Junior Varsity Boy's Soccer: Coblentz Hands Knights a Win

By Ben Spector
Winning After MidKnight

 

Over the course of the Middletown High School Knights Junior Varsity Boy’s Soccer team’ match against the Century High School Knights, it seemed as if the game was destined for a scoreless draw. A large lack of offense combined with both teams trying to shake off the first game jitters and a large amount of midfield play led to a game that was in most ways boring and basic.

As the clock ticked inside five minutes left in the game, it seemed as if all was left was to let the clock run out and for both teams to pick up the result and head home.

Middletown sophomore Holden Coblentz had other plans.

The sophomore defender for Middletown would have an opportunity late in the game as after an original shot the ball would fall to his feet after an initial save by the Century goalkeeper and would not waste the opportunity as he would put the ball in the back of the net giving Middletown the 1-0 lead in the 77^th minute.

From there it would be pretty much all academic for Middletown as all they would have to do is burn a few minute off the clock to make sure that they were picking up the win in their season opener.

For much of the match it looked as if it wouldn’t be that way at all. Both teams played very conservatively in the midfield with barely any legitimate scoring chances for either team and lots of tight positional play that stifled the offensive flow of the game and made it a game of who would crack up first.

Middletown sophomore midfielder Matthew Barlow would almost break that crack wide open as in the 54^th minute he would find himself in alone with only the goalkeeper to stop him. Barlow would attempt to put it past the goalkeeper but a 10-bell save by the Century goalkeeper would keep the match locked at zero.

From that point there would not be much offense until Coblentz’s goal as it seemed that both teams were quite comfortable with stepping back into a more defensive posture and wait for a slip up or the end of the game.

But, late in the game Middletown would attempt to find one last bit of offensive punch as they would move the ball up the field and sustain what seemed to be one final push of offense. That is where Coblentz came into the picture.

A normal defender who was playing as a wing back for Middletown, Coblentz found himself up the field in a position where he could help out on offense and provide a spark.

In the end, Coblentz would provide the whole fire as after a shot was blocked and then fumbled by the Century goalkeeper leading to a mad scramble in front of the Middletown net the ball fell to Coblentz who had an empty net from a close position.

Coblentz would not miss from there as the big man would put it in the net and seal the win for Middletown, giving them a win to start out their season and a positive boost to carry them into their game against Eastern Tech.