Set-piece goals help Lewisburg to district crown | Sports | dailyitem.com

SUNBURY — While Caleb Meyer-Chabris hasn't taken many corner kicks this season, he has a good chance of seeing more opportunities near the flags after Thursday's game.

Cohen Hoover, who usually takes corner kicks for the Green Dragons, told Meyer-Chabris to attempt the kick while Hoover was taking a breather on the bench. The Green Dragons' faith in Meyer-Chabris paid off as he bended the go-ahead goal on a corner kick with 19 minutes left to help Lewisburg defeat Midd-West 2-1 in the District 4 Class 2A championship game at Shikellamy High School.

Lewisburg (19-1-1) won its first district title since 2022 after being knocked out of the district semifinals by Central Columbia in penalty kicks last season. The Green Dragons will take on Scranton Prep, the District 2 champion, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on Tuesday.

As for Midd-West (15-3-2), it'll go on the road to take on undefeated Northwestern Lehigh (24-0), the District 11 champion, in the state playoffs on Tuesday.

"It's really important for us because we're a great program," Meyer-Chabris said. "We expect to win the district title every single season, and when we didn't it was a huge disappointment. So it was a huge motivation for us. That's why we came out, and we gave it our all. We played with everything we had, everybody (was) 100% in. So it's a really good feeling to be back on top where we belong."

Lewisburg didn't receive many opportunities against a stingy Midd-West defense, especially in the first half when it found itself down 1-0 at the break.

The Green Dragons received a lot more set-piece chances in the second half, and it didn't take them long to cash in one. Viktor Permyashkin sent a free kick on goal, and, after it took a bounce, defender Marino Cardello tapped it into the net for a 1-all tie 2:33 into the second half. It was Cardello's second goal of the season.

About 10 minutes later, Meyer-Chabris converted the corner kick that gave the Green Dragons the 2-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish. Meyer-Chabris recorded his third goal of the season.

"I've taken a few (corner kicks) this season in different games," Meyer-Chabris said. "But Viktor (Permyashkin) was injured, so Cohen just told me to go take it. I just tried to put it right above the keeper, and that's where it went, and it happened to go in."

After being outplayed by Midd-West for most of the first half, Lewisburg was much more aggressive coming out after halftime. The Green Dragons outshot the Mustangs 9-1 and registered six corner kicks during the final 40 minutes.

"I saw more passion in the second half from my players and my leaders than I have all season," said Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell. "I think that's an attribute to them going in. Before I said a word, they stood up and they said what we needed to do. So I was proud of them for what they saw in the field and what we needed to do and how we needed to respond. And they listened."

The Mustangs had a couple of good chances on set pieces in the first half. After a pair of corner kicks were close to finding the back of the net, Midd-West finally converted on a set piece.

The Mustangs received a free kick that bounced off Evan Devine's head and found its way to Connor Stoltzfus, who fired it home for a 1-0 lead with 2:52 remaining in the first half. Midd-West outshot Lewisburg 5-2 during the first 40 minutes.

"The boys, I think up until that point, had worked hard just hadn't rewarded themselves with a goal," said Midd-West coach Mark Ferster. "Obviously Connor didn't give up on it. A lot of times guys won't follow that ball all the way in, and obviously the ball was served right where it needed to be. Evan made a great flick, and then Connor wasn't willing to give up on it."

Midd-West created a couple of scoring chances in the second half. With about six minutes left, Alex Trojan tried to place a header into the net, but Lewisburg goalie Gabe Pawling was there to make the save.

The Mustangs also had a goal called back due to an offsides penalty with the game tied at 1 with about 27 minutes left.

"(We had) just some unfortunate fouls out here that led to some free kicks that they made dangerous, and they countered on them," Ferster said. "Maybe we just didn't get after it the way we should, or just didn't stay focused — I don't know. But overall I wasn't disappointed with our play, just obviously the outcome."

DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A BOYS SOCCER

Final

At Shikellamy High School, Sunbury

NO. 1 LEWISBURG 2, NO. 3 MIDD-WEST 1

First half

MW: Connor Stoltzfus (Evan Devine), 2:52.

Second half

L: Marino Cardello (Viktor Permyashkin), 37:27; L: Caleb Meyer-Chabris, 19:18.

Shots: L 11-6. Corner kicks: MW 8-7. Saves: Midd-West 5 (Derek Wert); Lewisburg 3 (Gabe Pawling).