CLARION, Pa. – Thanks to a goal and an assist from Linkin Nichols, Brockway claimed its second consecutive District 9 Class 1A title with a 2-0 win over Karns City Thursday night at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.
(Photo by Jared Bakaysa of JB Graphics. See more of Bakaysa’s work here)
Brockway controlled the ball in the Karns City end for most of the first half before Nichols broke the scoreless tie in the 24th minute with a shot from the left corner that was set up after a long rebound that was initially shot by Hunter Allenbaugh.
“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Nichols said about the goal. “It came across the box and I got a foot on it and it hit the post and went in.”
Noah Bash put the Rovers up 2-0 in the 35th minute when he received a feeder from Nichols at the top of the Gremlins goalie box and shot the ball low and left of goalkeeper Jake Weckerly.
“I was running down the line and (Bash) was calling for the ball, Nichols said of his assist. “So, I took a touch out around the kid, and I crossed it towards the center and he put it in.”
See more of what Nicholas said about the game
Down 2-0, Karns City started the second half with scoring chances in Brockway’s end, however, Rovers goalkeeper Garet Park made a couple key saves early in the half to keep the shutout for the Rovers.
Park finished the game with four saves for the Rovers while Weckerly made nine saves for the Gremlins.
“This never gets old,” Brockway head coach Rich Esposito said. “Our goal is to get to the D9 finals, and you see how hard they work. These kids are so committed in the offseason and they just continue it throughout the year. I’m just proud of them for all their hard work.”
Watch all of Esposito’s thoughts on the game
Brockway, which made it to the PIAA Class 1A semifinals a year ago, will face the third-place finisher out of the WPIAL, Seton LaSalle, in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday, Nov. 6, at a site and time to be announced.
