Organized in 1960 and named for a Civil War general from Erie, Pa., General McLane High School hosted the Grove City Eagles boys soccer team on Saturday. The varsity Eagles (11-1-1, 4-1-1) defeated the host Lancers (6-5-2, 5-1-2) 1-0 on a second-half goal by junior striker Will Potter.
For the first 30 minutes of the game, the Lancers controlled midfield play but Grove City's impenetrable defense owned the 21 yards in front its net. Dodging a first-half bullet when Lancer striker Peter Keim hit the left post, defenders Brian Murone, Andy DiStasi, Luke Biddle, Alec Goodwin and keeper Ben Lilly kept their team in the game until their midfielders and offense began to kick into high gear. Although the half ended 0-0, momentum had begun to shift in favor of the Eagles as they mounted six offensive attacks to two by the Lancers in the final 10 minutes of the half. The Eagles put three shots on the Lancer net in that span while the Lancers were unable to register a volley.
With the wind at their backs thanks to captain Brian Murone's pre-game coin toss choice, the Eagles began the second half as aggressors and continued in that mode for 32 minutes after scoring an early Will Potter goal. Three minutes into the first half, a Lancer handled the ball at midfield. Murone launched the restart 40 yards into the center of the penalty area when striker Thomas Hummel went airborne to head a pass to his left wing. Will Potter volleyed the ball out of the air to the opposite panel of the Lancer net; 1-0 Eagles.
The Eagles continued to press rarely allowing the Lancers to mount an offensive campaign. During one of those few Lancer attacks, Eagle keeper Ben Lilly made an aggressive diving save at the top of the penalty area but landed outside of the keeper-advantage zone. Called for a hand ball with 17 minutes remaining in the game, Lilly retreated to defend his net behind a wall of Eagles. Lancer Peter Keim stepped up to take the direct kick launching it over the Eagle wall into the crossbar. Dodging bullet number two, the Eagles reloaded and continued their offensive barrage for the next nine minutes until Coach Churchill ordered a defensive retreat to preserve their 1-0 lead. The maneuver proved to be successful as the Eagles allowed the Lancers to put just one more shot on goal.
Overall, the Eagles took 15 shots and put 11 on goal. The dangerous Lancers took just six shots but hit the Eagles' nest every time.
Grove City will be looking to avenge its only conference loss to backyard rival Slippery Rock on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Rock.
Courtesy: Grove City
