Bellefonte battled but falls to Hollidaysburg

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 2, 2023

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Two two loss teams went head-to-head Monday in Laurel Highlands action.

Bellefonte’ boys soccer team hosted the always tough Tigers of Hollidaysburg Monday matinee.

The Red Raiders kept things close after one period but things started to go off the rails for Bellefonte in the second, falling 4-2.

“We did everything right on Saturday. Today we didn’t move the ball as quick as we did. I thought we tried to dribble a little too much and dribble through them instead of passing. The times we did pass through it we scored,” said Bellefonte coach Scott Martz. “We looked good when we did that. Give them (Hollidaysburg) credit. They moved the ball well on us tonight. We came out flat and kind of played a little bit lazy.”

However, Brady Wertz and teammate Andrew Gerasenko both found the back of the goals in the transition game.

Early on, both teams battled to push their offense up the field and establish position on their opponents. Like two experts in a chess match, each move proved to have an equally successful counter move as each defense refused to allow an easy shot.

Bellefonte was successful in getting Wertz free in breakaway attempts early but each one was shot down by the Tigers defensive back line.

However, Hollidaysburg got the opportunity they were looking for as

Owen Bender got loose with the ball and faked a move on the Red Raider goalie before sending it home, making it a 1-0 contest at 16:42.

Things settled back in for the Bellefonte defense until close to the 10-minute mark.

Hollidaysburg went up 2-0 on an Owen Naugle unassisted goal at the 10:25 mark, making it a 2-0 advantage.

But the Red Raiders took advantage of a late breakaway by Wertz to cut the lead in half as the two teams went into the intermission.

Brady Wertz hit the unassisted goal at 1:33.

In the Second half, the Red Raiders and Tigers both turned up the intensity in the contest as each one took turns trying to push another goal through.

However, the Red Raiders found themselves playing a man down for half the stanza.

The disadvantage turned to another opportunity for Tigers as on a free kick, the ball went off a Bellefonte players resulting in an own goal by the Red Raiders at 16:29.

Leading 3-1 Hollidaysburg’s Asher Miles posted an unassisted goal at 13:33 to mark it up to a 4-1 lead.

Bellefonte continued to battle even though the odds were against them. Andrew Gerasenko took his turn at the Tigers goal and sent it through at 2:03.

But it was too little too late as Hollidaysburg held onto the victory, winning 4-2.