Phillipsburg-Osceola Meets Penns Valley

       Penns Valley Boys Soccer (PV) played at home against the Phillipsburg-Osceola Mounties (PO) at the Upper Soccer Field on October 7th, 2024. Penns Valley and Phillipsburg-Osceola are both AA soccer schools in District 6. Penns Valley was looking to keep their shut-out streak alive, and PO was hungry for a result. The previous year PV had played on PO’s home pitch and had managed to beat the home team 3-1, with some terrific goals and performances by many players on both teams. PV’s field this game was mildly saturated from the rainy week, but the sun was shining on the grass and the cleat marks peeled away the soft sod. Warm-ups lasted for approximately 45 minutes, and then the match commenced.

Game Commencement

       Penns Valley was winning the possession battle, and both sides were battling fiercely. It was a very clinical first half, however, Penns Valley’s very own Max King was able to find the back of the net off of a curling ball coming from Luke Ruoff—an excellent finish to mark Penns Valley’s first goal and finish out the first half. Coming out just as fiery, PV was controlling the game. While not having many opportunities, PO was able to sift through our defense a time or two on some close calls. Our defense answered and tracked back, and allowed no goals. The first goal in the second half was a remarkable finish by Josh Conklin. Luke Ruoff had played a grounded through ball to Josh, and Josh manipulated the ball’s path to align with his own and burned the ground with a grimacing shot that left PO’s keeper stunned. The game was now 2-0. PO was now in a tricky scenario and PV was thriving. PV kept up the creativity and finally found another opportunity that Max King once again produced. A header off of a ball in from the touchline gave the Rams a 3 goal lead. PO did not let up and ultimately did not allow any more goals through the goal line.

Game Wrap-Up

       With their heads held high, the Rams finished out the game and won another match that proved to be a shut-out, once again. PO held their own and went on to train for the games next on their schedule. Following the match, Max King states, “It was a well-fought match and a deserved win through and through”. Final Score: Penns Valley 3; Phillipsburg-Osceola 0.