Wildcats Fall to Midd-West in Conference Clash, Eye Playoff Push

MIDDLEBURG-The Central Mountain boys soccer team faced a challenging conference matchup against Midd-West on Wednesday night, ultimately falling short in a 4-1 loss. Midd-West, fresh off a state playoff appearance last year and currently boasting an 11-2-2 record, sits in second place in the conference and looks poised for another postseason run.

The Wildcats held their own defensively for the majority of the first half, with solid play in goal. However, Midd-West broke through with just under a minute remaining before halftime, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Mustangs built on their momentum, adding three more goals to their tally. Central Mountain fought back when Isaiah Brinker delivered a perfect free kick to Cole Cooper, who netted his 8th goal of the season. It was Brinker’s first assist of the year, and the Wildcats showed more offensive energy as the game progressed.

Cooper nearly connected with Aden Dupert on another set piece, but Dupert’s header narrowly missed the mark, going just over the crossbar.

The loss brings Central Mountain’s record to 7-7-3 as they head into the final week of the regular season. The Wildcats currently sit in fourth place in the district standings and are on track for a potential third seed in the playoffs. Their final game is set for next Wednesday at home against Altoona.