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Millionaires roll past West Scranton in D2-4 Class 4A quarterfinals

By JON GERARDI 4 min read

It took Williamsport just 34 seconds to get into position to bury a goal in the back of the net against West Scranton on Wednesday evening. And that set the tone immediately for the Millionaires.

That fast goal sparked Williamsport quickly and Williamsport cruised against West Scranton in Wednesday's District 2-4 Class AAAA quarterfinal matchup at Balls Mills, 4-0, to advance to the semifinals on Monday.

"Any time you can get the first goal, that's one of our goals all season: get the first goal so you can start dictating pace of play and how they have to play," Williamsport coach Brett Hofstrom said. "It allows us to do what we have to do. Early goals gives the team confidence and we kept on (pressing) and got third goal and fourth goal."

Williamsport dictated from the start and never let West Scranton seriously threaten to put in a goal throughout the game.

After Balza's first goal 34 seconds into the game, he kept battling and found the net again with just under 20 minutes until halftime for the 2-0 lead over West Scranton.

"The game plan was to pressure their backs. And obviously Isaac with a great individual effort with Johannes (van Emrik)," Hofstrom said. "They pressured the ball. Kept pressuring, got a turnover and that's what happens when you pressure people."

Williamsport held West Scranton to just two shots on goal the entire night, one per half. In the second half, the Invaders fired three shots, but only one was on frame as one went narrowly high and another wide.

"When they did it was just some turnovers and not taking care of the ball and not playing the simply pass," Hofstrom said. "If you keep the ball, you hold onto the ball and possess the ball, the other team can't score. That's always my philosophy to hold the ball as much as we can. Less of a chance other team can score on us."

That's what the Millionaires did, and did so efficiently.

Williamsport possessed throughout all 80 minutes and fired 15 shots, eight on frame.

In the second half, Williamsport kept its foot on the gas and put in two more goals to extend its lead.

Ten minutes into the second half, Tyiere Pralour got inside of the 18 and sent a shot to the right to make it a 3-0 lead. Four minutes later, Williamsport struck again. Van Emrik got a pass from Charles Plummer and buried to make it a four-goal lead with a ton of momentum on Williamsport's side.

"A 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead in soccer. Coming out of the half was again to get the first goal," Hofstrom said. "Get the first goal and it kind of deflates him. If you get the first one, you'll get another one. Then we held them."

West Scranton a solid chance in the final 20 minutes, but the Invaders weren't able to put its attempt in. With 19:30 left, West Scranton got a shot from 30 yards out that went just high over the goal.

Williamsport almost made it a 5-0 lead with 10:55 remaining in the game. Pralour got a throughball inside of the 18 and got to eight yards out. As West Scranton keeper Mason Lesh came out and slid, Pralour got a touch on the ball before jumping over a sliding Lesh. Pralour's shot went just wide, however, on a great play.

In the first half, Williamsport's Caden Douglass got the ball to the 15 and got a shot off as defenders closed in but his shot went just wide to the right. It resulted in a corner kick, but the ensuing set piece didn't yield anything as a header attempt by Adoniram Hill went high over the crossbar.

Now the Millionaires will prepare for the District 2-4 Class AAAA semifinals on Monday at a site and time to be determined. Regardless though of the opponent and site, Hofstrom feels his team's more than prepared with its tough schedule throughout the regular season.

"What did we have, five of our first six games were away? Us going away and playing some bigger schools is nothing new for us," Hofstrom said. "Would it be nice to be home? Yeah, but it is what it is. You battle, better team will win and we'll see what will happen on Monday."

Williamsport 4, West Scranton 0

(DISTRICT 2-4 CLASS AAAA QUARTERFINALS)

W--Isaac Balza, 39:26. W--Balza, 19:16. W--Tyiere Pralour, 30:46. W--Johannes van Emrik (Charles Plummer), 26:10.

Shots: WS 2, W 8. Corners: WS 1, W 3. Saves: WS 3 (Mason Lesh), W 2 (Max Fink).

Records: West Scranton (4-10-5), Williamsport (12-5).

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