Bald Eagle boys battle Hollidaysburg to a 2-1 nail biter

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 10, 2024

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Intense competition!

The up and coming young Bald Eagle Area boys soccer team proved that it’s a team not to be taken lightly as Tuesday they went head-to-head with 4-1 Hollidaysburg for 80 minutes.

It would be a late Tigers goal that would be the difference in this one as Hollidaysburg survived the nail biter to the scrappy Bald Eagle crew.

Shots on goal: Hollidaysburg led 16- 8 over Bald Eagle in shots on goal while Bald Eagle Area led in corner opportunities by a 1-0 margin.

“We had the opportunities but just could put them in the back of the net,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jason Bair said. “One, their defender drug the ball out before it went in. That was fantastic for them. We had another one the guy was running through and was able to take a shot. But a guy came through and was able to get a piece of it. So kudos to them. They did their job. But, I will say my guys are playing better and better each and every game.”

The game started off with the teams each trying to establish their style of play.

Defensively, the Eagles backline was stingy and tough to get an open free shot in the lanes.

The Tigers were just as successful in their back-third, thwarting Eagles’ runs throughout.

Both defenses were on display for the first 18 minutes until the Tigers were able to find a crack in the Bald Eagles defense.

Pushing the ball up the field, the Tigers’ Micah Blake broke loose on a breakaway attempt was able to slide the ball past Bald Eagle goalie Henry Bacon for the unassisted goal at 27:04.

However, the Eagles weren’t ready to trail in this game when less than five minutes later they would hit the equalizer.

Pushing the ball down the field Connor Maney hit a perfect cross to teammate Owen DeChow. DeChow perfectly placed his shot past goalie Liam Lieb, knotting things at one.

Both teams went into the intermission tied at one, with the excitement just ready to take place.

In the second, it was a defensive showcase as both team’s dialed things up a notch as the tempo got faster and the intensity level was raising to a higher pitch.

As the game ticked away, neither team would bend or break, keeping the game at the 1-1 stalemate.

However, with just 18:32 left in the contest, the Tigers were able to pull ahead.

Alex Arbogast was able to get behind the defensive-line and hit a blast to give his team a 2-1 advantage with the unassisted goal at 18:32.

The Eagles went down battling as they pushed the ball up into Hollidaysburg end of the field for some close calls but just couldn’t answer the earlier goal.

The Tigers outlasted Bald Eagle 2-1 in a hard fought battle.

Hollidaysburg 2, Bald Eagle’s Area 1

HOL 1 1 – 2

BEA 1 0 – 1

Shots on goal: Hollidaysburg 16, Bald Eagle 8

Corners: Bald Eagle Area 1, Hollidaysburg 0

Scoring

First half

H – Micah Blake unassisted, 27:04

BEA – Owen DeChow from Connor Maney, 23:33.

Second half

H – Alex Arbogast unassisted, 18:32.