LEHMAN TWP. — If Lake-Lehman was going to win its first district championship in three decades, it certainly wasn’t going to come easy.
The Black Knights survived a dramatic final 16 minutes – filled with emotions varying from desperation to dejection to delight – in the District 2 Class 2A men’s soccer championship on Thursday.
Lake-Lehman defeated Tunkhannock 1-0 to win their first district title since 1998.
The Black Knights will make its first PIAA tournament appearance of the century on Tuesday, Nov. 4, when they will face the winner of Saturday’s District 4 final between Lewisburg and Midd-West.
“This is phenomenal,” Lake-Lehman coach Ricky Bartolini said. “But this team is the most like a team that I think I have ever had. Every single one of these players is out there for each other. There’s no egos, no people out there for themselves.”
Andrew Mathes scored the lone goal of the game in the 64th minute, curling a corner kick into the far side corner for an unassisted game-winner.
Oddly enough, the goal that put gold medals around the Black Knights’ necks was on a play Bartolini cautioned all season.
“I actually tell them not to do that because it’s such a low percentage,” Bartolini joked. “But they don’t really listen to me.”
Lake-Lehman had to survive a pair of Tunkhannock scoring chances in the closing minutes.
In the 76th, the Tigers exploited open real estate in the middle of the field. A pass from the left flank set up Callum Jerome at the top of the 18-yard box, but his shot sailed wide right.
Two minutes later, a Lake-Lehman defender’s legs tangled with a Tunkhannock’s attacker inside the box. Caden Newswanger’s penalty kick pelted the right side of the cross bar, and Lake-Lehman defenders collapsed in to clear away any second chance.
Mathes’ goal erased frustrations at Lake-Lehman’s earlier struggles to convert, despite a 7-0 advantage in shots on target.
Twice, Tunkhannock defenders cleared would-be Lake-Lehman goals off the line for team saves. In the 21st minute, Scott Egbert’s shot was blocked in a crowd of six white jerseys inside the box. Three minutes into the second half, Jerome sprinted back and dove at the line to deny Black Knight shot at the goal line.
“I told my players hard work begets luck,” Bartolini said. “Obviously, that’s a very tough way to score a goal – in a game like this, we’ll take them.”
Tunkhannock’s Daniel Dillon made four saves.
It was the third time this season Lake-Lehman had a clean sheet against Tunkhannock.
District 2 Class 2A Championship
Lake-Lehman 1, Tunkhannock 0
Tunkhannock`0`0 —`0
Lake-Lehman`0`1 —`1
Second half — 1. LL, Andrew Mathes, 64th minute.
Shots — TUN 9; LL 21. Saves — TUN 4 (Daniel Dillon); LL 0 (Andrew Chapple). Corners — TUN 1; LL 6.
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