Photo by Tim Weight
By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Not a game for the faint of heart.

Tuesday, two of the top teams in the in the area met up in Laurel Highlands action as Bellefonte played host to a familiar foe in Penns Valley.

The Red Raiders came into the contest posting a 5-1 record while the Rams were 5-2.

The game was a thriller from beginning to end. But when the dust settled the game finished as a double overtime 1-1 tie.

“The defense pushed everything forward for us tonight. We controlled the whole middle of the field. We did a great job,” said Bellefonte coach Scott Martz. “Give them (Penns Valley) credit. They got guys back on us so we had to make a quick run. If we didn’t make a quick run they’d have 8-or-9 guys back there to get through that. So give credit to them. I thought we controlled the ball really well tonight. I thought we had some great looks at end there in the second overtime. Their keeper was incredible. He made some beautiful stops there at the end of the game there. So, it’s just how it went tonight.”

Late in the second half the Rams found themselves trailing to the Red Raiders 1-0.

As the five minute mark hit in regulation, Penns Valley was able to push the ball deep into the Red Raiders end.

After a flurry of action in front of the net, the Rams found the hole they needed and Collin Fohringer made the most of it.

Catching the ball off a rebound of a Bellefonte player, Fohringer was able to sneak a shot in right past the Red Raiders goalie with 3:45 left.

The intensity grew to a fever pitch in the final minutes of the second but neither team could put a shot in, sending the game into its first overtime period.

In the first overtime, both team had some chances but the defenses on both sides continued to foil each attempt at the others goal. Neither team could take advantage of their possessions as another 10 minutes went off the clock, sending it to a final overtime stanza.

Bellefonte took control of the momentum in the final OT. They had the Rams defense working extra to keep the game going, withstanding four shots on goal and close calls.

In the first half, the defenses got started early as both clamped down when called upon.

The Red Raiders held the first substantial drive of the game but were thrawted by Penns Valley’s defense.

The back-and-forth contest had each offense looking for a chink in the others’ defensive armor.

None could be found until late in the first as the Red Raiders would pick up the first score of the contest.

Conelle Starbringer blasted it in at 4:34 left in the first half.

Going into the intermission, Bellefonte outshot Penns Valley 10-2 and held the advantage in corner kicks 4-1.

With the tie, Bellefonte moved to 5-1-1 and Penns Valley stands out 5-2-1.

Bellefonte 1, Penns Valley 1 (2OT)

PV 0 1 0 0 – 1

BE 1 0 0 0 – 1

Scoring

First half

BE – Conelle Stabinger unassisted, 4:34.

Second half

PV – Collin Fohringer unassisted, 3:45.

Shots on goal: PV – 6, BE – 21.

Corners: PV –  5, BE –  8.

Goalie saves: Owen Robb (PV) 12, Eli Davis 3.