By Jeff Richards
Boys Soccer: McConnellsburg 7, North Star 1: On October 23rd, McConnellsburg Spartans, seeded #2, hosted the seeded # 7 North Star Cougars in the first round of PIAA District 5 Class A soccer playoffs. The offense was hitting North Star from everywhere, as five different players booted in a goal. The Spartans outshot the Cougars nearly five to one and continued their unbeaten streak.
The first goal, 28 minutes in the first half, came from Grady Shives, who took a backfield pass from Tucker Hedge, evaded his defender and kicked the ball that then slipped through the goalie’s hands and trickled into the net. Two minutes later, in a goal line jumble, the ball passed from Calan Mellott to Hoyt Glenn who backward kicked into the goal after the keeper bobbled the previous shot. With under three minutes to go, the Cougars got their first corner kick and with a header shot scored their opening goal. One minute later, the Spartans answered as Lincoln McKelvy kicked a pass from mid-backfield to Brayden Ramsey in the open mid-front field who controlled the ball for a kick at the 12, perplexing the goalie making it 3-1 into the half.
Nine minutes into the second half, Gavin DeShong passed to Ethan Lang and, from the 18, he put a shot to the far back of the net over the goalie’s leaping arms. Three minutes later, Glenn was fouled and awarded a free kick. Three defenders formed a wall ten yards past the ball. Glenn kicked the ball straight at them. They jumped and spread apart enough as Glenn’s kick found a gap between two players and the ball went straight to the net with the goalie flatfooted. About two minutes later, a Couger defender received a kick and turned it to the goalie who kicked it up field. But DeShong was right there, and the ball contacted his body and rebounded into the net, leaving the goalie aghast. With six minutes remaining, the final seventh Spartan goal came as Ramsey dribbled the ball along the baseline and kicked a shot on goal. It hit a fullback’s right leg and kicked up into the goal.
Stats: Goals: Glenn (2), Ramsey (2), DeShong, Lang, Shives. Assists: Jackson Skiles, Glenn. Spartans shots 16, shots on goal 33, corners 7. Cougars shots 8, shots on goal 7, corners 2. McConnellsburg has gone a perfect 7-0 against North Star. McConnellsburg has won 16 matchups by three goals or more this season and averaging over seven goals per game.
Game Summary:
1 2 F
NS 1 0 — 1
MCNL 3 4 — 7
Up next: The Spartans (20-0, 10-0 ICC-S), advanced to the semi-final round of the PIAA District 5 Class A soccer playoffs and host Fannett-Metal on October 28th at 7:15 pm. The Spartans visited the Tigers on September 5th and won 2-1 and won 4-0 at home October 6th.