D-11 Soccer: WV girls, Miners boys earn quarterfinal victories
Minersville's Jordan Bowers, right, scored all three of his team's goals in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Williams Valley in a District 11 Class A boys' soccer quarterfinal at North Schuylkill (Photo by Kelly Wiley).
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The opening night of the District 11 soccer playoffs had a flair for the dramatic.
The Williams Valley girls and Minersville boys earned thrilling victories Tuesday in a Class A quarterfinal doubleheader at North Schuylkill’s Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium.
In the opener, the Williams Valley and Minersville girls (8-9-1) battled through two scoreless regulation periods and two scoreless overtime frames (110 minutes of soccer) before deciding the game on penalty kicks.
The Vikings (8-11-1) earned the win when Quin Smeltz and Kayla Hand scored and goalkeeper Sage Smeltz made four saves. The victory advances Williams Valley to Thursday’s semifinals, where the Vikings will play top-seeded Moravian Academy (15-4) at 5:15 p.m. at Northwestern Lehigh High School.
In the nightcap, Jordan Bowers scored three goals, including the game-winner with 2:23 remaining, to lift Minersville to a 3-2 victory over Williams Valley in a Class A boys’ quarterfinal.
The Miners (11-8) and Vikings (5-14) alternated goals throughout. In the first half, Bowers scored on a penalty kick at 21:20, then Williams Valley’s Ethan Lebo tied it with 1:57 remaining before halftime.
Bowers put Minersville back up 2-1 just 2:12 into the second half, but Cody Boehmer tied it for the Vikings with 22:55 left. Bowers then scored his game-winner to push Minersville to the semifinals.
The third-seeded Miners will play No. 2 Tri-Valley (11-7-1) at 7 p.m. at Blue Mountain. The Tri-Valley girls (12-6-1) and Schuylkill Haven girls (15-3-1) will square off in the opening game of the doubleheader at 5 p.m.
For updated District 11 boys’ and girls’ soccer playoffs, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/20/district-11-boys-girls-soccer-playoff-brackets/
Tickets for all District 11 soccer playoffs must be purchased online by visiting districtxi.hometownticketing.com. Tickets cost $7 for adults, plus applicable fees. Spectators 65 years of age or older receive free entry with proof of age.
