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Greenwood boys advance in District 3

’Cats avenge late-season league loss

Sentinel photo by BRADLEY KREITZER Greenwood’s Josh Kline (10) moves the ball away from Halifax defender Landon Bruner (3) as teammate Chase Stalvey (16) follows the play Monday evening in Millerstown.

Sentinel photo by BRADLEY KREITZER Greenwood's trent Hess (7) kicks the ball away from Halifax defender Landon Bruner (3) Monday evening in Millerstown.

MILLERSTOWN — Halifax paid Greenwood a visit earlier this month, and walked away with an overtime win. Greenwood coach Aaron Anstine called that game the most frustrating loss of the season, but credits it as the turning point in his team’s campaign.

He was more than pleased with the result of the rematch Monday night in the opening round of the District 3 Class A boys soccer tournament, with Greenwood winning, 4-1.

Greenwood travels to face No. 2 Kutztown on Wednesday.

Anstine gave credit to Greenwood staying in pressure situations having played Lancaster Country Day and East Juniata last week in the Tri-Valley League tournament. Halifax, also a TVL member, had all week to relax and practice.

“That was really big for us, and for them, whenever you rely on practice five or six days a week, it changes things,” Anstine said. “We didn’t give up, and I think there was a little bit of hunger because we knew we lost that one on an oops, and we didn’t let down tonight.”

Mason Kauffman had good footwork going early for Greenwood, often fooling Halifax defensemen throughout the 80 minutes. That would prove to be big in the second half, where he scored two goals.

“The biggest transition was that we worked together better and we setup a lot more plays, making us a lot more creative,” Kauffman said. “I think it was better because we were trying to play more up the middle instead of one-two touch, and that created more opportunities for us.”

Kauffman scored goals in the 26th minute and the game’s final minute.

Greenwood though was on the offensive attack for most of the game, and a large part of that success is given to the play of the midfielders.

“One thing we didn’t do real well in the championship game on Thursday was keep our shape to out let, and tonight that was the first thing I wrote on the board,” Anstine said. “We knew that  they have a little different chemistry and make up as their midfield. I figured we could dominate it, we played with confidence that way.”

Greenwood’s defense kept a shutout intact for nearly 75 minutes until Nate Paulauskas got a wide open shot off in the middle of the field that got past goalkeeper Danny O’Toole.

The aggressiveness Greenwood displayed throughout paid dividends, picking up thirteen corner kicks — seven of them in the game’s first 20 minutes — and kept the pressure squarely on Halifax’s defense.

During that time period, Luke Myers was able to get Greenwood on the board first when he got the ball through some tight space in the left side of the goal.

Kauffman hopes much of what he saw Monday carries over for the team.

“I just want the team to carry over the hype that we’ve had and to just keep their heads up and play as good as they can,” Kauffman said.

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