Moving on.. Bald Eagle Area tops Western Shamokin

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: October 24, 2023

By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – An exhausting win!

In the first round of District Class A action, the Bald Eagle boys soccer team had its team primed and ready for action Tuesday as it took on Western Shamokin.

Offensively, the Bald Eagle Area offense exploded for 29 shots on goal in the 1-0 victory over the Wolves.

“Three (Stockdale) was the key to their game. When he got free a couple of times, you could see how dangerous it was,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jason Bair.” So trying man him up for the game was huge. Gabe Foster did a fantastic job.”

Bald Eagles’ Andrew Ream posted the lone goal of the contest, early in the game.

But it would be the defense that made their presence known throughout the game, keeping the Wolves top player, Coleman Stockdale scoreless and limited him from running in the open field and getting any good looks at the goal area.

Bald Eagle goalie Clayton Reigh was only tested five times and was successful every time.

Bald Eagle Area led in Shots on goal: by a 29-10 margin. The Eagles also led in corner opportunities 6-0.

The Wolves goalie Nicholas Atherton finished with 19 saves. BEA – Clayton Reigh 5.

With 10 minutes left in the contest and holding a 1-0 advantage, tired and exhausted from the previous 70 minutes of putting all out on the field, the Eagles defense gutted it out to frustrate the Wolves, sealing the deal for the home team and sending them to a rematch with Richland, the team that ousted the Bald Eagles just a year ago in the post season.

“ Our offense was also extremely tired. We had 30 shots so they were getting tired,” said Bair. “If we could have just put one more in, the pressure would have been off. But kudos to our guys. We didn’t fold. We worked hard and my guys are exhausted.”

In the first half, the Eagles started the with the momentum as they pushed the ball to the heart of the Wolves defense and pushed their tempo on the game.

Time after time, the Eagles would press the field as it plastered 14 shots on goal in the first.

Highlighting the Western Shamokin first half was a shot the hit the horizontal bar of the goal. That would be the closest to a goal the Wolves would get.

After knocking on the door for most of the period, the Eagles were able to post their lone goal.

Ream broke open for a breakaway shot and was able to post the shot past the Wolves tough defense and goalkeeper.

The Eagle travel to Richland Thursday for game two of District playoff action.