Boys Soccer - Franklin Regional vs Bellefonte

Franklin Regional Boys Soccer Breezes to 5-0 Win over Bellefonte in PIAA Opener

It must have felt a bit unfair to the Bellefonte Red Raiders in the first half of their PIAA Class AAA boys soccer opening round playoff game against Franklin Regional. Not only did the WPIAL champion Panthers pound Bellefonte goalkeeper Zach Spearly with a barrage of shots, but a steady wind that howled through Norwin Knights Stadium was blowing right into the Red Raiders goal. So when Bellefonte went into the locker room at halftime down only 1-0, they had to like their chances in the second half with the wind at their backs. But the second half wind was no match for the Panthers' defense, and the Red Raiders defense was no match for 4 more goals from the WPIAL champion Panthers offense, as Franklin Regional beat the District 6 champions 5-0 and will advance to play Erie Cathedral Prep in a Saturday quarterfinal match at a site to be announced. 

The Panthers kept the ball on the Red Raiders' side of the pitch for most of the first half, firing shot after shot only to be denied by Bellefonte's Spearly. Spearly made a number of athletic saves to deny the Panthers until his luck ran out when Auston Kranick slid one past from close range with 7:38 to play in the opening half, the only score before intermission.

The second half was all Panthers as Justin LeDonne set the tone early when his shot just cleared a left-diving Spearly for a 2-0 lead. Anthony DiFalco got on the score sheet as he dribbled in close and popped a shot to his left past a flat footed Spearly for a 3-0 lead at 24:46 left in the second half. Connor Hudson's goal at just over 60 minutes into the game made the Panthers' lead 4-0, and senior Joseph Bonfiglio put up the Panthers' final marker at 8:48 left in the game. 

Franklin Regional goalkeeper Jeremy Lucas was barely challenged all game, except for a penalty kick awarded to Bellefonte's Evan Nyquist with just under 20 minutes to play. Lucas correctly guessed the shot would be to his left, but it was just wide anyway as it rang off the right post. Nyquist got the rebound and put it in for an apparent goal, but it was waved off after it was ruled illegal because the penalty kick shooter can't touch the ball twice. Franklin Regional was able to substitute for many of their starters in the final minutes and Bellefonte never got closer than the missed penalty kick for the remainder of the game. The Panthers remain undefeated at 19-0-1.  
  

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.