Bellefonte  1, Bald Eagle Area 1 (2OT)

BEL 010 0 – 1

BEA100 0 – 1

Scoring

BEA – Aidan Bougher unassisted, 25:27.

Second half

BEL – Andy Gerasenko unassisted, 36:18.

Overtime

None

Shots on goal: BEL – 27, BEA – 13.

Corners: BEL – 7, BEA – 2.

Saves: Eli Davis (BEL)7, Henry Bacon (BEA) 14.

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Every time the Bald Eagle and Bellefonte boys meet up in soccer action, the game has a post season feel to it.

Monday’s night contest was no exception.

Defense was the name of the game for both teams as there was only one goal scored in the first half and one in the second as the two finished their battle tied 1-1 in a two overtime contest.

Bald Eagle goalie Henry Bacon was tough in the net finishing with 14 saves. The Red Raiders goalie Eli Davis made his saves count as he saved seven clutch saves in the 2-overtime tie.

“That was one fun soccer game to be apart of. Both teams really really hard. Super proud of my guys,” said Bald Eagle coach Jason Bair. “If you look at the stats and the teams. Bellefonte was supposed to be the better team tonight. My guys uh uh! my keeper tonight played phenomenal. Henry Bacon shut down many 1v1s and had a ton of saves. I am proud of them. I am proud of the defense. They worked hard. It was extremely tough and physical game. Kudos to Bellefonte and Bald for both playing a really good game of soccer.

In the first half, the Bellefonte offense drove right up the field and took the early momentum.

Bellefonte got the first opportunity when Connell Stabinger blasted a shot toward Bacon and was stopped, sending the Red Raiders back empty handed.

With the advantage Bellefonte had numerous close calls but couldn’t find the last shot to finish.

At 25:27 left in the first, the Eagles got the break they were looking for as Aidan Bougher lofted a floater that lifted over the head of the charging Davis and into the net on an unassisted goal.

Bellefonte continued to pound the ball down in the Eagles side of the field. Bald Wagle was able to push up a couple of transition plays but the ball stayed for a long time in the Eagles area.

The game would head into the intermission with the Eagles holding onto a slim 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, the Eagles put the ball deep in the Raiders area but was able to quickly exchange the fields as Bellefonte started to try to find a way to put in again Bacon.

After stopping a barrage of action in front of their goal, the Red Raiders were able to find the chink in the Bald Eagle armor that they were looking for.

Off of a Bellefonte shot and hit out by Bald Eagle, The Red Raiders’ Andy Gerasenko caught the rebound and posted an unassisted goal at 36:18.

“We came out in the first five to seven minutes and we looked incredible. We just couldn’t score. Their keeper he does a great job. He is a good goalie. But in the first five to seven minutes I thought man we are going to blow these guys a way,” said Bellefonte coach Scott Martz. “Bald Eagle hung. Their goalie played great. They just kind of hung in there. They scored that early goal on us and that put us heels.”

As the game time started to wind down, the intensity rose as did the sense of urgency started to materialize. Each defensive effort by both teams added to the excitement.

But neither team would be able to find a way to get into their opponents nets.

After a two overtime periods, no winner would be awarded as the game finished in the double overtime thriller.