Bald Eagle uses tough defense to top Penns Valley

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 16, 2021

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – It was a total team win!

The Bald Eagle girls soccer team played a tough Mountain League foe Thursday night in Penns Valley.

From front to back, Bald Eagle had much success keeping the Rams from getting any good looks at the goal.

Two first half goals would be all the Lady Eagles would need as they took the contest 2-0.

“We did well tonight in transition and we pressured the ball well. It caused some set pieces and we took advantage of them,” said Bald Eagle coach Jared Moore. “Heather Leskovansky had a beautiful headed finish off a Maura Cingle corner kick.”

Early on, the Eagles took the ball down into the Rams defensive end,

Bald Eagle speedster Falen McHenry made her presence known early, taking the ball to the heart of the Rams back-third.

However, for most of the night, Penns Valley’s defense was hard to penetrate.

For most of the first half the two teams kept trying to gain momentum but could only muster short span runs that would keep any players from either teams good looks at the goal area.

Bald Eagles’ defensive-back third showed its strength defending the goal area as the combination of Autumn Tobias, Cadence Stem, Alaina Grant and Maura Cingle kept the communication between each other up all game resulting in just one shot being shot at the Bald Eagle goal. They were a big factor in the Eagles shut out win.

Penns Valley goalie Noelle Webb shined on the night as well as she saved 11, despite the loss.

As the first half started to reach its half way mark, Bald Eagle would get the first scoring opportunity of the game.

At 20:34, McHenry was in the right place at the right time and sent a blast that hit the back of the net. She was assisted on the goal by Abby Hoover, ending the scoreless tie.

Before the half was over, the Lady Eagles added an insurance goal to add to their lead.

On a corner opportunity, Heather Leskovansky was able to head the ball in the net off of the inbounds kick of Maura Cingle.

Holding a 2-0 advantage going into the second,Bald Eagle cinched up its already tough defense and continued to chip away at the Penns Valley defense as the clock continued to wind down.

The Rams were never able to break that defensive bond the team had in the second half as it was shut out in even shots on goal.

Bald Eagle would win the game with the 2-0 score, it also held a 6-0 advantage in corners and a 13-1 advantage on shots on goal in the game.

Bald Eagle got one save out of Mackenzie Vozniak while Webb tallied 11 for the Rams.

With the win, Bald Eagle is second in the Mountain League with a 3-1 record and an overall record of 3-1.

Bald Eagle will be back in action Monday versus Hollidaysburg.

In the JV Contest, Bald Eagle shut out Penns Valley 4-0.

Scoring for the Eagles were Makenzie Bickle (unassisted), Bickle (Sydney Thompson), Bickle (Adrienne Hacker) and Bickle (Eden Eveleth).