Lehighton coach Dave Yob noted at the start of the season that his Indians needed to beat Schuylkill Haven and Blue Mountain before they could be considered contenders in their new league.
Schuylkill Haven? Check.
Blue Mountain? Check.
Frank Bokan scored on a rebound in the 85th minute to award the Indians a 2-1, overtime win over Blue Mountain in Saturday’s Schuylkill League boys’ soccer championship match at Alumni Field. The win gives Lehighton a league title in its inaugural season in the league.
“Third time was the charm,” Yob said, clutching the trophy under his arm after the game.
Lehighton’s Ben Cordova lifted a ball into the Blue Mountain box five minutes into the extra period. The ball rattled off a couple players before it fell to Bokan, a sophomore that punched in 12 goals — fourth on the team — during the regular season.
“It was just bouncing around the box,” Bokan said. “I just hit it
toward the goal as hard as I could and it went in.”
Bokan’s goal brought an end to a nerve-racking game for both sides, especially for the balanced crowd that braved the chilling breeze to create a true playoff atmosphere at Alumni Field.
The game, however, could’ve ended two minutes earlier, when Lehighton leading scorer Joe Marks was brought down in the penalty area and stepped to the penalty spot with 12:57 remaining in the first overtime.
Blue Mountain sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Albertini read Marks’ direction, dove to his left and smothered the shot to keep the game going.
Seconds later, it looked as though the Eagles would be awarded a penalty after Fritz Miller was kicked in the face and went to ground, but it was Blue Mountain whistled for a dangerous play.
“We can look at that, but I think we have to look at we had so many opportunities,” Blue Mountain coach Rob Burcik said. “We haven’t been finishing lately and it’s killing us.”
The Eagles, as usual, got many scoring chances from Lyle Luckenbill’s long throw-ins. But, unlike before, the Indians were ready to defend them.
Chris Lawler played a rover role on those set pieces. His one job was to track the ball and clear it from danger.
He and Lehighton did exactly that. Blue Mountain, which made a living off scoring from set pieces during the regular season, was prevented from doing so Saturday.
The Indians (17-3) took the first lead of the game just before halftime when Marks headed in a Dan Baka corner in the 39th minute.
They nearly added to that lead five minutes into the second half as Marks picked out a great run by Bokan, but the sophomore’s shot whizzed just over the crossbar.
Blue Mountain (16-4) answered 10 minutes later with its only goal, scored by Jonathan Benner just inside the 18-yard box in the 54th minute. Benner took a pass from Cameron Greenawalt off a break and took a shot falling down that bulged the side netting behind Lehighton keeper Tyler Dietz.
Much like they did against Nativity in the semifinals, the Eagles created multiple scoring chances after equalizing. They outshot the Indians 9-1 in the second half — but Dietz was equal to everything but Benner’s goal.
Lehighton’s offense sputtered in the second half, getting its only shot in the final 20 seconds on a Zach Christoff free kick from 35 yards out.
“We got lucky. We made our own luck,” Yob said. “Has to be numero uno as far as moments in my coaching career.”
Yob has had a lot to choose from lately. Lehighton got hot at the right time of the season. The Indians have won 10 straight games since losing to Blue Mountain 2-1 on Sept. 22.
And there may be more to come. The Schuylkill League title means Lehighton will get the top seed in the District 11 Class AA playoffs. Blue Mountain will get the third seed.
With that in mind, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities to see a fourth meeting between Lehighton and Blue Mountain with another prize on the line.
“If we played them 10 times, it would be five each,” Burcik said. “The games are close. We just didn’t finish, that’s what it came down to.”
Lehighton did. More importantly, it seized the opportunity it was granted — a third crack at the Division I champion Eagles after defeating the defending champion Hurricanes 4-0 in the semifinals.
But when Yob said his squad had to beat Haven and Blue Mountain to make a name for itself in the Schuylkill League, did he ever think it would come to fruition on such a large stage?
“Let’s put it this way — I had hoped. I hoped,” Yob said. “I might take this (trophy) home and put it under my pillow.”
Game Summary
Schuylkill League Boys’ Soccer Championship Game
At Alumni Field, Pottsville
Lehighton (17-3) 1 0 1 — 2 Blue Mtn. (16-4) 0 1 0 — 1
Leh —Marks (Baka), 39th minute
BM —Benner (Greenawalt), 54th minute
Leh —Bokan, 85th minute
Shots on goal: Lehighton 7, Blue Mountain 12. Corner kicks: Lehighton 3, Blue Mountain 4. Saves: Lehighton (Dietz) 11, Blue Mountain (Albertini) 5.