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Greenwood beats Juniata in overtime

MILLERSTOWN — The post-game watermelon is never sweeter than following an overtime victory against a neighboring rival.

Last night in Millerstown, the Greenwood boys soccer team got to savor that sweetness following their 1-0 overtime victory against Juniata in Tri-Valley League action.

Senior midfielder Luke Myers ended the nearly 90 minutes of scoreless stalemate by scoring with just 29.9 seconds remaining in overtime. Myers tucked home a midrange shot just under the crossbar.

It was fitting the game winner went top shelf as several earlier shots either hit or just sailed over the top bar of the goal.

“You trust your best player to take those big shots at the end of the game, and he capitalized,” Wildcats coach Aaron Anstine said. “I thought (Juniata) was the team we needed to beat to contend for another (Tri-Valley) League title. They have a good goalkeeper (Johnny Dessen). He is one of the best in the League.

Juniata coach Jared Byler was also in a bit of disbelief.

“Wow. What a strike from Myers,” he exclaimed. “He is a fantastic player. I felt we did a good job making him a non-factor most of the game; but good players just need one opportunity to be a difference maker and he was in overtime; kudos to him.”

As the score would suggest: defense dominated the game.

While the shots on goal ended up even at six a piece, Greenwood spent much more time in the attack zone throughout the night. However, the Indians consistently bent but did not break.

“Our defense did a very nice job,” Byler said. “We knew coming in we were going to have to play focused, organized soccer for the entire game, and I feel we got that. I was very pleased with junior Scott Brosious off the bench. We lost a starter early due to injury and Scott came in and played the game of his life. It was like we didn’t miss a beat.”

Senior Cade Richardson stopped early Wildcat penetrations while Tad Shellenberger used his head to clear another Greenwood advance.

The Wildcats’ only official shot of the whole first half came when senior Aaron Morder tried to head home a corner, but Dessen proved more than capable in making the save.

Later, Myers got a good look, but his boot sailed wide while Mason Kauffman’s shot from the corner proved too high.

Dessen then made a great effort to separate Andy Loy from the ball and preserve a the scoreless tie at half.

The Wildcat defense limited the Indians to just a pair of Austin Spickler shots in the first forty minutes.

Spickler’s free kick with 3:47 to go in the first half proved to be the best Juniata scoring opportunity of the night, but it hit the crossbar. Spickler played sparkling defense as well, as he ran down breakaways from the Wildcats and corralled threats repeatedly.

Greenwood’s defense shined in the second half as well.

Glenn Rice stopped a 2-on-1 breakaway sparked by a long goal kick from Dessin.

Blose’s fancy footwork resulted in several nice steals.

Goalie Bryce Dalpiaz stopped all six shots he faced, including a nifty save he made on Chase Lehman’s overtime shot originating from the softfield dirt.

“I think honestly we have the best backs in the league,” said Anstine. “We didn’t make any mistakes in the back. We are rotating in six different guys, and they have all done really nice jobs for us.”

Greenwood hosts Upper Dauphin while Juniata hosts Line Mountain, both today.

Greenwood 1, Juniata 0, OT

Overtime

GW –Luke Myers, 0:29.9

Shots: 6-6; Corners: GW 6-1; Saves: J-5 (Johnny Dessin), GW- 6 (Bryce Dalpiaz).

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