TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Griffin Confer plays against Milton during Tuesday's game in Mill Hall.

MILL HALL- Coming into the season Central Mountain knew its strength of schedule would put them in a tough spot and that each game would have its own flow.

Central Mountain hosted a tough Milton Black Panthers team that attacked the Wildcats’ defenders and kept its forwards coming with shot after shot, eventually defeating Central Mountain, 3-0, in a tough slate.

Early on in the game — and to close the game — Central Mountain put on a great defensive showing. The Wildcats held Milton without a goal for the opening 25 minutes and in the second half held them scoreless. Milton totaled 15 shots and six corners.

With 12 minutes left in the half, Milton notched its first goal and added two more in the final five-minute window of the half. Those three first-half goals were enough to hold Central Mountain from scoring in the final 40 minutes.

“They moved the ball really well, they have some players in the midfield that run things for them,” Central Mountain coach Billy Hook said. “I thought we did a good job of clogging lanes as often as we could but for 80 minutes to do that, we know they’re going to get their shots. We were happy with how we stepped better defensively…it was tough.”

Central Mountain looked poised defensively for a majority of the contest. Although the game was a shutout, the Wildcats held the Black Panthers without a goal in the final 40-minute frame. For a team that averages over four goals per game, Central Mountain especially grinded out the second half giving up eight shots but tallying five saves.

Goalkeeper Luke Simcox, made eight total saves and didn’t let any balls past him in the second half when Milton looked like it had plans of running up the scoreboard.

“He’s doing really well, he continues to get better and he had some big saves,” coach Hook said. “He continues doing a really good job, he’s getting more comfortable talking to his defense which is nice to see.”

Both teams got off to strong starts as Milton dictated offensive control early. The Black Panthers earned two corners and two shots on goal in the opening 13 minutes of play but Bronson Brungard, Cole Cooper and Isaiah Brinker stabilized the back line for Central Mountain.

When Milton got inside the 20-yard line, Simcox made some nice saves to prevent any early scores.

The final 13 minutes of the half belonged to Milton. Evan Yoder helped Milton score their first goal of the game and Cade Swartzentruber scored a second goal eight minutes later.

Then just before the end of the half Dominic Ballo scored on a penalty kick to put the Panthers ahead 3-0 at the half.

“There were a couple moments where we just didn’t win the battle-whether it was a tackle or occupying the right space. Our message there is that it’s still only our sixth game and we have goals at the end of the season. We’ll keep working, adding those things and we’ll figure it out,” coach Hook said.

Milton began the second half in the same attack mode it closed the first half with. The only difference was Central Mountain’s tight-knit defense held the Black Panthers from any more damage. Milton tallied three shots and Simcox snatched two saves a few minutes into the half.

As Central Mountain began to get some of its offensive prowess cooking down the field with its midfielders and forwards on multiple through balls, the Wildcats just weren’t able to finish. Peyton Jones, Asher Talbot and Grieco all missed closely on shots that could’ve pulled the game in tighter. Instead, Milton won its fourth shutout in nine games this season.

Central Mountain’s schedule doesn’t get any easier from this point. The Wildcats host a talented Warrior Run team (5-2) Saturday morning before getting Lewisburg at home and Danville on the road. With both Lewisburg and Danville atop the PHAC standings, the Wildcats

“We talk about these little battles, these little moments that we need to win. But we’re going to keep practicing on our finishing. We’ve got to make that white ball go in the net,” coach Hook said jokingly. “But we’re good; they’re a good group and they’re positive so we’re going to keep going.”

Milton 3, Central Mountain 0.

M- Evan Yoder, 12:35; Cade Swartzentruber, 4:58; Dominic Ballo (PK), 1:48.

Shots: M 15, CM 5. Corners: M 6, CM 1. Saves: CM 8 (Luke Simcox), M 2 (Jonah Strobel).

Records: Central Mountain (3-3), Milton (7-2). Next game: Warrior Run at Central Mountain, Saturday, 11 a.m.