Eagles speed past Schuylkill Haven

BY ANTHONY BURKHART

Times-Shamrock Writer

HAMBURG – Colby Thomas’ speed was on display all night.

TheMountain Viewsophomore scored twice to lead the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over District 11 champion Schuylkill Haven in the first round of the PIAA Class A boys soccer tournament Tuesday night atHamburgAreaHigh School.

The Eagles (16-2) are back in the quarterfinals for a second straight year.

Thomas’ final goal came with1:48remaining in the game when he scored on a breakaway and subsequently handed Schuylkill Haven (21-2) a gut-wrenching loss that ended its season.

“They were what I thought they were,”Mountain Viewcoach Roger Thomas said. “They were big, strong and fast, and what a challenge they gave us.”

Thomas scored on two breakaways, using his blazing speed to burn the Hurricanes defense.

Mountain View’s Joe Jarrow played a through-ball between two Schuylkill Haven defenders, allowing Thomas to run onto the ball in space. Once he was alone, no one was catching him.

Thomas calmly touched the ball around a charging Tyler Bartol, the Hurricanes’ goalkeeper, and tucked the ball into the empty net.

“The last time, their keeper made a perfect save at the 8-yard line,” Roger Thomas said. “Colby faked the keeper, cut back across and had a right-foot finish to his left.”

Ian Hower got the Hurricanes on the board 17 minutes into the match when he scored a rebound goal.

Kenny Eiler ripped a shot on frame from 18 yards out, but Eagles goalkeeper Nathan Moyer couldn’t hang onto the shot. No Eagles defenders followed Hower into the box, and the senior slammed home a bouncing ball into the empty net.

Fifteen minutes later, Thomas struck for his first goal of the game, a play that put his speed on full display.

Thomas collected the ball at midfield, blew past Hurricanes defender Andrew Chesakis, and shifted into another gear as he closed in on goal, all alone. Thomas neatly touched the ball around Bartol before he finished the magnificent 50-yard run by slotting the ball into an empty net.

Both teams played an even second half beforeMountain Viewstruck for the shocking game-winning goal.

It marks the third straight year a Schuylkill League team has lost to a District 2 team in the first round of the state tournament and the third time all year the Hurricanes have given up two goals in a game.