Wildcats Secure Thrilling Senior Night Victory Over Jersey Shore
MILL HALL-The Central Mountain boys soccer team celebrated Senior Night in dramatic fashion on Monday with a 3-2 overtime victory over downriver rival Jersey Shore. The Wildcats, determined to add an important win to their record after two consecutive draws, now sit at 7-6-3 following the hard-fought match.
The action-packed game began with back-and-forth play, as both teams looked for an early advantage. Central Mountain nearly opened the scoring when Griffin Confer sent a perfect pass to Lincoln Breon, but Breon’s shot rattled off the post.
The Wildcats didn’t have to wait much longer for their breakthrough. With 14:12 left in the first half, Dylan Bechdel opened the scoring with a beautifully placed ball into the back of the net off a perfectly timed assist from Confer, giving Central Mountain a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The Wildcats came out of the break with intensity and quickly extended their lead. Just minutes into the second half, Isaiah Brinker launched a long kickoff into the box, which bounced around amidst the chaos. Gabe Killinger tracked the ball down and crossed it to senior Lincoln Breon, who calmly slotted it home to make it 2-0 with 39:44 left in regulation.
However, Jersey Shore fought back to make it a contest. Jack Breining pulled one back for the Bulldogs with 27:33 remaining, cutting the lead in half. With just 3:08 left on the clock, Jersey Shore capitalized on a well-played header that led to a rebound goal by Dylan Hensler, tying the game at 2-2 and sending the match into overtime.
In the extra period, it was Central Mountain who would find the decisive moment. With just a minute left in the first overtime, Cole Cooper fired a shot on goal that was initially saved. Griffin Confer chased down the rebound and calmly placed it into the back of the net, sending the Wildcats and their fans into a Senior Night celebration.
Cooper Confer also stepped up in goal, making four crucial saves to keep the Wildcats in the game.
Seniors honored for Central Mountain before the game included Gavin Karstetter, Max Verrelli, Isaiah Brinker, Aden Dupert, Bryce Warren, and Lincoln Breon.
With the victory, Central Mountain improves to 7-6-3 on the season and will travel to Midd-West for their next match on Wednesday.
