Holy Cross' Kerry Kearney, left, battles Mountain View's Zack Feduchak for the ball Monday. TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO/BUTCH COMEGYS

BY ASHLEY TEATUM

Times-Shamrock Writer

WhileMountain View’s players had to adjust to Holy Cross’ style of soccer, they still upheld the pace and intensity the whole game.

Keeping to the air atPoloniaPark, the Eagles broke open the game in the second half to win, 5-1, on Monday in the Lackawanna League DivisionIIIboys soccer opener for both teams.

“We normally like the ball on the ground,” said Colby Thomas, who had a hat trick for the Eagles. “We more or less had to play their type of style, which we respect because that’s their game. We had to play the longball a little.

“They played good ‘D’ back there, not letting us get any chances, but we capitalized when we could.”

From the start, players kept it close and physical, barely leaving any room between them to turn.

Mountain View broke through with a goal in the 27th minute.

Holy Cross' Niko Amity, right, watches his shot roll into the net as Mountain View goalkeeper Bobby Pfahl can only watch during the first half Monday. Mountain View won, 5-1. TIMES-SHAMROCK PHOTO/BUTCH COMEGYS

Holy Cross had cleared the ball past midfield, but Chris White intercepted and played it up the middle and fed Thomas to the left. He beat two defenders to putMountain Viewon the board, 1-0.

Just two minutes later, Niko Amity, who used his quickness to lead the Holy Cross attack up front, hit the equalizer.

He had one shot-on-goal blocked by goalkeeper Bobby Pfahl, collected the rebound and walked it in for the score.

“Niko always moves pretty well,” Holy Cross coach Joe Dodgson said. “We never have a problem with him going. And Kyle Beekman takes charge in the back. He did pretty well.

“As I told the kids in our huddle, I’m happy with their play today. I would have liked to have had a win, but I’m happy with their play.”

Less than a minute after Amity’s goal, however, Mountain View regained the lead for good with a goal from Zeb Cross. Nick Jarrow had the assist.

Holy Cross continued to reset its offense and barrage the net in the second half, outshootingMountain View, 8-5. Pfahl made three saves, while the rest of the shots went wide or high of the goal.

But the Eagles made the most of the shots they did take, with Thomas scoring twice within 10 minutes on fast breaks with assists from White and Cross.

Eddie Bognatz capped the scoring with 30 seconds left in the game off an assist from Cross.

“We just had to change things up,” said Cross, who had a goal and two assists forMountain View. “Instead of looking for our give-and-goes, we had to take some shots from far out, do an over-the-top ball, and just get rid of it right away.”

The last time the teams faced each other was in the District 2 Class A final last season, whereMountain Viewwas a 6-3 winner and advanced to the state tournament.

Sharing the same division this year, the teams will meet once more in the regular season.

“I thought the kids worked well this preseason,” Dodgson said. “I’m still looking for an excellent season. They outplayed us a little bit today.”

Montrose’s Zach Myer leaps to head the ball during a Meteor scrimmage with Dunmore on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

Montrose

The Montrose Area boys’ soccer team opened the regular season with a win on Monday as Matt Simonds scored in the first overtime to lift the Meteors.

Montrose got scoring started with a goal from Nick Henry 8:51 into the first half.

Lakelandthen tied up the score before Meteor Erik Burgh scored at 34:05 in the first half to lead 2-1.

However,Lakelandwould score in the second half to send the game into overtime where Simonds scored on a direct kick 85:23 into the game.

Meteor Joe Zuber heads the ball past Dunmore defenders during a Montrose scrimmage with the Bucks last Thursday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

Montrose had 17 shots on goal and no corners while goalie Justin Hartman had 10 saves.

Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge’s boys’ soccer team faced a 6-4 loss toRiversideon the road on Monday evening to open the season.

Blue Ridgegot ahead to an early lead as Juan Hernandez scored a pair of consecutive goals in the first half before Billy Rupakus would add another to put the Raiders up 3-0.

Riversidethen answered back with three goals of its own to make it 3-3 at halftime.

In the second half,Riversidetook a 5-3 lead on two more goals before Hernandez scored a third goal to complete a hat trick to make it 5-4.

However,Riversideadded a sixth goal to hold on to the lead for good.

Blue Ridgehad 13 saves on goal in the loss.