By HUNTER O. LYLE
BRADFORD, PA – Facing one of their toughest opponents of the season, the Bradford boy’s soccer team struggled and failed to stop the defensive bleeding, falling to McDowell 10-2.
In the first meeting of the Owls and Trojans, back on Monday, Sept. 8, Bradford was still looking to get their legs under them as they attempted to find a cohesive identity in year two of their rebuild. Unfortunately for them, McDowell had an identity, one that centered on footspeed which produced a 9-0 win. Looking at an uphill battle in the rematch, Bradford entered Thursday’s game with untimely injuries, a problem that has plagued them all season.
“We came in missing five players and (McDowell) doesn’t play any junior varsity. They’re all seniors and juniors,” said Bradford head coach Peter Butler. “They have a whole other team for JV whereas we have to play some of our young guys at varsity.”
Taking the ball first, the Trojans immediately went to their own backfield, feeling out their opponents as Bradford began to probe inside. That maneuver, along with the Owls over extension, proved to be a trap as McDowell quickly turned on the jets and headed upfield.
Forcing Bradford onto their heels, the Trojans set up on the attack with a numbers advantage, quickly getting off the first goal of the day. Continuously grabbing rebounds and stripping the Owls’ attempts at clears, McDowell barricaded the game in Bradford’s backfield and after four and a half minutes of intense pressure, they would find a hole in the defense. In the fifth minute, Tyler Perkins collected a long through-ball, then weaving through multiple Owls before punching a shot in the net from 20 yards out. Less than 30 seconds later, they would repeat the feat with a goal from Alec Eaglen, amassing a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes.
Bradford, on the other hand, struggled to release the tension. Unable to contend with the superior handles and passing from McDowell, the Owls frantically attacked the ball but to no avail. Using precise spacing that opened up numerous passing lanes, coupled with quick feet that breezed past defenders to receive lob passes, the Trojans dominated possession and the pitch. Nearly five minutes after the first pair of goals, the Trojans would add to their lead with three more scores in just as many minutes.
“You have to put pressure on the ball, pressure on the server. Once the ball is on its way, you’re being done for speed,” said Butler. “We still haven’t quite got the idea that when you’re putting pressure, instead of one or two guys going, everybody has to go so the guy on the ball doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
Doubling down on their midfield and backfield lines, the Owls were stretched thin on their occasional breakouts into open space. Quickly mobbed by Trojans, their runs would come up empty handed before being forced back into their own box.
However, in a window where Bradford began to find a handful of drives into enemy territory, they would begin to momentarily force the pressure off themselves. In the 24th minute, an Owls direct kick bounced and rolled out of the McDowell’s goalkeeper’s hands, then being scored by Cole Blatchley. Although that goal ultimately was called offside, the Owls would use it as a spark and six minutes later, Jamin Bell would end the shutout with a sharp-angled shot to the right of the net, putting Bradford on the board at 5-1.
Their jubilation would only last a minute, however, as the Trojans would immediately retaliate with their sixth and final score of the half.
With the game all but decided after the first 40 minutes of play, both teams took their foot off the pedal. Still, the Trojans maintained possession but at a leisurely pace, seeming to walk through the Owls defense with ease. Midway through the period, they would score goal No. 7 from Andrew Moyak, forcing the running clock mercy rule.
Bradford would find one final score throughout the second half. In the 63rd minute, an Owl took a tumble in the box from a McDowell shove. With Landon Lohrman stepping to the line for the penalty kick, his shot strayed just left of center and into the back of the net for the team’s second goal. Seemingly in response, the Trojans continued to press for the remainder of the game, scoring three more times, all of which occurred in the final ten and a half minutes.
Standing as their eighth loss in 13 games, the Owls (5-8) have just five remaining as they attempt to track down a playoff berth. However, while their team may have the skill and talent to do so, the biggest obstacle is health.
“I think we’re playing sharp now but, I hate to say it because it sounds like an excuse but it’s not, but we need to see if we can stay healthy,” said Butler. “At one time we had nine injuries and we had five missing today. At the varsity level we don’t have many replacements.”
