BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Williamsport’s boys’ soccer team huddles before taking on No. 2 Delaware Valley for the District 2 Class AAAA Championship at Balls Mills Soccer Complex. Williamsport scored on a second half PK to defeat the Warriors, 1-0.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Williamsport’s Sam Penman hits a ball with his back heel to fool a Delaware Valley defender. Williamsport’s offense controlled possession throughout the night to win 1-0.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Kolachi Pombor takes on a Delaware Valley defender in an effort to beat him to the goal.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Williamsport’s Cam Pardoe looks to control a ball near the out of bounds line. Pardoe was of many Millionaires who helped control possession throughout the entire game.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Williamsport’s Tiarnen Ferry fights for a ball before it goes out for a throw in.
By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT— Despite being separated by nearly three hours of driving, Williamsport and Delaware Valley appear to building quite the rivalry.
The first display of this budding competition between the schools came Wednesday when No. 1 Williamsport welcomed in No. 2 Delaware Valley for the District 2 Sub-Regional Class AAAA Championship.
The Warriors only managed to win five games on the season, but thanks to District 2’s open playoff format all it took was a win to earn a trip to the Sub-Regional final.
The Warriors proved up to the task as they pushed Williamsport to the limit. The Millionaires caught a break when a takedown in the box was called to setup a penalty kick.
Tom Pombor wasted little time capitalizing off the call as he tucked a shot into the right corner of the net. The one-goal lead would hold as Williamsport defeated Delaware Valley 1-0 to claim the District 2 Class AAA sub-regional Championship. It was the first District Championship for Williamsport boys’ soccer progame since 1995, and the Millionaires celebrated like it.
“All of the guys who came before us helped set the ground work,” Williamsport coach Lee Kaar said. “I know they don’t get the medal, but they were a part of this. They set the ground work for these kids to come in with the expectations.”
Williamsport spent the majority of the first half on the attack, logging all of the shots through the opening 40 minutes but one.
Despite all the effort, it was not until the end of the first half that Williamsport started to produce any type of quality shots on goal.
Near the seven minute mark Tom Pombor almost gave Williamsport its first half answer when he booted a ball near the 18. The high arcing shot beat the keeper, but connected with the cross bar. A minute later Pombor was back on the attack as he pushed a low shot through for Williamsport’s first official attempt directly on goal.
The ball snuck through the Delaware Valley defense, but was stopped by Michael Odendahl for the Warriors’ first safe of the night.
Pombor got his best chance in the opening minutes of the second half when he beat Odendahl for a wide open look at the goal. His take ended up being a little too aggressive as it sailed over the crossbar for a goal kick.
Delaware Valley was able to make a push late in the half, recording a shot on goal after a direct kick was called on Williamsport with less than a minute left.
“They controlled a big portion of the first half and came out strong in the second half, but we had our opportunities,” Delaware Valley coach Aaron Stark said. “We gave ourselves chances, but it’s tough when you give up a PK (penalty kick).”
Both teams appeared to have an advantage on set pieces, which made corners and direct and indirect kicks that much more interesting.
Pombor clearly had the jumping advantage on Williamsport set pieces. For Delaware Valley it was Hessel Sacken, who possessed a clear height advantage over Williamsport defenders.
In the early moments of the second half Cam Pardoe nearly gave the Millionaires a one-goal advantage when he collected a pass from Tiarnan Ferry inside of the box.
Odendahl was there for stop, diving into Pardoe to force a loose ball, which he jumped on for the save.
“Anytime you have a PK there is pressure there, but I think you should come away with a goal,” Kaar said. “With the guys we have I’m quite confident. Tom is the first guy up and he buried it.”
No. 1 Williamsport 1, No. 2 Delaware Valley 0
WILL 0 1-1
DELVAL 0 0-0
Goals: WIL—Tom Pombor (PK), 63:00.
Shots: Williamsport 17, Delaware Valley 1. Shots on goal: Williamsport 5, Delaware Valley 0. Corners: Williamsport 6, Delaware Valley 3. Saves: Williamsport (JR Confair), 0, Delaware Valley (Michael Odenahl), 4. Fouls: Williamsport 12, Delaware Valley 6. Cards: Williamsport none. Delaware Valley none.
