Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell has seen Viktor Permyashkin score from all over the field. Outside of the 6-yard box, just inside of the 18, 25 yards deep, 35 yards deep. It doesn’t matter where Permyashkin is, he’s constantly a threat to score whenever the ball is at his feet.

So when Kettlewell saw Permyashkin line up to take a free kick just more than three minutes into the game, he probably knew what the end result was about to be.

Permyashkin crushed the free kick from 30 yards out, sending to the far-right post. It bounced off Wellsboro’s goalie, but managed to cross the plane for the go-ahead goal. From there, it was all Lewisburg.

The Green Dragons blanked the Green Hornets, 4-0, to secure a District 4 Class AA semifinal victory and advance to the district championship game against Midd-West at a site and time to be determined.

“He has scored all over the field, all sorts of goals this year and usually he scores in big games and some of the games we’re controlling from the get go, he kind of relaxes and uses his teammates, but in big games he steps up in big moments and that’s what you saw today,” Kettlewell said. “He’s an exceptional player.”

He stepped up in a big game yet again on Tuesday night at Balls Mills.

Permyashkin scored three of Lewisburg’s four goals, earning the hat trick with 3:26 to play in the game when he sent a penalty kick to the left side for the four-goal lead. That first goal with 36:45 to play until halftime helped set the tone for Lewisburg early, something the Green Dragons wanted to do against a talented Wellsboro team.

“Honestly just getting one early and being able to put the team on their back foot is really big for us,” Permyashkin said. “Being able to put teams away has been a problem for us this year. So getting that first goal and continue to pound it and not letting them back into the game is huge.”

Wellsboro came out and was aggressive to open the game, taking the ball to start and needing just 30 seconds before Lucas Cuneo took the ball just outside the 18 and ripped a great shot to the left post that Lewisburg keeper Gabe Pawling dove to stop. But from there, Lewisburg took control and rarely allowed Wellsboro to get in position to fire a shot.

“We tried to deny what they wanted to do. We know they have three or four really good players, but we just got to make sure if they were going to do anything, we had a few guys around them and playing good team defense,” Kettlewell said. “If they got a shot, it was a tough contested one and I trust Gabe back there to make some of the saves.”

“We knew what we were up against with Lewisburg. That’s what we’ve been working on is trying to keep things compact with the goal to limit the opportunities,” Wellsboro coach Todd Fitch said. “We knew if they had opportunities — and they showed us that in the first half — if you give them any space in front of the goal, they have guys that can hit the ball hard and put the ball on frame.”

After Permyashkin’s goal from 30 yards out put Lewisburg ahead 1-0, the Green Dragons continued to press and try to get another goal. It took just 14 minutes until that knocking at the door broke through and Permyashkin scored off an assist by Caleb Meyer-Chabris for a 2-0 Green Dragons’ lead.

Against a team like Lewisburg, a one-goal lead is tough to battle back from with how tough Lewisburg plays. And a two-goal lead is even more difficult to dig back from, putting team’s in an gigantic hole to rally back from.

“(That second goal shifted momentum) because at that point they probably had to start pressing us and I think it took away from a little bit of their game plan, which then allowed us to have the ball a little bit more in some opportunities and spaces,” Kettlewell said.

Riley Gulden-Luthi made it a 3-0 lead with 15:17 to play before halftime, putting Wellsboro in an enormous hole against a perennially tough program.

“They converted on the opportunities that they had, but overall I’m really pleased with the guys and their efforts,” Fitch said.

In goal, Camden Tom did everything in his abilities to limit Lewisburg’s goal and keep Wellsboro in the game. 

“Tonight, I think there was just a little extra in his step. His saves were clean too,” Fitch said of his keeper. “He had a good hand on the ball and had a solid collection of the ball. He did a great job.”

Permyashkin was a player who Fitch and his players knew they couldn’t let get into open space. Permyashkin is a dangerous scorer who can open up a game at any time.

“He’s so mobile. He sees space, he flows with the game and certainly he goes forward, he steps back into the space, into the midfield,” Fitch said. “It can be a real challenge (limiting him).”

The Green Dragons had a 7-4 edge in shots on goal against Wellsboro and in total, rifled 11 shots, many coming just a hair wide right or left throughout both halves.

Up next for Lewisburg is a date with Midd-West in the District 4 Class AA championship game on Thursday. Midd-West and Lewisburg have had many battles over the years, both in the regular season and playoffs, even district finals like this year. The two had a 1-1 double overtime draw in mid-September and are more than familiar with each other.

“It was beginning of the season. They were a different team, we are a different team now,” Permyashkin said. “I think it’s going to be a good game, we’re going to prepare … and see what happens.”

Lewisburg 4, Wellsboro 0

(District 4 Class AA semifinals)

L–VIktor Permyashkin (free kick), 36:45. L–Permyashkin (Caleb Meyer-Chabris), 22:37. L–Riley Gulden-Luthi, 15:17. L–Permyashkin (penalty kick), 3:26.

Shots: W 4, L 7. Corners: W 0, L 4. Saves: W 3 (Camden Tom), L 4 (Gabe Pawling).

Records: Wellsboro (15-5), Lewisburg (18-1-1). Next game: Lewisburg vs. Midd-West in District 4 Class AA championship, Thursday, TBD.