With starting goalkeeper Jaggar Pardoe out due to sickness, sophomore Cooper Confer filled in well, impacting all six of Penns Valley’s shots on goal to headline a shutout. The Rams performed similarly defensively, but two Central Mountain goals in close succession upped its late lead to three, which it was able to carry to the finish line for the 3-0 win.

Off the heels of a similar win over South Williamsport, the Wildcats managed to go 2-0 through Week Two and earn their third straight win since their opening loss. It was a big win heading into a tough span of games, one which could give them the confidence they need to keep it rolling.

“Our defense played absolutely fantastic again, and we 100-percent just relied on them,” said Central Mountain head coach Billy Hook on the win. “We did alright offensively but there’s some things that I wasn’t happy with. But we created enough dangerous things to get some goals.”

The Wildcats were often in control possession-wise, rarely allowing Penns Valley to create opportunities, especially through the first half. But with their 1-0 lead still exploitable in the second, the Rams started to get some attacks going, producing a more stressful environment in Central Mountain’s home stadium.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Tim Brinker works to evade a Penns Valley defender during a boys soccer match at Central Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Wildcats won 3-0.

But through those early threats out of the break, its sophomore goalkeeper stayed composed. Even when he wasn’t impacting the scoreboard, Confer was able to shut down multiple attacks with strong approaches, getting to the ball before Penns Valley could get off a shot three times through the first 16 minutes of the second half.

Four of his six saves on the day came through the second, most with the Wildcats still protecting a 1-0 lead. It’s what allowed them to stay one step ahead from the moment they scored their first goal, keeping the momentum in the home field’s hands.

“For him to do that, it’s a tough thing to take on all of the sudden,” said Hook on Confer filling in at goalkeeper. “We’ve had seasons where guys weren’t always being forceful at goalie, and now we have two guys that are very good at what they do.”

Offensively, Central Mountain got its first goal in the net off a corner kick less than 15 minutes into the game. On his second corner kick of the game, senior Tim Brinker put the ball in the perfect spot for fellow senior Kullen McDermit to head it into the left side of the goal.

From there, it’d struggle to build on that lead despite consistent opportunities. Whether it was Penns Valley’s defenders, the sure hands of its goalkeeper Owen Robb – who eight saves through the game – or just whiffing on good opportunities, its one-score lead would remain for almost 50 minutes of game time.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Che McAllister works to evade a defender during a boys soccer match against Penns Valley at Central Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Wildcats won 3-0.

“We were getting to the spots we wanted to get in, they just defended very well,” said Hook. “So, we’re gonna work on continuing to get to those spots while working on our paths to the goal when there are defenders in the way.”

But with continued pressure, it was finally able to crack the scoreboard again, first aided by a Penns Valley own goal then adding to its lead itself. Two minutes after the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead, Mycah Parson received the ball about 25 yards out, weaving through multiple defenders, aiming low and skating the ball past the outstretched arms of Robb.

Following that goal, it seemed to get its assurance back offensively, landing multiple shots on goals, including one particularly impressive one from Gabryel Killinger, and maintaining possession. It finished the second half with six shots on goal after producing just three through the first, closing strong after an imbalanced outing.

Finding its footing there could pay dividends as it heads into next week, where it’ll face two consistent state-playoff teams in Northumberland Christian (4-0) and State College (1-1-1). Those games are set for 7 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Saturday respectively, both taking place at Central Mountain to cap a three-game home stint.

“We need to be ready to go for sure,” said Hook on those matchups.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Griffin Confer performs a free kick during a boys soccer match against Penns Valley at Central Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Wildcats won 3-0.

Central Mountain 3, Penns Valley 0

CM – Kullen McDermit (Tim Brinker), 13:39. CM – PV Own Goal, 59:51; CM – Mycah Carson (unassisted), 63:20.

Shots: PV 9, CM 22. Shots on goal: PV 6, CM 10. Corners: PV 3, CM 4. Saves: PV (Owen Robb) 8, CM (Cooper Confer) 6.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Central Mountain's Brody Rhine makes a cut during a boys soccer match against Penns Valley at Central Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Wildcats won 3-0.