Boys soccer: JCS edges Belleville, 5-4
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MCALISTERVILLE — Tuesday night's ACAA match up with the 9-1 Juniata Christian and the feisty Belleville Christian squad proved to be an instant classic as the game would not be settled until the final buzzer sounded.
After a second half that had a barrage of goals scored in it, the Lions were able to hold onto a nail biting 5-4 win.
“Well, they played well. I mean, my guys played good," said Juniata Christian coach Jorge Flores de Valgaz. "They (Belleville) started attacking in the second half, and they had us scared a little bit, but, you know, I think we had control of the game. You know, made a few mistakes in the back, but we got the win."
Juniata Christian's Julian Flores de Valgaz picked up a hat trick, posting three goals. All of which came in the second half.
Belleville got a 4-goal effort by Devin Yoder.
The second half journey for the Thunder was a 4-0 deficit with 21:43 left. The result would be a flurry of goals from Devin Yoder that would cut the deficit to one before running out of time.
"I am proud of the boys, they showed up. I wish we could have done the same thing from the get go, but they showed up 2nd half," said Belleville coach Sani Vilakati. "We came in, we scored 4 goals, and we couldn’t have asked for more. I’m proud of them. I’m looking forward to the next one."
Coming into the second half, the Lions held a 2-0 advantage.
Flores de Valgaz got the second stanza scoring started as he hit an unassisted goal in traffic at 21:53.
Despite being double and triple teamed all night Flores de Valgaz hit his second just seconds after as he picked up a pass from Jordan Lara, at 21:43, upping the Lions lead to 4-0.
After putting the pressure on the Juniata backfield, BCS’s Devin Yoder put his team on the board as he found the left corner of the goal to put his team on the board at 20:14.
But Flores de Valgaz would notch his hat trick just minutes later on another unassisted goal at 19:47.
But the Thunder wasn't done quite yet as they continued to take over the momentum pushing the ball to the heart of the Lions' defense.
Again it was Devin Yoder that would answer the call as he blasted an unassisted goal with 18:56 to inch his team closer closing the deficit to three.
The Thunder continued to punch the ball down and they once again were able to get the ball to the suddenly blazing hot play of Devin Yoder. Yoder did not disappoint as he once again hit another unassisted goal at 9:45 to put Belleville back into striking distance.
With time starting to become an enemy for the Thunder Devin Yoder made it an even closer contest hitting on a header to make it a 5-4 contest with 2:28 left.
However, the Lions defense was able to hold on for dear life as the final two minutes ran out and they would escaped with a hard fought 5-4 battle.
Juniata Christian 5, Belleville Christian 4
BC 0 4 – 4
JC 2 3 – 5
Scoring
First half
JC – Jordan Lara from Julian Flores de Valgaz, 23:10.
JC – Lara from Jesse Spade, 13:22.
Second half
JC – Flores de Valgaz, unassisted 21:53.
JC – Flores de Valgaz from Lara, 21:43.
BC – Devin Yoder unassisted, 20:14.
JC – Flores de Valgaz, 19:47.
BC – Devin Yoder unassisted, 18:56.
BC – Devin Yoder unassisted, 9:45.
BC – Devin Yoder unassisted, 2:28.
Shots on goal: BC – 17, JC – 19.
Corners: BC – 3, JC – 5.
Saves: Gage Geisinger (BC) 6, Connor Leitzel (JC) 8.