Instant Classic: Bellefonte tops Bald Eagle Area in 2OT thriller

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 10, 2023

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Another instant classic.

Another page to the Bellefonte versus Bald Eagle Area long legacy of the historical rivaly was written Tuesday night at Alumni Stadium at Bald Eagle Area.

“I think this is our fifth overtime period this season so we are practiced at this,” said Bellefonte coach Stacey Miller. “I thought our defense played pretty solid this evening. They did a great job. Overall I thought it was a great team effort.”
It took two overtimes before a victor would get their hands raised in victory.

In the end, it would be the 11-2-1 Bellefonte team that would get the victory. It would come on a free kick opportunity that would be finished off by Sydney Miller hitting a shot in traffic.

Bellefonte held the advantage in the shots on goal department by a 22-8 margin and also finished with a slim advantage in corners, 8-7.

Bellefonte goalie Keira Whitman finished the evening with four saves while BEA goalie Makayla Spicer finished with 16.

“We played great tonight. The defense was strong and we used the few chances we had to make an impact,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jared Moore said. “Unfortunately, we had another Heartbreakers in OT but these girls are tough and will bounce back. We just need to stay the course and we will get the bounces sooner or later.”
With the game tied at two at the end of the first overtime, the sense of urgency was at a fever pitch.

Each team had their chances at the others goal.

Bellefonte was in the Eagles end and a foul was called on them, giving the Red Raiders a free kick opportunity. The kick went into a crowd of players and the ball went off Miller and into the goal, bring home the win for the Lady Raiders.

The Lady Raiders were the first to put points on the board. They had had their transition game working throughout the night, keeping the ball down in the Bald Eagle side for much of the first half.

Laura Lodge hit an unassisted goal, finding the back of the net at 26:12 left in the first.

In the second, the two teams were playing in post season mode for the entire period. The two exchanged numerous trips up the field as things started to get more physical with each passing moment.

Bald Eagle still found itself trailing by one.

But at the 25:18 mark, the Eagles knotted the contest. Sybil Thompson scored from a Claudia Irvin pass to tie the contest at one.

The two would battle for the rest of the second half and first overtime, which would set up the drama in the would happen in the final overtime period.