Millionaires Can't Hold Off Mustangs' Surge

Middleburg, PA - The Williamsport boys soccer team seemed to limp in to Mustang country Thursday evening.  Coach Kaar noted before the game, "It's a great atmosphere here and the guys seem ready to go.  It should be a good game."

Williamsport began the first half with a much different energy and attitude than earlier in the week.  The Millionaires were able to maintain possession of the ball and utilize the wingers more in the attack.  "We were much more aggressive tonight.  I was pleased with our effort tonight.  Midd-West is a solid team and, if you take away a minute and a half of sloppy play, we're in great shape," commented coach Kaar after the final whistle blew.  Williamsport got on the board first when junior Jimmy Pombor sent a through ball to freshman forward, Angelo Casas, who quickly played it across the six yard line where sophomore Zach Lake took one touch before sliding it past the outstretched Mustang keeper's fingers.  Kaar continued, "The guys really made an effort to play together tonight.  They were able to get the ball wide, which allowed us some freedom to move the ball in the middle part of the pitch."  Williamsport held a slim lead, 1-0, heading into the break.

Due to an injury, the Millionaires had to adjust a bit to begin the second half.  The Williamsport boys continued to be able to possess the ball in the second half, but Midd-West was able to apply pressure on the Millionaires deep in their defensive half.  Ten minutes into the second half, Midd-West capitalized on a loose ball in front of the Williamsport goal to even the score at one a piece.  Not even two minutes later, the Mustangs were applying heavy pressure and eventually found the go-ahead goal.  With just over twenty minutes to play, the Millionaires had plenty of time to mount their own comeback.  Several times, late in the second half, Williamsport pressured the Midd-West back line and keeper, but came up empty each time.  Midd-West secured the victory by clearing one last attempt from the scrappy Millionaires.  

Coach Kaar commented, "I really can't fault our effort tonight; I liked the energy we had tonight.  Obviously, we still need to improve on protecting our box, inside our eighteen, but there were a lot of things I liked about tonight's game."

The JV team lost to Midd-West earlier in the evening, but had strong games from Jack Murafka, Sam Radulski, Jett Johnson, and Soliman Elgabry.  Williamsport is back in action on Monday as they host the Wildcats from Mifflinburg.