Local Sports

Defenders look to bounce back after title game loss

Warrior Run's boys soccer team came up just shy last week of winning the program's first District 4 title since 2004 as Warrior Run suffered a 3-2 loss to Benton, who claimed district gold. But, while that loss stings, the Defenders are state-bound for the first time since going 19-6-1 in 2004 and winning the title.

One of Warrior Run's strengths this year is its ability to score from multiple players. Senor Carter McCormick leads the offense with an impressive 23 goals, but seniors Gideon Kennel (20 goals, eight assists), Ori Kennel (12 goals, 25 assists) and Ryan Kemock (10 goals, six assists) are dangerous players if they get open space or have the ball around the 18-yard box.

"Our offense generally creates tons of opportunities, which we did (vs. Benton). Ori got around the corner numerous times, I feel he should have drove up the goal-line further a couple of times," Warrior Run coach Troy Emmert said. "The way they play their defense, they have that sweeper in the back. It makes it difficult. They're a good team, two good teams battling it out."

Tuesday should be another example of two good teams battling it out as the Defenders head to Moravian Academy for a 6 p.m. start.

The Defenders also showed how dangerous Collin Brandt, a sophomore, is on free kicks. He scored Warrior Run's game-tying goal from 30 yards out on a free kick dagger, and nearly had a game-tying goal which hit off the crossbar just inches shy of slipping in. In fact, he had two shots hit off the crossbar, but it shows how dialed in and on target he can be from distance and a player with a boot from that distance is a huge weapon on the field.

"He's very good at them.I know he's kicking himself right now for hitting the top crossbar twice. It's the game of soccer, a game of inches," Emmert said. "Inch down lower and ball skims into net and it's a different outcome. Our boys played their hearts out and I'm very proud of them. I told them the season's not done and on to states."

Moravian Academy was the No. 2 seed in the District 11 tournament and won a 2-1 double overtime thriller in the district semifinals over Tri-Valley before absolutely pummeling top-seeded Minersville for district gold, 7-1. Needless to say, the Lions have momentum going into states.

The Lions don't have one player the offense goes through, but rather a scoring-by-committee offense. That's led by five talented players in senior Isaac Garcia (11 goals, 12 assists), senior Trevor King (10 goals, seven assists), junior Apollo Fernandez (eight goals, five assists), senior Roman Perrucci (eight goals, eight assists) and freshman Ethan Esembeson (six goals, two assists).

The Lions also have junior Elijah Eckman who has scored four goals with seven assists dished out.

The Lions enter today's game with 69 goals scored through 21 games.