DAVIDSVILLE —
Postseason soccer so often comes down to a fortunate bounce, particularly when the opponents are as familiar with one another as Conemaugh Township and Rockwood.
The Indians and Rockets are WestPAC rivals who played two games this season before Saturday night's District 5-A quarterfinal match at Conemaugh Township.
Given the familiarity and what was at stake, the match was tightly played and physical, even chippy at times and, in typical fashion, low-scoring.
Not that any of it matters to top-seeded Conemaugh Township, which advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought, 1-0 victory.
“We knew coming in this would be a physical game. We just played them for the WestPAC title,” Conemaugh Township coach Christopher Miller said. “They are by no means a No. 8 seed.”
Rockwood (11-8-1) certainly didn’t play like the lowest-seeded team in the tournament, but the Rockets were unable to keep Conemaugh Township’s Cody Ofsanko off the score sheet in the 60th minute.
Naturally, the game-winning goal was the result of being in the right place at the proper time.
Freshman Clayton Blough set up the goal for Conemaugh Township (14-2-3), which plays Fannett-Metal in the semifinals, when he maintained possession for the Indians near the Rockets’ penalty box. The ball bounced to Ofsanko, whose shot bounced off Rockwood goalie John Waltermire, who made several key saves, and into the net.
“We played them (to a scoreless draw) about three weeks ago,” Rockwood coach Mike Jenner said. “We were trying to get organized in the back. We were very organized back there in the first half, but we got a little disorganized later in the game.”
Conemaugh Township’s defense had no such problem as they shut down what few opportunities Rockwood generated against the possession-happy Indians. James Bassette, Nick Felton and even Blough helped make things easier on goalkeeper Jeff Callihan.
“They’ve been fantastic all season,” Miller said of his defense. “We’ve only given up one or two goals in most matches and, at most, I think they’ve allowed 15 shots, most times it’s under 10. It’s a credit to (Callihan) and how he keeps them organized.”
Sports
Conemaugh Township advances to soccer semis
- Sports
-
-
Martella's Pharmacy fashions six-inning victory over Rail Birds
Through three scoreless innings at Point Stadium, the Altoona Rail Birds held their own against Martella’s Pharmacy in a AAABA League interleague contest.
But Martella’s patience at the plate and aggressiveness on the base paths turned a close game into a 10-run mercy rule affair on Tuesday. -
Pirates ruin Latos’ winning streak
Pedro Alvarez singled home a pair of runs in the first inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended Mat Latos’ streak of 21 regular-season starts without a loss, beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Latos (6-1) hadn’t lost a regular-season game since last August, setting a club-record streak of avoiding defeat. He couldn’t overcome Pittsburgh’s three-run first inning. -
Checkered flag falls at Dog Hollow
There will be no more howling in the hollow.
Through social media, Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown - located close to the Indiana/Cambria county line - announced on Monday evening that it would no longer be in operation. - Local baseball in brief 6/19/2013
-
Four solo home runs lead Reds past Pirates
Todd Frazier wasn’t going to let left-hander Francisco Liriano get another fastball by him. He guessed right and hit one a long way.
-
Laurel Auto belts way to victory
Zach Heide’s two-run home run cleared the Screen Monster in left field at Point Stadium and kick-started Laurel Auto Group’s scoring in its 8-2 victory over Ketrow Insurance Monday night in a AAABA league game.
-
Bruins blank Blackhawks, take 2-1 series lead
Tuukka Rask shut out the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday night and got enough help from the Bruins' offense to do it without another exhausting overtime.
-
Former Penn St. players support Paterno family lawsuit
About 325 former Penn State players and coaches have signed a statement supporting the lawsuit filed by the family of former coach Joe Paterno and other former players seeking to overturn NCAA sanctions against the football program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
- Local baseball in brief 6/18/2013
-
Hawkeyes product Ihm pulls away from field for Sunnehanna victory
When NCAA runner-up Rick Lamb made four birdies over a six-hole stretch during the fourth round of the 60th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions, he couldn’t help but notice every time he looked at the leaderboard, Lamb failed to pare down his deficit.
When Cory Whitsett, who recently helped Alabama win a national championship and was competing in his third Sunnehanna Amateur, birdied Nos. 3 and 4 Sunday morning, the fast start wasn’t one to savor.
Lamb’s inability to make a move and Whitsett’s lack of optimism can directly be attributed to one thing – the steady, patient play of Steven Ihm. - More Sports Headlines
-
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Police Question Aaron Hernandez In North Attleboro Death
Julien talks Stanley Cup Final
Quenneville: Game 4 is must-win
Fantasy Preview: Top 5 quarterbacks
Madden 25 looks better than ever
NBA Live is back in '14
Rask, Seidenberg talk Game 3 win
Bruins take 2-1 series lead
Morosi: Closers on the trade market
Morosi: Scherzer could start All-Star Game
Chad Johnson released from jail
McReynolds: Ford's milestone win
McReynolds: Hamlin's hopes over?
Blackhawks lose Game 3
NBA Finals: Who gets the last big run?
Final Round Highlights
Rose on his late father: 'My dad was inspiration the whole day'
LeBron, D-Wade on being tested by Spurs
Julien: We know what we have to do
