CURTIS PARK – The Philipsburg-Osceola boys’ soccer Mounties today took control of their own destiny in the Allegheny Division of the Mountain League with a 1-0 whitewashing of division rival Huntingdon.
The lone highlight of the match came in the 20th minute when Mountie captain Alex Boumerhi headed home the second ball on the doorstep from a little crossing header by junior wing Chris Barnhart. The play had developed from a throw down the left side where Mountie striker Antonino Turrigiano managed to get the ball into the mixer.
P-O is undefeated in division play, having shut out all of its division foes (Clearfield, Tyrone and now Huntingdon) and has run its season record to 5-1 with a back line that simply will not concede goals. P-O has scored 30 goals already on the young season and allowed only 4.
Today was no different in a somewhat ho-hum match that saw few Bearcat chances on a day where the visitors mustered four shots on goal and only one adventurous one in the first half.
The first half chance was the Bearcats’ best and it was the result of the dreadful Curtis Park pitch. On what appeared to be a harmless rolling ball toward the Mountie back line, both center backs Taylor Golemboski and then Alex Gray comically swung and missed on clearing efforts as the ball hopped unexpectedly on the uneven grass and fell to a grateful Matt Wilson who lurked at the 18. With Golemboski and Gray in Keystone Cops pursuit, though, the sophomore Bearcat muffed a worm-burner from the penalty spot that Mountie keeper Jay Prentice easily saved to preserve the lead.
“That was typical Curtis Park soccer right there,” said a bemused coach Petro. “Look, we get to practice on this field and it can still make you look foolish. You have to feel bad for Huntingdon coming here to play for the first time in two years.”
With the lead secured, the Mounties played conservatively and took chances when opportunities arose. There were at least three good opportunities where long throws from Golemboski were struck wide and the inevitable feeling that something would fall did not materialize.
About halfway through the second period, Turrigiano pinched a ball off the Bearcat back line and broke in alone on Bearcat keeper Keith Moore. Turrigiano made a decent ball low and to his right but Moore was just able to make a kick save to keep the game at 1 – 0. The rest of the game drained listlessly away.
“This is the 4th game in 8 days for these guys,” said Mountie coach Tom Petro. “And you could see the fatigue slipping in. By Wednesday, when we go down to Mifflin County (the AAA jointure between what was once Indian Valley and Lewistown), we’ll have played 5 games in ten days.”
And the weary Mounties have given themselves a chance to run the table in all five games.
“Wouldn’t that be something?” said Petro. “We’re looking forward to the game with Mifflin County because we need some games against unfamiliar, top-class opponents to prepare for the road ahead. We’re starting to think about a bigger picture here, so we’re really going to enjoy the test on Wednesday.”
Huntingdon came in fresh, having last played a week ago when they dropped a 1-0 home decision to Central Mountain. They are now to 2-4 on the season and travel Wednesday to Mifflinburg to face Juniata.
____________________________________GAME NOTES___________________________________
The Mounties out-shot the Bearcats 16-4 on the day. Mountie keeper Jay Prentice made 3 saves in earning his third clean sheet of the season. Bearcat keeper Keith Moore made 4 saves on the day. P-O had 3 corner kicks to one for Huntingdon.
The junior varsity game ended in a bloodless draw.
It is Mountie Tradition to name a Man of the Match for each game. Chris Barnhart is honored today for his outstanding wing play both in the attack, where he assisted on the game-winning goal, and in defense.