LEHIGHTON — Blue Mountain sophomore Jonathan Benner knew coming in to the 2014 Schuylkill League boys’ soccer season that his team needed him to score more goals.
It didn’t take the sophomore forward long to answer the call.
Benner scored two goals and helped set up another in the Eagles’ 3-0 win over Lehighton in the Indians’ Schuylkill League debut.
“Last year, I subbed in and I kind of assumed that (scoring) responsibility,” Benner said. “This year, I’ve accepted full responsibility and took it over.”
Before Benner took over the score sheet with his two second-half goals, he set up Blue Mountain’s first strike.
After cutting in toward the center of the pitch in the 27th minute, Benner rocketed a shot that was parried away by Lehighton keeper Tyler Dietz. The rebound fell right to Blue Mountain’s Kasey Krammes, who tapped it in for an easy goal.
The score came after both sides had a couple of opportunities — Lehighton’s from two free kicks just outside the 18-yard box and Blue Mountain’s from two shots by Fritz Miller that just missed the mark.
The Eagles put eight shots on Dietz in the first half, but the only one that caused him any trouble was the shot by Benner that fell to Krammes.
Benner’s first goal came in the 70th minute after Lehighton couldn’t clear the ball from the 6-yard box in front of Dietz and it fell right to the feet of Benner — who unleashed a thunderous strike that stuck in the back left corner of the framework.
His second goal in the 74th minute required a little more precision.
A failed clearance by the Indians’ back line deflected to Benner 17 yards from goal. Taking a step to the right, Benner curled a shot into the upper left corner to seal the win for the Eagles.
“The ball popped up and I just saw it out of the air,” Benner said. “They were calling to pass it back, but instead I brought it back and curled it in.”
Lehighton was hemmed in its defensive third most of the second half thanks to the turnovers created by Eagles Miller, Christian Tobash, Cam Greenawalt, Mitchel Yeakley and Scott Cox in the midfield and Lyle Luckenbill jumping up from the back line.
“Part of it was the fact that we were tired,” Lehighton coach Dave Yob said. “We didn’t pass the ball as well as we can. Partly that’s on (Blue Mountain) with the pressure. But we didn’t play as well as we could. I’m a little disappointed with that.”
The Indians’ best chance to score came just minutes into the second half when Dan Baka got on the end of a free kick from the end line and flicked a header toward the back post. The shot was cleared by an Eagle defender to prevent any chances off the rebound.
In all, Blue Mountain first-year keeper Aaron Albertini only needed to stop one shot on goal, but the sophomore played his position well, timing his sweeps perfectly and reading Lehighton’s passes through the goal mouth.
“They seemed to have wanted it a little more than we did,” Yob said. “... I was anticipating a closer game, no matter who ended up winning. I thought we’d have a little bit of an advantage playing here because our field is pretty wide, but it didn’t work out that way.
“So we have plenty of work to do ... and it’s only one game.”
It’s one game that gives the rest of the league an idea of what to expect from the Indians, who previously spent their seasons in the Mountain Valley Conference.
“It’s tough to start with them because we didn’t know anything about them and they probably didn’t know anything about us,” Blue Mountain coach Rob Burcik said. “It would’ve been nice if the league schedule would’ve come out and we would’ve had them later on.
“But hey, if you win it’s all right to have it like that.”
Game Summary
Blue Mtn. (2-1, 1-0) 1 2 — 3 Lehighton (1-1, 0-1) 0 0 — 0
BM —Krammes (unassisted), 26:28
BM —Benner(unassisted), 69:16
BM —Benner (unassisted), 73:29
Shots on goal: Blue Mountain 11, Lehighton 2. Corner kicks: Blue Mountain 6, Lehighton 3. Saves: Blue Mountain (Albertini) 1, Lehighton (Dietz) 8.