Central Mountain girls’ soccer takes finale
MANSFIELD, PA – The Central Mountain Lady Wildcats on Thursday traveled to the Northern Tier for a first ever meeting with North – Penn Mansfield. In what would seem like “playing in the park,” wound up being the second win of the season and ended the long season on a high note. Both teams were in a similar situation this year, struggling to find the back of the net and secure wins, it was a battle to see who would have the advantage in the final regular season match.
In what would be coined as “this can’t be real?” The Lady Wildcats took some time adjusting to the field, according to coach Ryan Veltri; he said it brought on some interesting characteristics and difficult terrain to navigate. It would take most of the half before the Lady Cats got into a rhythm and got themselves into the lead.
Senior Briley Lewis played a ball into Taylor Campbell who beat one player and played a beautiful ball across the frame into the side netting to get the visiting team on the board first against a very good goalkeeper. Going into half the Lady Wildcats had the lead, something they have struggled to hold onto in the past games this season.
The second half should have been a mirror image of the first but again, the field and what would be a few questionable calls would lead to what coach Veltri called some decisions made against the visiting team. North- Penn Mansfield was awarded a penalty kick which, from the bench was the wrong call but if it were what the referees claimed it was, wouldn’t be a penalty kick regardless. The home side blasted the ball past Kiahna Jones to even the score and give momentum to the North-Penn Mansfield team. Not long after, the blue and white found themselves defending deep in their own half and yet another call came from the referees awarding the home side another penalty kick. Confused at what was being called, Kiahna Jones once again was called into action, this, the most of the game for her. The home side stepped up to the ball, the senior picked the right direction and saved it with a diving save, keeping her team from going behind. The Lady Wildcats mounted pressure for the remainder of the game and created numerous opportunities, but nothing would fall as the home goalie made some great saves. The game was headed for over-time.
The sun was just about gone prior to the sudden death over-time as both teams took the field for the first ten minutes. Again, the Lady Wildcats mounted lots of pressure and kept driving the ball into their attacking half. Finally, the ball at Taylor Campbell’s feet, she played a ball to Halle Lodek who rifled a shot past the keeper to put the Lady Wildcats ahead for good. An over-time win for the last game of the season!
It was a difficult season for the Lady Wildcat soccer team as they played against many top ten opponents in the state. In total, they faced 5 teams ranked in the PSCA weekly state rankings. The PHAC, one of the most difficult leagues on the female side of the game, is not an easy one to be in, especially with the hurdles the Lady Wildcats faced this year. Three seniors led the way for the blue and white. Coach Veltri said, “Kiahna Jones, Briley Lewis and Traci Thompson were instrumental in getting the Lady Wildcat soccer program onto the right path and in the right direction. They have been phenomenal leaders, teammates and student athletes. They will now find themselves playing another role as Lady Wildcat Soccer alumni, a group rich with building tradition and creating a culture of being dynamic.”
Coach Veltri continued, “The 2022 season record does not tell the entire story of how many steps in the right direction this program took. It cannot explain the effort that was put into each and every day and just how many times we had to find positive moments when we were given the option of just playing in the park. Thanks to all for your continued support! Well-done Ladies!”
