Evan Burcik broke a scoreless draw in the 48th minute with what proved to be the game winner and his Blue Mountain Eagles shut out rival Pine Grove to caputure the Schuylkill League boys soccer Division I title Thursday night.
Burcik fired a shot from about 35 yards outside the goal. His shot hit the crossbar over Cardinals keep Dru Herber, bounced straight down and off Herber and into the back of the net.
The goal broke a scoreless draw in the rivalry matchup and eventually gave the Eagles another division title. Blake Batory would add a brace with scores in the 76th and 78th minutes. That 3-0 win grants Blue Mountain a bye into the Schuylkill League semifinals later this month.
Though much of the match was played in Blue Mountain’s offensive end, the Cardinals defense was up to the challenge, surrendering just a handful of scoring opportunities all night, which Herber was mostly able to thwart.
It took an improbable goal like Burcik’s to open the scoring.
Herber made saves on two quality chances in the first half, including a shot from a crossing pass in the 19th minute and a shot from Batory in the 22nd.
Pine Grove’s JJ Kramer missed an opportunity to open the scoring with a whistling shot from distance in the 28th minute that skidded just wide of Caden Wargo’s net.
The Cardinals still control their own destiny for making the league tournament starting next Saturday. They need just one win from their remaining two league matches – at North Schuylkill on Monday or at Lourdes Regional on Thursday – to clinch a wild card spot.
Division 1
- 1Blue Mountainall matches played20pts10-0-0W-L-TClinched 1st · bye
- 2Pine Grove Areaall matches played14pts7-3-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 3North Schuylkillall matches played10pts4-4-2W-L-TClinched a berth
- 9pts3-4-3W-L-TEliminated
- 4pts1-7-2W-L-TEliminated
- 3pts1-8-1W-L-TEliminated
Division 2
- 1Minersville Areaall matches played20pts10-0-0W-L-TClinched 1st · bye
- 2Tri-Valleyall matches played14pts7-3-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 3Schuylkill Haven Areaall matches played14pts7-3-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 8pts4-6-0W-L-TEliminated
- 4pts2-8-0W-L-TEliminated
- 0pts0-10-0W-L-TEliminated
The top three in each division reach the league playoff, and the winner gets a bye to the semifinal. The line under each team shows what it still has to play and whether winning those matches would be enough on its own. Teams level on points are separated by head-to-head, then by District XI power rating, which moves with every match played.
League Playoff
Non-league boys soccer results
In non-league action on Thursday, Tri-Valley topped Pottsville Area, 3-1, as they tune up for the league playoffs next weekend. The Bulldogs have clinched a wild card berth out of Division II.
MORE: Pottsville Rallies to Top Pine Grove
Weatherly Area drew with Lincoln Leadership Academy, 4-4, in another non-league contest Thursday.
Schuylkill League Girls Soccer Recap
Division 1
- 1Blue Mountainall matches played24pts12-0-0W-L-TClinched 1st · bye
- 2North Schuylkillall matches played17pts8-3-1W-L-TClinched a berth
- 3Tamaqua Areaall matches played14pts7-5-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 13pts6-5-1W-L-TEliminated
- 12pts6-6-0W-L-TEliminated
- 2pts1-11-0W-L-TEliminated
- 2pts1-11-0W-L-TEliminated
Division 2
- 1Schuylkill Haven Areaall matches played18pts9-1-0W-L-TClinched 1st · bye
- 2Minersville Areaall matches played18pts9-1-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 3Tri-Valleyall matches played12pts6-4-0W-L-TClinched a berth
- 8pts4-6-0W-L-TEliminated
- 3pts1-8-1W-L-TEliminated
- 1pts0-9-1W-L-TEliminated
The top three in each division reach the league playoff, and the winner gets a bye to the semifinal. The line under each team shows what it still has to play and whether winning those matches would be enough on its own. Teams level on points are separated by head-to-head, then by District XI power rating, which moves with every match played.
League Playoff
In Schuylkill League girls soccer action on Thursday, North Schuylkill inched closer to a playoff berth with an 8-0 win over Marian Catholic. The Spartans are on 15 points for the season and 3 points clear of third-place Pottsville Area.
Tamaqua Area improved its standing in Division I with a 2-1 win over Pine Grove Area. The Raiders are level with the Lady Tide at 12 points, one ahead of the Lady Cardinals in the race for third place and a wild card spot in the playoffs.
In the race for the Division II title, Schuylkill Haven Area and Minersville Area held serve and remain tied at 16 points.
The Hurricanes defeated Lourdes, 11-3, and the Miners shut out Williams Valley, 8-0, on Thursday. That race likely will be decided by District XI rating. After last night’s results, the Miners remain three one-thousandths of a point ahead of the Hurricanes, each with two matches left on their schedules.
In other action, playoff-bound Tri-Valley topped Weatherly Area, 6-0.
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