LC shut out by Lancaster Mennonite

LOWER PAXTON >> Same round, same opponent, same tough result for the Lansdale Catholic boys soccer team.

Facing Lancaster Mennonite in the PIAA Class 2A first round for the second consecutive year, the Crusaders worked to keep the Blazers in check but the District 3 champs broke through late in the first half then scored twice after halftime to pull away for a 3-0 victory over LC Tuesday night at Central Dauphin Middle School’s Landis Field.

“We had a nice game plan set up on how we wanted to attack and get through the game. I think they wore us down with a lot of substitutions,” Lansdale Catholic coach Bill James said. “They were able to bring different swarms of players, the energy remained high and we started to wear off just a little bit. They punished their few chances that they had on us.”

Ben Lefever gave Lancaster Mennonite the 1-0 lead with 6:19 before halftime after a throw-in. Tyler Wagner doubled the Chargers advantage after the break with a long-distance shot that slipped away from LC keeper Kellan Ward. Cameron Hoo-

tacked on a third with less than seven minutes left in regulation as Lancaster Mennonite advances to face either Wyoming Seminary or Midd West in the state quarterfinals.

“Our style of play coming into the game was obviously a little bit defensive,” James said. “We had a few very dangerous players that are usually in our attack in the back third of our defense. We wanted to kind of wear them down, maybe get two or three opportunities and know that we weren’t going to get a bundle of chances and try to get that one or two.

“We didn’t think we were going to win a three or four-goal game. We we’re looking to win a 1-0 game. Unfortunately it didn’t unfold like that.”

The Crusaders, who fell to Lancaster Mennonite 5-1 in last year’s 2A firstround, were looking for its first PIAA win since reaching the 2A semifinals in 2016. LC finishes the season 9-12-1.

“Having your senior year come to an end and any team that you play is just tough,” LC’s Matt McDonald said. “You play four years in a program and then just to see it all go away, it was just hard for it – how it happened. We wanted this game because we did lose to them last year but we came ready to play, it just didn’t go our way.”

McDonald generated the Crusaders’ best scoring chances In the game’s third minute, the senior put a low shot on goal that forced Chargers keeper Gabe Willig into a diving save.

In the second half and LC down 2-0, McDonald let loose an effort from 30 yards out that knuckled towards to top left corner of the goal before Willig reached up to make the save.

“It looked good to me, but he made a great save on it and they kept us scoreless,” McDonald said.

Still trailing by two, McDonald pushed a header in the box wide in the 70th minute.

“Giving up the second one hurt a little bit but the guys didn’t stop, they really kept trying,” James said. “We can’t complain because we had our few chances as well and they put away their few and we had a few that we didn’t put away. Today, I think, the better team won.”

Lefever struck for the opening goal after a Lancaster Mennonite throwin, the senior midfielder working to get a bit of space in the box and sliding a shot past Ward at the near left post at 6:19.

“I think we were worried maybe about giving up a foul in the top of the 18,” James said. “Just had to get back behind the ball and the guy slotted a nice shot near-post.”

Lancaster Mennonite took a 2-0 lead at 18:53 on a bit of some bad luck for LC. Wagner hit a low, long-distance effort towards the left post. Ward dove to stop it, but the ball slipped past him and trickled over the goal line inside the post.

“It was a tough one for our players,” James said. “We stood behind it. We didn’t put our heads down. We kept playing the rest of the game. It was a tough one to give up, but things like that happen and you just got to keep playing. I think our guys did a good job of that.”

The Chargers made it 3-0 with 6:45 left, Paul Peachey delivering a low cross into the box from the left flank and Hoober blasting in a shot into the net.