If you showed up late to the Continental Kalida Boys Soccer game you would have missed the deciding goal in this battle of Putnam County League rivals. The visiting Wildcats got on the board early as they hit the back of the net just 35 seconds in the game. The Wildcats would extend their lead to 2 with 20:19 left in the half when the crossed the ball to the center of the penalty area and it was headed in. That would finish off the Wildcats scoring for the night. The Pirates had opportunities to score with 29 minutes left in the half the Pirates had 5 touches of the ball in the penalty are but could not get off a good shot. With just under 14 minutes to go it looked like Pirate Collin Davis was going to extend his scoring streak to 6 but the Wildcat goalie pushed his shot over the goal. Wildcats 2-0 at half.
The Pirates offensive attack continued on in the second half as Braxton Stegbauer hit the post with 23 minutes to go. With 1730 to go the Pirates took a shot that was batted away to the Pirates where another shot went just over the goal. The Pirates did get on the board with with 1:35 left when Hunter Varner took a cross from the side and kicked it into the goal. The Pirates would get the ball down into the Wildcat penalty box in the waning second but could not get off a good shot.
Hunter Varner scored the Pirate goal while Bain Stegbauer picked up the assist. Collin Hammond picked up 3 saves and took the Pirate loss in goal. The Pirates had a 13-5 advantage on shots on goal and 7-5 on corner kicks.
Continental falls to 5-5-1 and finishes their PCL portion of their schedule at 1-3. The Pirates travel to Liberty Benton on Tuesday for a non league battle. Kalida improves to 4-2-3 (1-1-1 PCL).
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
