TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Central Mountain boys soccer team breaks a huddle prior to a game against Shikellamy on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, at Malinak Stadium. The Wildcats capped their season in the District 6 Class AAA semifinal on Thursday, falling to Hollidaysburg, 2-1, in overtime.

HOLLIDAYSBURG – When it comes the intensity and mentality teams bring to postseason games, Central Mountain senior Dylan Bechdel described it best. Heightened stakes provide additional pressure but oftentimes, they bring out the best in everyone on the field, as each squad looks to avoid the abrupt end of their seasons.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they saw those stakes fully realized in an all-out heartbreaker.

Central Mountain (8-7-3) left it all out on the field in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA semifinal at Tiger Stadium, overcoming a one-score deficit and holding top-seeded Hollidaysburg scoreless through the second half to force overtime. But in the first overtime period, the Golden Tigers broke back through, as an Owen Naugle goal helped them edge out the Wildcats, 2-1, to advance to the final.

Tears were shed, and the disappointment was palpable as Central Mountain rallied back to a goal-takes-all scenario before seeing its season end in a heartbeat. But at the same time, the coaches and players took pride in the all-out effort, with no pointing feelings or love lost.

“We were down 1-0 and came back with a good goal. We played a great game,” said Central Mountain senior Cole Cooper on the effort. “I love every single one of them, and I’m proud of every single one of them.”

“They are very resilient, and they push through. They did everything I asked of them tonight,” said Central Mountain head coach Billy Hook on his team.

“It was a game of two halves, where Hollidaysburg controlled the first and it flipped in the second. It really mirrored our season of ups and downs, and we had games where we’ve been down a couple goals, came back and won.”

Against a team that out-seeded it by three slots and had seven more wins entering the game, Central Mountain never once displayed signs of being an underdog.

Even as it entered the break trailing after a late first-half goal from the Golden Tigers, a goal near the final minute no less, they used the time they had to decompress to gather their focus. Rather than enter the second timid or panicked, they instead went into it with controlled aggression, knowing full well what it had to do.

“Score, or you’re going home. That’s all it was,” said Bechdel.

“We’ve been shut out one game, the first game of the year, and I think that’s just a fluke,” said Cooper. “I had full confidence in our team that we were going to score.”

After a quick shot on goal from Hollidaysburg in the second half’s first minute, the Wildcats quickly stole control of possession. They were able to get the ball on Hollidaysburg’s side of midfield, then near its goal. And eventually, they’d translate that into a tie game.

On a breakaway toward the left side of the box set up by a through-ball from Cooper, Bechdel drew focus away from teammate Yayfran Sanchez before delivering it to him with plenty of space. Sanchez fired a shot to the left of Hollidaysburg goalkeeper Liam Jancula, tying the ball at 1-1 with over 33 minutes to go in regulation.

“I saw on my left side that I had enough room, so I cut in. I knew if I exploded well enough, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with me,” said Bechdel on the assist. “Got past him, saw him in front of the box, so I just slid it in. I made the pass, and he finished it.”

“It was kind of like we got a break, like we broke through that first barrier of getting that first goal, and then they would keep coming. They just didn’t,” he added on what that goal meant that the time.

From there, the Wildcats kept up the intensity briefly, logging four more shots on goal through the first half of the second stanza and keeping Jancula busy. However, Jancula was spot-on from there and steadily, the game worked its way back into a stalemate.

Hollidaysburg’s game-sealer would be foreshadowed through the late goings of regulation as the Golden Tigers picked up the pressure through its waning moments. In overtime, they’d rack up four shots, three shots on goal and two corners, with the second quarter being where it fully went south.

Central Mountain had done a great job defending some tense corners up to that point, particularly through the first and late goings of the second. But on this occasion, Alex Arbogast put the ball in a rough shot, with it bouncing around a bit before Naugle volleyed it home.

“On the last goal, it was bouncing around, and we just couldn’t clear it,” said Cooper. “It was unlucky.”

The two goals were tough to swallow, especially considering how well the defense played.

Goalkeeper Jaggar Pardoe made two diving saves, brought in multiple tense claims and logged five of his eight saves through a first where Hollidaysburg brought considerable pressure. And in the second, the Wildcats held the Golden Tigers without a shot on goal for over 39 minutes.

“Jag had a couple of huge saves tonight to keep us in it,” said Hook on the defense. “Our two center backs played 90 to 95 minutes.”

The loss was certainly difficult, with Central Mountain graduating a considerable senior class featuring two four-year starters in Cole Cooper and Griffin Confer and it being the second straight year it’s dropped a heartbreaking semifinal at Hollidaysburg.

However, optimism surrounds the future, with plenty of promising athletes set to return. And after the heartache wears off, they should be able to look back on what they accomplished fondly.

“There’s no words to say. There’s nothing perfect, but I do try to give them something to remind them how much they’ve worked at it,” said Hook on the message following the loss.

“It sucks, but they’re there for each other. Other schools have these types of programs, but we are extremely close and tight knit. So, it’s the worst speech to give ever, but I do love them and just remind them of that and that they love each other.”

Hollidaysburg 2, Central Mountain 1 (OT)

(DISTRICT 6 CLASS AAA BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS)

H – Brealyn Ross (unassisted), 38:32. CM – Yayfran Sanchez (Dylan Bechdel), 46:27. H – Owen Naugle (Alex Arbogast), 89:36.

Shots: CM 13 H 19. Shots on goal: CM 9, H 10. Corners: CM 3, H 8. Saves: CM 8 (Jaggar Pardoe); H 7 (Liam Jancula).