Wildcat girls win home opener over ‘Shore, 4-1

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – After three weeks on the road, the Central Mountain girls’ soccer team finally got a home game at Malinak Stadium Wednesday night and responded with a 4-1 win over down river rival Jersey Shore.

The victory was the first for the Lady Wildcats in the powerful Heartland Conference and improved Coach Ryan Veltri’s team to 2-4 overall, the team’s first win since a season-opening 3-0 triumph at non-league foe Penns Valley. Jersey Shore dropped to 0-5 with the loss.

Coach Veltri noted that it took a bit for Central Mountain to get used to playing its first game on its home turf but picked things up as the game progressed. “Once we started to move the ball around, success followed.”

The coach said his front and middle lines “did well getting the ball into the attacking zone,” noting that Jersey Shore did make it difficult for the home team in that regard. He also lauded his backline in keeping the Lady Bulldog offense in check for much of the game.

CM struck first with a goal with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half, from Taylor Campbell; a second followed less than five minutes later from fellow senior Halle Lodek as the home team led 2-0 at the half.

Campbell stretched the lead to 3-0 with her second goal just over ten minutes into the second half. ‘Shore got on the board when Lady Bulldog Josie Defibaugh kicked the ball by CM goalkeep Madison Hardy, a goal attributed by coach Veltri to a breakdown in communication among his players. Sophomore Kendall Veltri finished the scoring with her first varsity goal with 3:45 remaining to set the final at 4-1.

CM had an 11-1 edge in shots on goal and 3-1 in corner kicks.

The Lady Wildcats head back on the road on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at Danville.

After the game, coach Veltri said his program had “absolute respect and support” for the Jersey Shore program, given the recent tragic loss of Jersey Shore football player Max Engle. “We are with them; soccer brought us together. We are on their side and hope their community can get through this.”

JS    0 1 = 1

CM 2 2 = 4