Red Raiders shut out Mounties

By rscaife
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Updated: September 15, 2017

By Kenny Varner
BELLEFONTE – Notch another win for the Red Raiders.
In a gloomy looking day at the Bellefonte Middle School, two Mountain League foes met on the soccer field when the Red Raiders boys soccer team went head-to-head against Philipsburg-Osceola Thursday afternoon.
Despite playing a stingy defense for most of the 80-minute contest, the Mounties could not generate enough offense to keep up with Bellefonte.
In the end, the Red Raiders came out victorious on the night, 3-0.
Leading the way offensively for the Red Raiders was Daniel Catchmark who posted 2-of-3 of the Bellefonte goals.
In the opening minutes of the first, the Mounties opened with the first possession but the Bellefonte defense pushed it out to its offense.
The Red Raiders wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. With 33:36 left in the first, Catchmark got free in the middle and sent it home, making it 1-0.
On the play, the Red Raiders offense spread the field and opened up the middle for Catchmark to get free.
Bellefonte continued to control the pace of the game and had the tempo working for them.
Minutes later, Catchmark broke free on a breakaway attempt and pushed through the defense but his shot went off to the left.
At the 28:35 mark, the Mounties weren’t as lucky as Catchmark was automatic as he sent it past Philipsburg-Osceola goalie Jaylen Johnson.
Despite giving up the two early Bellefonte goals, Johnson still finished with 14 saves on the night.
From there, the Mounties defense closed the gap that previously allowed the two goals and was stingy the rest of the first half.
Going into the intermission, Bellefonte held the advantage on not only the scoreboard but led 17-3 in shots on goals and 4-0 on corner opportunities.
In the second half, the Mounties continued to play tough, especially on defense.
But the Red Raider defense was equally if not more effective as they held PO to only four shots on goal in the second while its offense collected 19 more.
Rounding out the scoring was Joey Maggs. Maggs took a pass from Eddie Fitzgerald and snuck it past Johnson, ending the game scoring at 3-0.