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Even before Joseph Schmid first stepped on the soccer field for Wyoming Valley West as a freshman, soccer gurus in the Wyoming Valley were praising the talented player.
For three seasons, Aaron Littzi led Wyoming Valley West to three appearances in the District 2 Class 3A championship game, including a pair of titles.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Dallas and Pittston Area each had early exits from the District 2 Class 2A Tournament and finished in second place in their respective divisions in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Dallas and Pittston Area each had early exits from the District 2 Class 2A Tournament and finished in second place in their respective divisions in the Wyoming Valley Conference. On Friday, the teams were represented well in the Joe Bochiccio Memorial Senior Classic featuring senior all-stars from the WVC. Dallas’ Erik Cannon scored three goals and had two assists and the Patriots’ keeper Brian Werts held off a furious comeback attempt as the West defeated the East, 6-3 at McCarthy Stadium at King’s College’s Betzler Fields. “We had a tough loss at the end there with Abington Heights (in the district semifinals) but this is nice with one last game at home before college,” Cannon said. Cannon, who had two games of at least three goals during the regular season for the Mountaineers, was named the MVP of the match and will have his name inscribed on a plaque on display at Soccer Plus in Clarks Summit. Perhaps the best part of Cannon’s performance was that he did it in front of several college coaches and he has not committed to go to school yet. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out,” Cannon said. “It’s a great way to end senior year. It’s hard to describe. It’s great.” Werts’ outstanding effort was all in the second half as he stopped 10 shots on goal from a fiery East squad, which had 16 shots on goal in the second half. Attempting a comeback after trailing 3-1 at halftime, the East got two quick goals to begin the second half to tie the game at 3-3, but Werts regrouped and settled down and didn’t let anything else past him the rest of the way while making several diving stabs to contain the victory. “I think the (East) offense came out stronger in the second half and we weren’t expecting it,” said Werts, who only played in the second half relieving Berwick’s Randall Jones. “I get nervous when I come in cold but after the second or third shot, I was warmed up and used to who was taking shots and who was where.” Coughlin’s Mike Turner gave the East a 1-0 in the first half, but the West answered less than two minutes later as Cannon found the back of the net unassisted. It took more than 20 minutes for the next tally to occur as Berwick’s Mike Henger dished a pass to Crestwood’s Kevin Kupris as the West opened a 2-1 lead. Before the first half ended, Henger assisted on Cannon’s second goal as the winners opened a 3-1 lead. The East evened the score early in the second half when Tunkhannock’s Kelley Healey took a pass from GAR’s Edgardo Flores and scored then Turner scored again at the 28:58 mark to tie the game. Cannon blasted an unassisted goal to help the West regain the lead at 4-3 with 26:08 left in the contest. He later had assists on goals by Pittston Area’s Danny Scatena and Wyoming Area’s Matt McDermott. Joe Bochicchio Memorial Senior Classic West 6, East 3
The Joe Bochicchio Memorial Senior Classic featuring Wyoming Valley Conference senior all-stars will be held at 7 p.m. today at King’s College’s Betzler Fields.
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