Lady Raiders fall game short of goal

Vinny Pezzimenti

MILL HALL — The run had to come to an end sooner or later, right?

Craig Houtz

Bellefonte's Erika Walker, right, and Central Mountain's Natalie Handley (8) chase down a loose ball during their District 6 AAA semi-final on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. CDT/Craig Houtz

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In this season of many accomplishments, the Bellefonte girls’ soccer team registered a program record 15 victories and added to it the first ever postseason victory. A district title?

Close, but the Lady Red Raiders ultimately finished one step short of playing for the coveted crown.

Central Mountain produced two early goals and held on for dear life in dispatching Bellefonte 2-0 in a District 6 Class AAA semifinal on Monday at Don Malinak Stadium.

Through tears afterward, the Red Raiders’ lone starting senior, Danielle Gomola, put the team’s season in perspective.

“I think this will be a season that people reflect and think, ‘Wow, that’s when Bellefonte really got started,’” she said. “I never thought we would do this much in one season. I’m just glad I could be a part of it. Especially my senior season. It means everything to me.”

Bellefonte, which finishes at 15-5, smashed the record nine victories last year’s team produced. Win No. 15 came 4-0 over Indian Valley in the district quarterfinals.

Win No. 16 was, perhaps, closer to being collected than the final score indicated.

The Lady Wildcats (17-2), who will meet State College in the district finals on Wednesday, got goals from Samantha Lofton and Jackie Rodabaugh inside the first 23 minutes of the game and dodged a wave of shots in the second half to defeat the Red Raiders for the third time this season. The previous victories came by scores of 1-0 and 2-0.

“Bellefonte has given us a great game in the last three games we’ve played them,” Central Mountain coach Ryan Veltri said. “They’ve come a long way. Their record shows how far they’ve come this year. For them to be playing in November, as Stacey (Miller, Bellefonte’s coach) has said in the past, is a huge accomplishment for them. They could’ve been in our shoes at any point with the things that they’ve done.”

Amanda Barnes made three saves to collect Central Mountain’s 13th shutout of the season. But it didn’t come without a few tense moments.

Bellefonte’s best scoring chance came midway through the second half when freshman Kristin Buchanan drilled the post on a rebound shot. Barnes was left out of position after fending away a deep shot, leaving Buchanan an opening.

“We knew if we could get one in,” Miller said, “that it would completely get our heads up and change the momentum.”

There were other chances later.

Emily Martell ripped a direct kick on net with 11 minutes remaining that Barnes snared. Two minutes later, Buchanan slipped behind the defense and fired a shot wide.

The Red Raiders struggled to produce shots in the previous meetings with Central Mountain, but notched 13 on Monday, including eight after halftime.

“All those shots were so close to going in,” Gomola said. “Inches would’ve made a difference in this game.”

Lofton gave the Wildcats the lead less than six minutes in. She danced through the Bellefonte defense and blasted a shot from 20 yards out over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Abby Newman, who stopped seven shots.

Rodabaugh struck with just over 17 minutes left in the first half, curling a shot into the corner of the net on an assist from Haylea Myers.

Miller said her players did a better job possessing the ball in the second half, instead of playing along with Central Mountain’s kick-and- run philosophy. Veltri attributed the difference to his team tentative play with the lead.

“We were going hard the entire second half,” Gomola said. “We weren’t giving up.”

Miller walked away from the game with an upbeat attitude. With a starting lineup that features four freshmen and three juniors, perhaps the Red Raiders surpassed expectations.

“We put the ball on the net and upped our game,” Miller said. “We were pretty happy with our performance. We can’t hang our heads. This is the first time we’ve been in this game ever.”

Bellefonte could be back here soon and often. The school district started a junior high program a few years ago and Miller said more of her players are participating in offseason club soccer.

“The community as a whole has come around to soccer,” Miller said. “The Bellefonte Soccer Association has travel soccer and has provided them the opportunities to go to tournaments. Together, all those opportunities are strengthening our program.”

So what will Red Raiders have for an encore?

“We’ll be back here next year, if not farther,” the graduating Gomola said. “I know it.”

Vinny Pezzimenti can be reached at 231-4629.