HEADSTRONG
BLOOMSBURG — Bloomsburg couldn’t have pictured a better ending — even if it tried.
Despite controlling the ball for the majority of the game, the Panthers had nothing to show for it in the first 79 minutes. Fortunately for them, they caught a break due to unfortunate circumstances in the game’s final minute.
With the officials calling an injury timeout for one of Lewisburg’s players, the Panthers bought themselves a little time to think things over.
Allie Lewis, though, wasn’t done using her head after the timeout, putting her noggin on Kelsey Widom’s pass for the game-winning goal.
The 1-0 win sends the Panthers to the District 4 Class 2A championship game. They host Montoursville on Saturday at 6 p.m.
“Some of the kids said they pictured it happening. We talk a lot about visualizing what you want to accomplish and I think that was a big thing as well,” Bloomsburg coach Aaron Flook said. “Kelsey even said she pictured Allie Lewis heading it into the back of the net and we had a couple other kids say they’ve seen this before and it happened again.”
It’s par for the course these days for Lewis. She scored the game-winning goal via a header last Friday against Midd-West.
“Kelsey gave a perfect ball and I knew that if she gave the perfect ball, I just had to tap it in with my head,” Lewis said of her semifinal clincher. “That’s always the goal.”
For much of the night, the Panthers didn’t have an answer for the Green Dragons’ defense, playing five back all night.
Flook wasn’t about to change the offensive scheme, especially if it meant getting more aggressive. Rather, the Panthers sent three girls to find passing lanes and create scoring opportunities.
“We stuck true to our formation. One of the things we look for are gaps in the defense and they played five across back, giving us some gaps, but the gaps were really tight,” Flook said. “... You just have to look for the opportunities — some come from a set-piece and some come from in front of the defense instead of behind it.
“We were getting the opportunities and we were winning the ball at midfield. We just had to make sure we didn’t give it right back when playing into their defense.”
Ava Billmeyer nearly scored for the Panthers with under five minutes remaining in the first half. Her shot was deflected by Dragons goalkeeper Lauren Gross, who hit the ball up with her hands, bouncing it off the crossbar and right back into her hands as if it fell from the sky.
Billmeyer, along with Rylee Klinger and Paige Temple, kept Gross on her heels, accounting for nearly all of the Panthers’ seven shots on goal.
Bloomsburg attempted more shots — some even coming via one-on-one with Gross — but missed the mark wide or high.
However, it didn’t waiver Flook’s or the team’s mojo at halftime. Instead, the team broke out with seemingly more enthusiasm in the second half with nobody to be seen sitting on the bench, yelling enthusiastically to their teammates.
“We knew with the formation they were running that they were looking for a quick counter, but would settle for defense,” Flook said. “We said (at halftime) we had to control ourselves, our composure and make sure that what we are doing isn’t feeding into what they want to do. Obviously, a quick giveaway on their defensive side will turn the ball over quick and put our defense on their heels. We didn’t have to rush the ball, nor did we have to force it.”
The Panthers were rewarded with a chance to clinch a berth in the state playoffs at Panther Stadium.
“Just being able to host this game is so great for the team,” Flook said. “With everything happening this year from COVID, playing in an empty stadium or very few fans. We now get the chance to play for something that we’ve been searching for all year. To not only host but maybe win the thing on our home field is amazing.”
Not only is the coach excited, but the game’s hero is as well.
“I’m so excited. I love Bloomsburg so much and have been playing with some of these girls for so long,” Lewis said. “It will be so nice to play in front of our fans and it’s senior year so it will be a big one.”
Lewisburg 0 0 — 0
Bloomsburg 0 1 — 1
Second half: 1. Allie Lewis (Kelsey Widom), 0:32.
Shots: Lewisburg 2, Bloomsburg 7. Corner kicks: Lewisburg 1, Bloomsburg 4. Saves: Lewisburg 6 (Lauren Gross), Bloomsburg 2 (Abbey Gerasimoff).
Link to story: https://www.pressenterpriseonl...
