semifinals before losing there.

Last season was also a landmark one for the Central High School girls soccer program, which captured the District 6 Class 2A championship. Central lost in the first round of the state tournament, but Lady Dragons head coach Randy Trexler said the goal for this year's team is to advance further.

Central is off to a good start this season, and improved to 2-0 overall and in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference with a 4-3 victory over BG in a game played under bright sunshine late Monday afternoon on the Spring Cove Middle School soccer field.

Senior forward Lakkyn Dibert scored a pair of goals for Central, which spotted BG the first goal of the game before regrouping to get the victory.

Central fashioned a 23-10 advantage in shots on goal, including a 12-2 margin in the first half.

"I thought we controlled the first half, but not as much the second half,'' Trexler said. "I think that our players got a little tired in the second half, which is probably normal for teams at this early point in the season until they can build some stamina.

"BG is really tough,'' Trexler added. "They have some really good players who make a difference for them.''

One of those players, junior forward Hailey DeGol, scored twice for BG, opening the scoring with a shot into the right hand corner of the cage 3:46 into the game.

DeGol also scored an unassisted goal by picking the corner of the cage with another kick from the left side at the 23:11 mark of the second half to pull BG to within 3-2.

"She's a great scorer, no doubt about it,'' BG coach Joe DeLeo said of DeGol. "She certainly did her job today.''

So did Dibert, who scored on a free kick at the 26:03 mark of the first half to give Central the lead for good, 2-1, before adding an unassisted goal from in front of the cage at the 21:09 mark of the second half, putting Central ahead, 3-1.

"I thought that we did a real good job passing the ball and a real good job shooting the ball,'' Dibert said. "Everything was good for us as a team today.''

Junior midfielder Leya Hazenstab's goal at 14:05 of the first half on an assist from sophomore defender Julia Bowser tied up the game, 1-1, for Central, which took a 4-2 lead when Trexler's daughter, senior forward Kira Trexler, scored from in front of the goal off an assist from senior defenseman Rachel Theys with 7:08 left in the game.

BG continued to battle, cutting the Central lead to 4-3 on a long shot from the center of the field by senior defender Paxton DeLeo with 3:56 left in the game, but the Lady Dragons were able to hold on and spoil BG's season opener.

A big defensive play for Central occurred with the Lady Dragons clinging to a 3-2 lead with 14 minutes left in the game. A loose ball out of a scramble came dangerously close to going into the open Central cage and presented BG with a potential game-tying scoring opportunity, before Bowser saved the day by clearing it out of harm's way.

A follow-up shot by BG seconds later was stopped by Central freshman goalkeeper Kailyn Gahagan.

Coach Trexler felt that Bowser's clearing effort was a turning point in the game for Central.

"That was huge,'' said Trexler, whose team visits Penns Valley Wednesday. "A goal there would have really turned the tide for BG, and I think that all of our girls got a lift from that play, and realized that we dodged a bullet there.''

BG sophomore goalkeeper Cece Rumfola played very well in the cage, stopping 19 shots, including four outstanding saves that kept the game close.

"It was a very competitive game,'' said DeLeo, whose team hosts Clearfield Wednesday. "We know that Central is really good. They moved the ball, got some scoring opportunities, and we couldn't answer some of them.

"They're a well-coached team, and this game shows us what we need to do,'' DeLeo added.

SCORE BY HALVES

Bishop Guilfoyle 1 2--3

Central 2 2--4

First half

1, BG--DeGol (Marasco), 3:46. 2, C--Hazenstab (Bowser), 14:05. 3, C--Dibert (penalty kick), 26:03.

Second half

4, C--Dibert (unassisted), 21:09. 5, BG--DeGol (unassisted), 23:11. 6, C--Trexler (Theys), 32:52. 7, BG--DeLeo (Geishauser), 36:04.

Shots on goal: Central 23, Bishop Guilfoyle 10.

Saves: Rumfola, BG, 19; Gahagan, C, 6; Bowser, C, 1.

Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (0-1 overall and in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference); Central (2-0, 2-0).