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Lewisburg boys blank South Williamsport in District 4 Class AA semifinals

By Jon Gerardi 5 min read

You could see the emotions in South Williamsport’s players faces after the game. This was a game the Mounties were hoping to win and advance to a district final.

South Williamsport held the defending state champions to just one goal through the first 40 minutes and played great defense. But it only took 91 seconds in the second half for the game’s complexion to completely turn and the momentum shift. In those 91 seconds, Lewisburg scored twice and deflated South Williamsport’s sails en route to a 6-0 win in the District 4 Class AA semifinals at Loyalsock’s Kenneth M. Robbins Stadium on a chilly Tuesday night.

With the win, Lewisburg advances to face rival Midd-West for the district championship on Thursday at a time and place to be determined. The Green Dragons are hoping to win their third consecutive district final, and seventh in eight years.

“We knew it was going to be a battle for 80 minutes. To get through the first 40 with it just 1-0 was really great and also I think we only allowed three shots on goal or something in first half,” South Williamsport coach Chris Vanaskie said. “To do that and limit their chances was huge. We knew if we could do that, we could stand a chance.”

Lewisburg’s Carter Hoover put in a goal just over 11 minutes into the second half when he managed to get a deflection and take the loose ball and put it inside the left near post for a 2-0 lead. Just 91 seconds later, it was Reese Dieffenderfer who put in a goal for a quick 3-0 lead, putting the Mounties in a huge hole against Lewisburg.

“It was definitely huge (to go up 3-0). You can kind of feel the emotion come out of them, they kind of fell after we got the second one and we just needed to keep staying patient and find our opportunities,” Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell said.

“They’re a very good program. A really well skilled team and you knew if they kept applying pressure and they’d break through eventually. With two back-to-back like that, it was a little deflating,” Vanaskie said. “But the boys still understood there’s still 30 minutes to play and they had no choice but to get out there and keep going. I think they responded pretty well. They never gave up.”

South Williamsport was on the defensive the entire second half as Lewisburg continued to pepper goalie Brock Weaver and work their way through the Mounties’ back line to fire shots. The Green Dragons rifled 10 shots in the second half, six of which came from inside the 18.

Through the first 20 minutes of the second half, South Williamsport had held Lewisburg to just two shots on goal. Unfortunately for the Mounties, however, they were both goals.

After Dieffenderfer made it a 3-0 lead, Alfred Romano scored with 19:29 to play in the game to put Lewisburg ahead, 4-0. Romano got a ball after it was deflected and blocked and scored to the right post quickly.

Philip Permyashkin, who assisted on Rudy Kristjanson-Gural’s goal in the first half, scored with 16:58 to play to put the Green Dragons ahead by five goals.

Lewisburg’s final goal came with 4:25 remaining when Dieffenderfer scored.

“We’re finally healthy so our team is just kind of coming together that they all get to play together. I’m not trying to figure out how am I going to rest this guy or that guy,” Kettlewell said. “I think its just us being patient and trusting each other as a team.”

Kristjanson-Gural scored the game’s first goal with 16:51 to play for the 1-0 lead.

The Mounties ended the season 14-3. The 14 wins are the most in a season for a South Williamsport team since the Mounties went 17-3 in 2011. This was also South Williamsport’s first district semifinal appearance since 2011.

“I’m extremely proud of these guys and I told them that after the game. This group of seniors have set the standard for South Williamsport soccer to win a couple conference championships, to make it to district semis twice in their careers really says a lot,” Vanaskie said. “We hope that the younger guys can take that example and do well in the future.”

The District 4 Class AA final between Lewisburg and Midd-West will mark the sixth time the two teams will face off in a district final since 2014. It’s also the seventh straight postseason the two squads will meet, as the two played in the semifinals in 2018.

Lewisburg and Midd-West always play one another tough, and Kettlewell is expecting another physical, tough game on Thursday.

“It’s always something special playing them. It’ll be a heated battle,” Kettlewell said. “Hopefully we’ll be ready for it and I’m sure they’ll be ready as well. It’ll be a good match.”

Lewisburg 6, South Williamsport 0

(District 4 Class AA semifinals)

L-Rudy Kristjanson-Gural (Philip Permyashkin), 16:51. L-Carter Hoover, 29:47. L-Reese Dieffenderfer, 28:16 L-Alfred Romano, 19:29. L-Permyashkin, 16:58. L-Dieffenderfer, 4:25.

Shots: SW 1, L 15. Corners: SW 0, L 2. Saves: SW 7 (Brock Weaver), L 1 (Tony Burns).

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