Southern Lehigh boys, girls advance
There was a lot of soccer played at Salisbury High School Monday night, but when all was said and done, there were just two goals scored and both came from Southern Lehigh players. In the Colonial League quarterfinals, the Spartans downed Palmerton 1-0 in the girls’ playoff game and the nightcap went to double overtime before Southern Lehigh disposed of Bangor 1-0.
Boys: Southern Lehigh 1, Bangor 0 (2OT)
The first three minutes of the game were nothing like the following 1:06:48 of play. The first opportunity came on a cross from Southern Lehigh’s Andrew Thomas that found Josh Harlow open in front of the net, but goalkeeper Erik Kiernan made the stop. Just 45 seconds later, Southern Lehigh was back knocking on the door, but Kiernan again denied a quick goal.
The two missed opportunities seemed to give Bangor (10-7-2) a chance to settle in and the Slaters were stronger defensively following the series of plays. Much of the first half was filled with missed opportunities for both teams as the two goalies came up with big plays and other open looks sailed off target to keep the game scoreless at halftime.
“Our defense has a lot of good communication, and we always talk to each other to let each other know where the other team’s attackers are and how to position ourselves,” said Spartans goalie Sam Magallanes. “We also have a lot of trust in each other, and we trust each other to make a defensive stop when we need it. It’s a great culture at Southern Lehigh.”
In the second half, Bangor struggled to find more opportunities and Southern Lehigh (11-7-0) took control. But the Spartans were unable to score as both teams began to show some frustration as the game went late into regulation.
“It was getting frustrating, but we kept our mentality straight and we never put our heads down after a play or after a shot went over [the crossbar]. We just turned right back around and kept going,” said junior Josh Harlow, who was the victim of some of the errant shots and good saves.
Slowly, the Spartans again to got the better of play and with 6:36 left in overtime, Harlow put a shot on goal that Kiernan stopped. With 3:12 left, Andrew Thomas fired a laser on goal, and it bounced off Kiernan to be played by Bryan Higgins, but the Slaters defense stepped in and disrupted the opportunity.
Both teams traded opportunities and with just under four minutes to play in the second overtime, Matt O’Neill sent an innocent looking pass out to Harlow, who was right by the sideline approximately 20 yards in front of the goal. As Bangor expected a centering pass, Harlow centered the ball, but put it to the far side of the goal and out of the reach of Kiernan to kick off the celebration.
“The only thing I thought was just one word: relief,” said Magallanes standing at the other end of the field. “It was a great shot, and we were playing a really good team and I think we were all getting a little tired, so it was a relief when I saw that ball go in the net.”
The Spartans play top seed Northwestern Lehigh (18-0-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in the semifinals at Northern Lehigh High School. Moravian Academy will play Notre Dame-Green Pond at 7 p.m. Salisbury High School in the other semifinal.
Girls: Southern Lehigh 1, Palmerton 0
During the regular season, Southern Lehigh gave the defending league champions a battle before falling to Palmerton 1-0. Coach Andrew Filler knew his team needed to do something different, but changing things up this late in the season is never easy. His decision was to stress defense and ask his defensive players to put in a little overtime in the Colonial League quarterfinal Monday night.
After 80 minutes and a couple close calls, it was again a 1-0 result but this time the Spartans prevailed, eliminating the Blue Bombers’ chances of a repeat.
On the game’s only goal Elizabeth Yazdanyar sent a pass over to Hallie Thomas, who was not in the best position to take a shot from 28 yards out, but the freshman midfielder figured it was worth a shot. The ball took a high arching path toward the goal, going over the head of Palmerton goalkeeper Emma Snyder and landing deep in the net for the game’s only goal.
“We had a lot of passes coming up from the back and a lot of one touches up the field and then there was a low cross over to me,” explained Thomas. “It wasn’t the normal sort of shot and I haven’t gotten a goal like that all season, so I wouldn’t say that I am used to taking that shot, but it was the right move in that instance.”
The game went to the half with the Spartans up 1-0 and Filler continued to push his defensive players to hold up through the second half and escape with a win.
Southern Lehigh (11-7-1), the fifth seed, faces top-seeded Northwestern Lehigh (17-1-0) at 5 p.m. in one semi final Wednesday night at Northern Le high High School. Moravian Academy plays Saucon Valley at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Salisbury High School in the other semifinal.