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BOYS SOCCER: Chambersburg hands Greencastle-Antrim 4-2 defeat


CHAMBERSBURG >> It could have been a scary situation for Chambersburg.

Greencastle-Antrim's boys soccer team has already won five games by a score of 1-0 this year, and that's exactly where the Blue Devils (9-3) found themselves with just under 14 minutes left in the first half on a goal by Luke Ritz.

But the Trojans (7-2-2) got their offense in gear and scored the next four goals to capture a 4-2 non-league victory at Trojan Stadium on a breezy, drizzly Saturday afternoon.

"We weren't thinking we were safe with a 1-0 lead," G-A defender Ryan Yoder said. "They have a lot of speed and some good players, and we gave them some looks we could have done better on."

Chambersburg's Erik Espinoza scored the equalizer before halftime. He took a pass from Eric Dixon, dribbled past one defender, then cut the ball back inside to open up a shooting lane. Espinoza then finished the play off with a low bullet inside the near post.

"He hit it low and hard and put it in a good spot ... great goal," Blue Devil coach Scott Gelsinger said. "I thought we had settled in a little, but once we scored I thought maybe we let down a little."

Chambersburg coach Corey Grove said, "For the first 20 minutes or so, we had really good control, but our possession was in our half of the field. We had no purpose – we had to start to possess the ball in their half of the field."

Ritz's goal broke up a scoreless tie. On Greencastle's only corner kick of the game, Luke Herman's kick was redirected by a header from Kaleb Jentzsch, then Ritz nodded it into the net.

Grove said, "That was a good goal they scored and it came on a set piece. They have some big kids and they play dangerous balls into the box."

But the Trojans cranked up the offense in the second half, and it didn't take long to do some damage. Ryley Reed's free kick was skim-headed by Nathan Maynard into the roof of the net to give his team a 2-1 lead just 1:50 into the latter half.

Then Dixon continued his recent hot streak – he has six goals this season, and five have come in the last two games.

Espinoza made a nice move in the right corner and centered the ball into the box. Dixon gained control, made a move and shot, but it was blocked. He got to the ball quickly and his second shot found the back of the net.

"When you're in the box, you know a defender will be right on your back, so you just have to be aware and react quickly," Dixon said.

His second goal was much easier. A shot by Maynard skidded under the grasp of G-A keeper Bryson Robinson and Dixon was happy to pop it into the open goal.

Dixon said, "I think the midfielders and defense are finding us up front more. They've been able to move the ball quickly and get it up to us."

The Blue Devils got one goal back when Avery Wenger, like Ritz, scored his first career goal.

Yoder said, "A game like this gives us a better look at a tougher team, like the ones we might see in the playoffs."

"They are very athletic and their defense won most of the balls in the air," Gelsinger said. "They were winning everything back there."

And that's what Grove wants to see.

"We had a couple of games in a row when we didn't score, but I figured it was only a matter of time until we knocked that door down," Grove said – and the Trojans have 15 goals in their last three games. "The biggest thing is we have to be able to defend. If we get to the playoffs, I think we can score, but we can't give up two goals."

Chambersburg 4

Greencastle 2

Greencastle11—2Chambersburg13—4

First half — (GA) Luke Ritz, asst. Luke Herman and Kaleb Jentzsch, 27th minute, (C) Erik Espinoza, asst. Eric Dixon, 33rd.

Second half — (C) Nathan Maynard, asst. Ryley Reed, 41st, (C) Dixon, 56th, (C) Dixon, asst. Maynard, 65th, (GA) Avery Wenger, 76th

Shots — GA 4, Chbg 15; Shots on goal — GA 2, Chbg 8; Corner kicks — GA 1, Chbg 1; Saves — GA 4 (Bryson Robinson), Chbg 0 (Chandler Schur); Fouls — GA 10, Chbg 17; Offsides — Chbg 2.

JV score — Chambersburg 2, Greencastle 1. Amin Butler scored 2 goals for Chambersburg and Connor Gniewek and Sean McCormick had assists. For G-A, Jared Rohrbaugh scored a goal.