TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area's Kayson Tice (5) kicks the ball downfield during the team's district quarterfinal win over Cambria Heights on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, at Alumni Stadium. The Eagles capped their season on Monday, falling to Juniata, 1-0, in the District 6 Class AA semifinals.

LEWISTOWN – Two teams, one goal!

Two legendary soccer teams met up Monday to see which one would advance to the District 6 Class AA championship contest. The Juniata Indians boys soccer team hosted Bald Eagle at Marcel Stadium and battled the frigid cold and each other for almost 95 minutes before a winner was crowned.

The Bald Eagles went toe-to-toe with the top seeded Indians, leaving everything they had on the field and pushing Juniata to the limit. However, with just 27 ticks left in the first overtime period, the Indians lifted a corner that was found by Alex Armstrong in the box, who sent it into the back of the net to lead his team to the title tilt.

It was a game where many fans wished there wasn’t a loser as the two played with competitive spirits and the will to win.

“We put together a game plan and our guys played it to the best of their ability. To take Juniata to overtime and you see what kind of high powered offense they have. Then take them to overtime with lose with seconds left in the overtime, my guys have zero to hold their heads about,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jason Bair. “They executed the plan. My keeper had 17 saves tonight on 29 shots. Henry (Bacon) in the second half was up for the action. He was a man on a mission.”

“First off congratulations to Coach Bair and Bald Eagle. They had a great season,” said Juniata coach Jared Byler. “The game plan they had for us worked really well for them in the first half. I felt like in the second half we made some changes. We picked up our tempo. We started winning the midfield. That whole second half was played in their end.”

In the first half, both defenses came up large as the backlines were able to cut down the outside lanes and recover well before the opposite team was able to get a good look at the goal. Bald Eagle goalie Henry Bacon put on a strong performance in the net as he was able to stop 17 shots from Juniata throughout the game.

It would be like a back-and-forth chess match the first 40 minutes as each team made its runs only to be stopped in their tracks. Both were able to shot the ball as the Indians were able to blast eight while the Eagles had five.

Things started to change possession wise in the second as the Indians continued to push the ball at the heart of the tough Bald Eagle defense. Bacon stopped five of the 10 shots that were kicked his way and was able to make some key diving stops to keep the contest stymied at zero.

Juniata had some chances as the combination of Hazard, Anthony Maradiaga, Daniel Lopez and Ricky Guante led the offensive charge.

Defensively, Juniata got strong games from the backline players like Caden Naylor and Hayden Burd, just to name a few.

In the overtime session, things started similarly, as a back-and-forth race commenced to see who could get the first good luck and a clear shot. The entire stanza was not for the faint of heart as each team just missed winning the game for their respective teams.

However, with time ticking away and a second overtime period looming, the Indians got the luck they needed off of the Hazard corner when Armstrong blasted the game-winning goal, granting his team the 1-0 win.

“It’s always sad for my seniors. I had seven this year,” said Bair. “Their goal was to win districts. We didn’t make that goal but it wasn’t for lack of trying.”

Juniata will be playing in the championship on Thursday, Weather permitting, against a team to be named later.

Juniata 1, Bald Eagle Area 0 (OT)

JUN – Alex Armstrong (Authur Hazard), 94:33.

Shots on goal: BEA – 7, JUN – 29. Corners: BEA – 2, JUN – 11. Saves: BEA – 17 (Henry Bacon), JUN – 2 (Nolan Imes).