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Bermudian Springs finally knocks off Biglerville on pitch


Since James Zerfing took over as the Bermudian Springs boys' soccer head coach in 2013, the Eagles have played Biglerville tough in all four of the teams' matches but have come up short each time.

The Eagles' moxie finally paid off when they knocked off the Canners, 1-0, in YAIAA Division III action Monday night at Musselman Stadium in Biglerville.

Samuel Johnson pocketed the match's only tally off an assist from Jake Halfman with 8:54 left to play.

"The goal started with Jake Halfman," Johnson said. "He gave me a great ball. and it was an easy finish."

The loss snapped Biglerville's 29-match division winning streak and is also the first time since 2002 that Bermudian has defeated its longtime rival.

"We're rivals, everyone knows that," Zerfing said. "Our group of seniors really wanted to win this match tonight. And the biggest thing for us was that our guys didn't hang their heads after missed opportunities."

Bermudian (2-0, 2-0 YAIAA III) had a huge chance to take a lead early in the second half when the Eagles earned a penalty kick only to watch it sail over the top of the net.

Johnny King had a chance to give the visitors the lead with 28:04 left in the match but Canner keeper Mitchell Thomas made a diving deflection. Thomas then stonewalled Johnson's try with 10:03 to go.

The first half was played close to even with Biglerville notching two shots on goal, first from Jared Dotson-Jones on a long range rip with a little more than four minutes into the match. Then Carlos Castillo uncorked a shot with 8:51 left until the break.

King earned the Eagles' only shot of the first half but was denied by Thomas on a short-range shot that came from a tough angle to the left of the net.

"We played a little timid early on, and they came out strong," Biglerville head coach Jebb Nelson said. "Their guys came to play, they had opportunities, we had opportunities and they stuck one."

Johnson had an excellent chance early in the second half when his shot got past Thomas, but rang the left post. Then David Gutierrez-Padilla had a chance with 37:13 left in the match, which Thomas handled.

Bermudian held a 5-4 edge in shots on goal and the corner kick count was even, 2-2.

"Dylan Lott does a great job of anchoring our back line," Zerfing said. "He's back there with three guys that didn't have very much varsity experience coming into this year, and he directs them very well. And Danny Alvarez played a great game in goal. He did a great job of coming out and defending against their long throw-ins."

Nelson is hopeful that his squad bounces back from the loss and that he is able to use it as motivation for them for the rest of the season.

"Our guys sometimes assume that we'll win every division game we play and that we don't have to show up," he said. "I said before the year that Bermudian would be our toughest competition in the division, and they are. They're a senior-heavy team, and they have a great coach, too."

Bermudian Springs 1, Biglerville 0

Bermudian Springs01—1Biglerville00—0

Second half — 1. BeS, Samuel Johnson (Jake Halfman), 8:54.

Shots on goal — BeS 5, Big 4.

Corners — BeS 2, Big 2.

Goalies — BeS, Daniel Alvarez (4 saves). Big, Mitchell Thomas (4 saves).

JV score — Bermudian Springs 0, Biglerville 0.