Highlanders star injured in team’s playoff victory
district 6 2a boys soccer
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PATTON -- Nate Conaway scored two goals for Cambria Heights in its 3-2 victory against Huntingdon in a District 6 Class 2A boys soccer playoff quarterfinal match on Tuesday night at AmeriServ Field.
Whether the senior forward will be available in the semifinals is an issue that coach Adam Strasser and his coaching staff have less than a week to settle.
Conaway had just scored his second goal of the night when he collided with goalkeeper Davien Wise and landed awkwardly on his right ankle.
"We're hoping a little rest and recovery will get him through to next week," Strasser said.
The Highlanders play top-seeded Westmont Hilltop or Mount Union Monday at a site and time to be determined. Westmont Hilltop posted a 2-0 victory against Cambria Heights on Sept. 19.
"Westmont is one of the best-coached teams in the area. They have a phenomenal coach with coach (Ed) Corona. They have an outstanding team. They have one of the best defenses in the entire District 6. So, it's going to be a big challenge. Our hope is to prepare for them and (we hope) keep the score close," Strasser said.
Conaway scored the opening goal in the match's fourth minute. He stretched the lead to two goals when he found net in the first minute of the second half.
"We scored early (in the second half). And from there it was just playing within our comfort level, play possession, try not to just play defense," said Heights junior midfielder Carter Bradley, who scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 27th minute.
The Bearcats played nearly the entire game without sophomore defender Finley Uhrich. He was carried off the field in the match's third minute.
"Fin had a dislocated knee in the spring. And as soon as he went down, I saw him punch the ground. I knew it was dislocated again," Huntingdon coach Jason Morris. "It's a hard adjustment. We had to move players around. They fought through it all."
Second-half goals by Jett Zelonski and David Phillips drew the Bearcats within one with nine minutes to play.
"We changed formations, went to a three-back to try to push more people forward. (It) kind a backfired for a little bit because as soon as we did, they scored their third goal. It was desperation time," Morris said.
Heights improved to 13-4-3 with the win.
"We knew it would be a matter of time before they put points on the board. We tried to stay strong on defense, and continue to generate an offense without Conaway," Strasser said.
The Bearcats finished up at 11-7-1.
"It was rough at the end," Bradley said.
SCORE BY HALVES
Huntingdon 0 2 - 2
Cambria Heights 1 2 - 3
First half: CH - Conaway (McConnell), 4:15.
Second half: CH — Conaway (Bradley), :39; CH - Bradley (Link), 6:43; H - Jett Zelonski (Clark), 13:21; H - Phillips, 30:51.
Records: Huntingdon (11-7-1); Cambria Heights (13-4-3).