A rogue firework exploded in the Pottsville sky behind the east end of Alumni Field during the fifth minute of Thursday night’s Schuylkill League Division I game between Pottsville and Blue Mountain.
Two minutes later, Blue Mountain’s Fritz Miller started his own fireworks display.
The senior center midfielder throttled a seventh-minute penalty to the bottom left corner to score his first of three goals in the Eagles’ 4-0 win over the Crimson Tide.
Miller’s natural hat trick — he added consecutive goals in the 16th and 37th minutes — helped Blue Mountain clinch the win and a Schuylkill League playoff spot.
“It means a lot to us,” Miller said. “We worked hard and we really want to win the championship and go on to districts.”
All four goals Thursday resulted from set pieces. Blue Mountain (11-2, 9-0 D-I) was awarded the penalty after a handball from a corner. Miller scored his second and third goals
from headers on a corner by Christian Puzzi and a throw-in by Lyle Luckenbill.
Miller didn’t just impress with his scoring touch. He also added an assist to Luckenbill in the 57th minute. The Eagles ran a short corner to Miller, who toed the end line and delivered the ball through the penalty area for Luckenbill to finish.
“We had to maintain the pressure and that’s what you need,” Miller said. “Offense helps the defense. That’s why we were in their half for much of the game. That’s how everything comes together.”
The Blue Mountain midfield and defense had to be on their finest game as Pottsville (9-6, 6-5) challenged nearly every ball and forced a quick tempo.
“People are going to read the score in the newspaper, 4-0, and they’re not going to realize what happened here tonight,” Pottsville coach Dave Newton said. “Blue Mountain is the cream of the crop. We played hard. Blue Mountain played hard. It was an excellent game.”
The Tide were playing without Schuylkill League leading scorer Tyler Wright, who missed the game for an undisclosed reason.
“We practiced (Wednesday) night on pressuring control in the midfield. I think we did a fairly good job of that,” Newton said.
“Would we have had a couple of goals (had Wright played)? Yeah. Would the game have been different? Can’t say for sure, but likely it would’ve been.”
The Eagles didn’t mind the challenge in their senior-laden midfield and defense. They still attacked with well-placed balls, perfectly-timed runs and great communication.
Despite all the pluses, Blue Mountain coach Rob Burcik still saw room for improvement in finishing plays.
The Eagles had five other quality scoring chances throughout the game. Pottsville keeper Kyle Brennan stopped three with a kick save, a sprawling touch over the crossbar and a mad scramble on a loose ball inside the 6-yard box.
Ian Leiby chested a ball away from a Blue Mountain corner and Vito Valenti headed away another chance from a corner.
It’s a problem Burcik will address heading into today’s tough non-league game with Tulpehocken.
“You gotta put the ball away and we’re not doing that,” Burcik said. “When you play against a team like Tulpehocken, you’re not going to have that many shots, so hopefully we finish a little better.”
Still, Blue Mountain can savor its positioning in the league playoffs, where it joins Lehighton, which also clinched Thursday night.
“The first thing you want to do is get to the playoffs,” Burcik said. “Then the next thing is you want to win the league and start looking at districts.”
Check one for the Eagles.
The fireworks can last a little longer.
Game Summary
Blue Mtn. (11-2, 9-0) 3 1 — 4 Pottsville (9-6, 6-5) 0 0 — 0
BM —Miller (PK), 7th minute
BM —Miller (Puzzi), 16th minute
BM —Miller (Luckenbill), 37th minute
BM —Luckenbill (Miller), 57th minute
Shots on goal: Blue Mountain 13, Pottsville 1. Corner kicks: Blue Mountain 5, Pottsville 0. Saves: Blue Mountain (Albertini 1, Reppy 0) 1, Pottsville (Brennan) 9.
JV Score: Blue Mountain 4-0