High School Boys soccer

CC boys go to penalty kicks to make it to final

D6 2A Boys Soccer

EBENSBURG -- The Central Cambria boys soccer team was outplayed by Juniata in nearly every statistical category throughout regulation and 30 minutes of overtime on Monday night.

After things were still tied after the first round of penalty kicks, the Red Devils delivered in the second kick of sudden death while the Indians came up short to send CC into the District 6 Class 2A championship match with a 0-0 (6-5) victory in a shootout during semifinal action.

"That (taking penalty kicks) was a big part of our Friday practice," Central Cambria coach Bryce Croyle said. "We've talked we're just working on a number of different things. ... We got a lot of shots on, I got to see a lot of what guys were doing and able to do. So, I felt confident in the guys I was putting out there. So, it ended up working for us."

Following a scoreless 80 minutes of action, neither team was able to find the back of the net in the two 15-minute golden goal.

"We controlled every statistical aspect of this game -- possession, corner kicks, shots on goal, you name it," Juniata coach Jared Byler said. "We controlled everything but the one thing that truly mattered and that was the scoreboard. I'm not disappointed in my guys at all -- proud of them. They had a great season."

Both teams sent their five best shooters out to take kicks from the mark where the best of five would claim the win.

Central Cambria won the toss and elected to kick first.

Jacob Fisher was the goalkeeper for the Devils, while Nolan Imes was between the pipes for the Indians.

CC's Rocco Barra strolled to the mark and delivered a shot to the right of the keeper, while Juniata's Eligh Lopez matched him to the right.

The Red Devils' Isaac Oravec went left side middle up, while the Indians' Landon Beward hit the right side to make it 2-2.

Both of the third kickers made good as Jonathan Rivera went hard to the leftside that deflected slightly off Imes' hands, while Hayden Burd also went left.

On the fourth kick, the Devils' Andres Rivera found plenty of room on the left side before the Indians' Josue Osorio shot right at Fisher who made the easy save to put CC in front 4-3.

Ben Garrity could have put the game away for Central Cambria but the seniors' shot sailed high over the bar. Juniata's Jackson Shellenberger easily delivered the tying goal to the left of Fisher.

After the first five kickers, each team sent out a new group of five where it became a 1-for-1 scenario.

Brock Williamson began for CC by delivering to the middle top part of the goal, while Juniata's Easton Berry used the left side to make the score 5-5.

Jonah Hoffman put Central Cambria up before the Indians' Nixon Cleck shot wide left of the goal to send the Red Devils into the title game.

"Central Cambria played well and they had a game plan in the second half to pack the box to make it difficult for us," Byler said. "It was very clear their M.O. was to get it to penalties, and so you've got to tip your hat (because) their strategy worked tonight."

Fisher was forced to make 12 saves on the night in regulation and overtime, and he made some very nice diving stops as part of that.

However, none was bigger than the penalty kick save Fisher made in the second half with 24:39 reading on the clock.

"Our goalie, Jacob Fisher, came up very big with a number of really good saves in regular play, and then also to make that PK save in the second half there to keep it a 0-0 game," Croyle said. "That got us to overtime, and that was just huge."

Juniata's Alex Portzline was awarded a penalty kick after a Red Devil defender's hand went to the ball on a slide on the box.

On the Portzline run up, Fisher leaned slightly to his left but quickly reversed direction seemingly baiting Portzline into kicking the opposite. Fisher made a diving save to keep the contest scoreless.

The Indians finished with 19 shots to the Devils' four, and also owned the corner kick attempts 9-3.

Central Cambria (16-2-2) will play Westmont Hilltop, a 2-1 winner over Cambria Heights in Thursday's district Thursday at 7 p.m. at Johnstown.

"It's been a long time since we've been in this position to go on and play for the district championship," Croyle said. "We've talked about it with the number of teams that have come through with us, and just to finally get through those first two rounds and be able to compete for the district again. It's been a long time."

SCORE BY HALVES

Juniata 0 0 0 0 — 0

Central Cambria 0 0 0 0 — 0

First half: none

Second half: none.

First overtime: none.

Second overtime: none.

Penalty kicks round 1: CC--Barra make; J-- Lopez make; CC--Oravec make; J--Beward make; CC--J. Rivera make; J--Burd make; CC--A. Rivera make; J--Osorio miss; CC--Garrity miss; J--Shellenberger make.

Penalty kicks round 2: CC-- Williamson make; J--Berry make; CC--Hoffman make; J--Cleck miss.

Goalies: Juniata -- Imes: 3 saves, 3 shots on goal; Central Cambria -- Fisher: 12 saves, 12 shots on goal.

Shots: Juniata 19, Central Cambria 4.

Corner kicks: Juniata 9, Central Cambria 3.

Records: Juniata (17-5-0); Central Cambria (16-2-2).