Juniata tops Bellefonte in rainy contest

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 23, 2024

By Kenny Varner

MIFFLINTOWN – Slip, sliding away.

Monday, two potential District 6 playoff soccer teams met up in the slippery and wet confines of the Juniata Soccer Complex.

The Bellefonte boys soccer team made the trip down the 7 Mountains to do battle with Juniata on a night where Mother Nature made her presence known as the two battled the rain for some tough soccer action.

Juniata came on top in this meeting as the Indians won 3-1.

Leading the way offensively was an explosive effort by Anthony Maradiaga who finished with a hat trick. He would notch the three goals with two in the first and one in the second.

Bellefonte’s lone goal came from Conelle Stabinger late in the opening stanza.

It was a battle from beginning to end as both teams put the pressure on the opposing defensive end.

Juniata outshot Bellefonte 12-7 while the Indians led in corners by an opportunities 4-3.

Juniata goalie Wyatt Dessin finished with nine saves while the Red Raiders goalkeeper Eli Davis finished with 13.

“Coach Scott Martz from Bellefonte really does a great job with his guys. We knew Bellefonte was going to be a good team,” said Juniata coach Jared Byler. “I feel like the first 10 minutes, I don’t know if we had the respect for Bellefonte that we should have and I think it showed. It took our guys 10 minutes to wake up and start playing. But once we did we played really well. I was pleased on how the game went.”

In the first, the two teams’ offense exchanged numerous runs at their opponents side of the field.

For 30 minutes, neither team was able penetrate the defensive backfield. But both were bound and determined not to give up the first goal.

But at 9:57, Bellefonte got the first goal of the game when Conelle Stabinger notched an unassisted goal, sending it sailing through the left hand side of the goal.

“We started out okay. We had some good opportunities early to score on some wide open nets. We just couldn’t put it in the back of the net,” said Bellefonte coach Scott Martz. “We just kind of fell apart after that. Defensive we didn’t play well. Defensively, Juniata moved the ball well. They moved the ball well. They’re quick. We just had too many mental errors tonight.”

With the Red Raiders posting the first goal, the Juniata offense came battling right back, pushing the ball into the Red Raiders backfield.

The Indians didn’t take long to notch the game at one.

Coming down the field in transition, Guante sent the ball downfield to Maradiaga. Maradiaga was able to send it home, tying it at one with 5:52 left in the half.

Before the Bellefonte defense was able to settle in, the Indians took the lead. Maradiaga got open in front of the goal and hit his second goal in under two minutes.

When the two teams went into the intermission, Juniata held the close 2-1 advantage.

Coming out of the intermission, the Indians finished with an insurance goal.

Again, Maradiaga picked up a pass in transition thanks to another assist by Guante to put Juniata up for good as they held on for the 3-1 victory.

Juniata 3, Bellefonte 1

BEL 1 0 – 1

JUN 2 1 -3

Scoring

First half

BEL – Conelle Stabinger unassisted, 9:57

JUN – Anthony Maradiaga from Ricky Guante, 5:52.

JUN – Maradiaga unassisted, 3:56

Second half