Photos by Tim Weight

By Kenny Varner

MILL HALL – On Saturday morning,

the Mifflin County boys soccer team traveled to Central Mountain in a morning non-league showdown.

A late first have goal by Brycen Wagner was all the Huskies needed on the day, capturing a hard fought 1-0 victory.

With the win, the Huskies have won two-in-a-row.

“I was very, very pleased with the defensive effort. It’s awesome to have clean sheet in soccer and not let up any goals,” said Mifflin County coach Keith Yoder. “The defense came through in a couple of times and really bailed us out. They had a couple opportunities. Jack Suydam played great. Just really, really pleased with the effort to finish the ball in the first half. Getting the ball deep on the end line, crossing it in and making something happen in the box.”

The Central Mountain boys soccer team failed to have Lady Luck in their corner as they had three shots on goal that bounced off the crossbar and side bar, nearly capturing a goal. They also had a shot sail along the front of the goal line that went for naught.

The day was a tough one for the Wildcats as they fall to the visiting MIfflin County Huskies.

“It’s just the repetition, doing things over and over so we get chances like that,” said Central Mountain Wildcats coach Billy Hook. “We had some bad luck in spots but if we do things a little better and a little cleaner we’ll get more chances and  hit the back of the net some. Thats where that’s at.”

Central Mountain outshot Mifflin County 5-2 while the Huskies led in corners by a 4-2 margin.

Mifflin County goalie Jacks Suydam finished the game with five saves while the Wildcats’ goalie Jaggar Pardoe had one.

The Huskies started off the contest with the first strong possession of the half. But the Wildcats backline and midfielder kept the MIfflin County offense out from the middle forcing them to the outside to try to work the ball from the outside in.

Central Mountain’s Isaiah Brinker launched the first shot of the game. His shot was the first of the Wildcats three shots to hit the pole.

It would happen again for Central Mountain at the 32-minute mark. After a MIfflin County corner opportunity, the Wildcats cleared the ball and took it downfield. This time the ball would hit the middle crossbar, sending Central Mountain back up field empty handed.

Mifflin County threatened early as Logan Alexander found himself free on a breakaway chance. However, a diving Pardoe stopped the Huskies chance at its first goal.

The first half continued to wind down under the 5-minute mark.

Mifflin County had the ball and would hit the first and only goal of the contest.

Brycen Wagner was at the right place at the right time as he posted a header goal at 4:46 left in the first half.

Despite numerous late runs in the half, the Wildcats were thrawrted by tough stops by the Huskies’ defense.

With time running out, Griffin Confer had a breakaway attempt but he was stopped cold as Suydam managed to smoother the ball as the two went into the intermission with the Huskies leading 1-0.

Coming out of the break, Central Mountain made a rush at the MIfflin County goal. Confer blasted a shot that was deflected out of the goal area and into the possession of Gabryel Killenger. Killenger’s shot slid down straight along the area of the goalie line of the Huskies until it was kicked out and cleared by a Huskies defender.

Central Mountain had a late blast go off the crossbar for a third and final time.

From there, the Huskies defense and Suydam were able to battle through the different runs and finished the game with a 1-0 hard fought victory.

Central Mountain is back in action Monday against Mifflinburg at home.

MIfflin County 1, Central Mountain  0

MC 1 0 – 1

CM 0 0 – 0

Scoring

First half

MC – Bryson Wagner unassisted, 4:46.

Shots on Goal: CM – 5, MC – 2.

Corners: CM – 2, MC- 4.

Saves: Jack Suydam (MC) 5, Jaggar Pardoe (CM) 2.