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Bisons claim another D-9 title with 2-0 win over Dutch
Friday, November 06, 2009
By Josh Mlot Sports Writer
BROCKWAY - Mark it down as five in a row.
The Clearfield boys soccer team walked out on the pitch at Brockway's Frank Varischetti Field and proceeded to dominate St. Marys for most of 80 minutes Thursday evening, eventually walking off the pitch with a 2-0 victory and a fifth consecutive District 9 Class AA title.
Senior midfielder Nick Walker struck twice for the Bisons (11-6-1), following up plays and scoring both goals on balls that last touched Flying Dutch players.
"Both of (the goals) were balls that just got knocked around and bounced back out at him," Clearfield head coach Jeff Mease said, "and he just did a great job of finishing them.
"He made great finishes, and he put himself in the right position. It's not just a matter of being in the right place at the right time, he was in the right place for a reason. He knew where to be, knew where the ball was going to end up and he put the ball in the back of the net a couple times."
But it was Walker and Company's work across the entire field that really propelled Clearfield to victory, completely controlling the run of play and shutting out all daylight for a St. Marys' attack that rarely ever got a chance to even contend with the Bison backline.
"We really worked hard tonight," Mease said. "We came out hard and just really worked triangles the first 20 minutes terrifically. We moved the ball up and down the field and looked really, really sharp. We got a couple quick goals and, boy, I thought it might be a blowout, but they settled in a little bit.
"Nick Walker did a fabulous job in the middle. I just can't talk enough about him and Matt Anderson, our two center midfielders. (The entire team) really just putting the ball right back in and controlling the outside, they did a great job back there. Defensively, all of our defenders have been getting better and better all year.
"It just makes such a difference to not give up chances and control the middle of the field like that, and I'm really proud of them all."
And when St. Marys did manage to build some sort of threat, Ben Johnson was in net to ice the shutout for the Bisons. The Dutch managed only three shots on net all night, with Johnson making two saves and a number of heads-up plays.
"The few times they did break through, Ben just did another fantastic job as keeper," Mease said. "He came out when he needed to, pounced on a couple balls he needed to before they really became too dangerous.
"Really, I felt confident most of the game even though we only had a 2-0 lead. I never really felt unconfident about it, we were really moving the ball up and down well."
Clearfield took the early advantage in just the sixth minute, when Kurt Graham flew in off the left wing and blasted a shot on goal that St. Marys keeper Ryan Uhl did well just to smack away. But with the rebound loose, Walker swooped in to slot the ball home for a 1-0 score.
Ten minutes later, Walker found himself on the proper end of another bounce.
Anderson's cross from the left touchline soared to the far side of the penalty area, but a Dutch defender's clearing attempt boomeranged back toward the center of the box. Walker never let it hit the ground, volleying it straight into the goal to go up 2-0.
From there, the Bisons had countless close opportunities and forced Uhl into nine stops, but the finishing touches never surfaced.
With four minutes remaining in the first half it looked certain that Clearfield would pad the lead, but a free kick from Anderson smacked off the crossbar and out of play.
Once again the advantage looked destined to grow when, in the 50th minute, Anderson sent a long through-ball that only Graham could get to. Running on in the box, the senior striker touched his shot off the right post and watched it rebound in front of the goal mouth, but Zach Fannin's follow-up attempt was sent high.
Those opportunities continued late into the contest, with Anderson getting another crack on a free kick with five minutes left to play. The Bison captain lifted another dangerous strike on net, but Uhl made a leaping save to parry the ball over the crossbar.
The second half also featured some physical play as the tension ratcheted up a notch.
Forward Luke Bell received a yellow card early in the 44th minute after a scuffle with a Flying Dutch defender, and Fannin, who may have been lucky not to get carded after a midfield collision shortly after, was tagged with a yellow with only a couple minutes left in the game.
"It's an emotional game," Mease said. "I'm an ex-player, I know it.
"You play this game with a lot of emotion and anything can happen, we just don't dare lose someone going into states. So I tried to sub out where I had the yellow cards when I could, and we went from there."
Clearfield will now prepare for the PIAA playoffs, where it is set to take on the No. 2 team out of the WPIAL, which will be determined when Mars and Hampton play for the District 7 championship on Saturday.
Game time is set for Tuesday night at a location and time to be determined. Clearfield 2, St. Marys 0
Scoring Summary
First Half
1. Nick Walker, C, (Kurtis Graham), 5:52.
2. Walker, C, (unassisted), 15:48..
Shots: St. Marys 3, Clearfield 21.
Saves: St. Marys (Ryan Uhl) 9, Clearfield (Ben Johnson) 2.
Corners: St. Marys 1, Clearfield 6.
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