The Blue Mountain Eagles were overwhelming favorites to win Division I and the Schuylkill League this season among the league’s coaches.
In the opening weeks of the schedule, they showed why.
Blue Mountain is 4-0 in Division I heading into today’s league contest at Tamaqua and has outscored divisional opponents 25-2.
As predicted, the Eagles’ experienced midfield and back line have proven difficult to crack, allowing few scoring opportunities in their seven games so far this season.
Seven different players have scored goals for Blue Mountain (5-2 overall), with sophomore forward Jonathan Benner’s six leading the way.
Opponents spend so much time chasing senior Fritz Miller around the field that they have little energy remaining for a counterattack.
Then there’s the seemingly impossible throw-ins from senior defender Lyle Luckenbill. The aerial assault is as effective, if not more, as a corner and created 17 scoring chances — and two goals — in Thursday’s 8-1 win over playoff contender Pottsville.
Schuylkill Haven has taken care of business so far in Division II. While the Hurricanes had question marks entering the season, most coaches still tabbed them the favorite to emerge atop the standings until proven otherwise.
After starting the season 1-2 with non-league losses to Tri-Valley and Millersburg at the latter’s tournament, Haven reeled off wins over Jim Thorpe (2-1), Tri-Valley (4-1) and Nativity (4-0) to improve to 4-2, 2-0.
Out-of-state transfer Aidan Inman proved he could be a pest for teams with his speed and finesse. If he continues meshing with Tyler Yeakel at the front of Haven’s attack, it could mean trouble for the rest of Division II.
Yeakel leads the squad with seven goals after picking up a hat trick against Nativity on Wednesday. Senior keeper Brad Fryer has kept two clean sheets.
The Hurricanes host Williams Valley tonight.
Indians make
immediate impression
Lehighton was a mystery coming into the 2014 season. The newest addition to the Schuylkill League had a successful campaign last year — its first in quite a while — that included Mountain Valley Conference and District 11 playoff wins.
Not only are the Indians new opponents, but they also lost significant starting seniors from last season’s roster, leaving many in the league wondering how they would respond to their new surroundings.
We all got our answer in a hurry.
Lehighton has jetted to second place in Division I after picking up a big, 2-1 overtime win over Pine Grove and handing then-undefeated Pottsville a 3-0 loss Sept. 8.
The Indians added non-conference wins over Dieruff and Hazleton, as well.
Dan Baka and Joe Marks have combined for 11 of Lehighton’s 19 goals so far.
Next up is a road contest at Jim Thorpe tonight.
The Wright stuff
Pottsville senior forward Tyler Wright has lit up the scoreboard in this young season.
His 10 goals top the area scoring chart, two ahead of Tamaqua’s Josh Delp and three ahead of Yeakel and Williams Valley’s Steven Hill.
Wright has hat tricks against Wilson (Aug. 30) and Williams Valley (Sept. 6). He tallied the equalizer in what became a 4-2 win over Tamaqua on Sept. 4 and he scored the only goals in a 2-0 win over Jim Thorpe.
Player of the Week
Lyle Luckenbill
Blue Mountain
There are many goal-scoring candidates, but the best performance of the week came from Luckenbill, whose dazzling throws boggled coaches — both on the sidelines and in the stands scouting — during Thursday’s impressive win over Pottsville.
Two throw-ins directly on goal deflected off the keeper for own goals, and many others simply weren’t tracked down by teammates in the box.
Not to be lost in all the hype is Luckenbill’s defensive prowess. The senior back has undoubtedly played a big role in helping first-year keeper Aaron Albertini adjust well to varsity minutes.
(Wilson is the boys’ soccer
beat writer for the
Republican-Herald. Follow him
on Twitter @MJWIlson_RH)