Panthers on other side of title game
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
WINGATE -- A year ago, Penn Cambria capped a history-making run through the District 6 Class 2A boys soccer playoffs with the school's first district championship.
It was a victory that then-junior goalkeeper Duncan Gongloff said he felt compelled to complete after the Panthers knocked off defending district champion Juniata in the quarterfinals.
Thursday night at Bald Eagle Area's Alumni Stadium, the Indians returned the favor and ended Penn Cambria's hopes for a repeat with a 3-0 win, but part of Gongloff couldn't help but be happy for his opponent.
"We beat them first round (last year), and they told us we better go all the way," Gongloff said. "I wouldn't have it any other way than seeing them win it this year if we can't. I'm proud of those guys and proud of our guys."
Anthony Maradiaga scored twice for the Indians, and Ricky Guante added another. Juniata will play the loser of Saturday's District 3 championship between Trinity and Lancaster Catholic in the PIAA tournament on Tuesday.
Despite allowing the three goals, Gongloff was spectacular against a constant stream of shots and pressure. He made 22 saves, and Juniata outshot Penn Cambria, 46-7.
"I remember in ninth grade when Duncan didn't even know he wanted to be a keeper," Penn Cambria coach Nick Wanyo said. "Now he's one of the best keepers I have ever seen play. He came to play. He was ready to go and never got down. His saves were amazing. We just didn't back him up. He did everything he could."
But Gongloff and his fellow seniors will leave Penn Cambria with a legacy of winning last year's district title and making it back to this year's championship game -- the first two finals appearances for the Panthers in school history.
"The (late two years) have been truly special," Gongloff said. "I was thinking about it on the way here. It's a small town, but it's a town with big heart. Our boys really came out with passion tonight, and I'm proud of them. I can never forget it. This one will sting a little bit more, but I'll tell you what -- all of this experience has been amazing. I remember a buddy asking me why I work so hard, because it's just a sport. This is why."
Penn Cambria finished the season 14-7.
"They had good leadership as a senior class," Wanyo said. "They have a good cohesion with the boys and will be missed. They did a lot for this program, and they were the backbone of the last two years."
Maradiaga's first goal came less than seven minutes into the game. Penn Cambria's leading scorer Nick Marshall had two shots in the Juniata box with around 19:45 to play in the first half to try and equal the score, but neither shot made it through a wall of Indian defenders.
"Hats off to Penn Cambria. They have had a really good season," Juniata coach Jared Byler said. "Their coach and I have been friends for years. They had a game plan for us. We watched them on tape, and I don't think we got their best effort tonight. I'm sure they are going to be disappointed with that, because I know they are a better team than they showed tonight, but part of the reason they got out of sorts was our guys in the blue."
Wanyo said the team Penn Cambria played Thursday was much better than the Juniata squad the Panthers beat last year.
"We haven't faced any team like that in terms of speed," Wanyo said. "They were fast everywhere. They had no weakness in my eyes. Coming in never having seen that, it was tough. They had a great plan. Jared set it in place, and their boys executed it. It's funny, even the boys were saying they didn't remember certain players. I didn't either. But it does seem like they maybe moved some people around. I know he said some of his players in that game were out for certain reasons."
Byler said his team was shorthanded a year ago but came back hungry for a championship.
"Last year was frustrating to lose to them," Byler said. "We had three or four starters out on injury, and half of those were out because of the PIAA's transfer rule. We had a lot of starters out, but with that said, I felt we were good enough to win that game. We returned 10 of our starters from that night, and our guys were really looking forward to this game and getting to play against Penn Cambria again."
Guante made it 2-0 with 18 minutes left in the half, and Maradiaga put the game away with his second-half goal.
"Last year, I was really slow," Maradiaga said. "I wrestled over the winter, and thanks to a lot of preseason hills that our coach pushed us through and conditioning really strengthened my legs and got me moving."
SCORE BY HALVES
Penn Cambria 0 0 — 0
Juniata 2 1 — 3
First Half: J--Maradiaga (unassisted), 33:18; J--Guante (unassisted), 18:07.
Second Half: J--Maradiaga (unassisted), 22:32.
Records: Penn Cambria (14-7-0); Juniata (17-6-0).