By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Monday, the Juniata and Richland boys soccer teams met up in the District 6 Class AA Semi Finals with the winner, heading to the title game on Thursday.

The Rams came into the contest with a record of 9-7-1 while Juniata sported a 15-6 record.

Juniata’s offense proved to be a force to be reckoned with as they shut out Richland 3-0.

Defensively, the Indians allowed only two shots at their goal while it finished with 31 shots on goal.

“First off, hats off to Richland. They had a tremendous season. Their regular season does not reflect how good they are as a team. they had some bad luck during the season. But for them to upset a two seed. They definitely had our respect coming into this game. We knew what we needed to do to win this game. It was work hard and stay together,” said Juniata coach Jared Byler. “Our guys did that very well. I couldn’t be anymore proud of our guys. As a unit we worked hard. We stayed together. just an all around team effort tonight.”

In the first half, the Juniata offense dominated the field, pushing the Rams back in their own end of the field for most of the stanza.

Early on, the Indians attacked the box.

Ricky Guante plastered the first shot of the game but it was stopped by a strong effort by Richland goalie Nathaniel Mayket.

Offensively, the Indians were a step ahead of the Rams and had their passing game working successfully as they continued to knock on the door of posting a goal.

At 23:49, the Indians posted the first score of the game as Anderson Portzline found a hole in the Richland defense and took the 1-0 advantage.

After the goal, Juniata pushed right back into the Rams’ back-third pushing the ball at Mayket. Mayket was up for the task as he snuffed out six of the Indians’ 15 shots in the first. The Indians were also able to force five corner opportunities and two free kicks before halftime.

Defensively, Juniata was very stingy allowing only two shots on goal.

The dominance continued into the second half. Juniata picked up where they had left off in the first.

The pressure the Indians put on the Rams defensive back-third was intense.

At 25:63, Juniata gave themselves a little breathing room when Ricky Guante picked up as pass from Anthony Maradiaga, sending it home, upping the lead to a 2-0 advantage.

Defensively, the Indians refused to allow a Richland shot on goal the entire period.

With Juniata holding the momentum, the Indians added an insurance goal with 4:37 left.

Maradiaga picked up a deflection from a Myket deflection in goal and sent it back to the net, ending the scoring at 3-0.

All the Indians had to do was simply run out the clock and keep the ball down in the Rams end of the field.

They did just that.

Juniata will play in the District 6 Class AA championship against Penn Cambria Thursday.

“We’re going to be playing Penn Cambria. We’ve got a ton of respect for Penn Cambria. They knocked us out last year in the quarterfinals,” said Byler. “Their coach Nick Wanyo, he and I have been friends for years. I always love playing them. we’ve got a good rivalry but a respectful one.”

“But I can tell you right now. The effort we put in tonight is not going to be good enough for the championship. Even though we played well tonight. We got to pick it up two or three notches if we want to win the championship. I think these guys are up for the challenge. Noah doubt about it.”

Juniata  3, Richland 0

JUN.   1 2 – 3

RCH.  0 0 – 0

Scoring

First Half

JUN – Anderson Portzline unassisted, 23:49.

Second Half

JUN – Ricky Guante from Anthony Maradiaga, 25:63.

JUN – Maradiaga unassisted,4:37

Shots on goal: JUN –   31. RCH –   2.

Corners: JUN –   9. RCH –   1.

Saves: JUN – Wyatt Dessin 1. RCH –   Nathaniel Mayket 10.