Falcons nip Leopards in double OT
By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Belle Vernon Area entered Monday’s Section 2-3A showdown with revenge on its mind.
The memory of a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Connellsville last month still lingered in the heads of the Leopards.
Despite a valiant effort in the rematch, BVA fell short in a 1-0 double overtime loss to the Falcons at James Weir Stadium.
“A double overtime game is anybody’s game, it’s just about whoever is lucky enough to get one in at that point,” BVA head coach Tracy Lovett said. “I thought we had quality chances and they had quality chances. It wasn’t a game where we just played in our end panicked the whole time. It wasn’t a game where they ran all over us like the last time we played them. We gave them a very good game.
“I thought they dug deep and gave all they had. I’m proud of them.”
Connellsville (6-0, 6-0) scored the game-winning goal with just over a minute left in the second overtime off a free kick from Nevaeh Hamborsky.
Hamborsky blasted a shot from the 30-yard line that was initially saved by BVA goalkeeper Grace Henderson. The ball slipped through Henderson’s grasps and trickled around the box before Mary Lape was able to bury the rebound chance and help the Falcons remain unbeaten.
“We didn’t have our best effort, but we need games like this,” Connellsville head coach Jeff Puskar said. “You need games that are going to test you and this was the first game that has tested us all year. You need to see what kind of courage they have and what kind of mental toughness they have.”
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