Although Penn State Mont Alto's soccer team had a rough 2011 fall season, they worked hard all the way up until the last game. Throughout the season, the team dealt with injuries and illnesses that kept players off the field. Without those few players, Mont Alto did not have many numbers on the bench. That did not stop them from battling in each game. Mont Alto played from the first whistle until the last.
"We had a young team, and our record reflected it. We lost at least three games that I thought we should have won. When we played the better teams, we frequently held our own for much of the game," Head Coach Ron McKinney comments. "For most of the season, our play was uneven. At times we played brilliantly, only to have the brilliance dimmed by lapses into play that was opportunistic and mediocre."
They had a hard fought match against Brandywine, one of the top teams in the conference, but came up short by losing only 0-1. Mont Alto had a huge win over PSU Schuylkill, winning 5-0. The offense was led by Beltus Azongho (Northwestern High School), Eh Klay Klay (Horace Howard Furness High School) and Sherman Garcia (New Oxford High School). Azongho had two goals and two assists, Eh Klay Klay had two goals while Garcia added two assists in the win over Schuylkill. On defense, Brian Moccabee (Monsignor Donovan) worked hard in the goal making 68 saves in six games. His back line was controlled by Nick Meier (Oley Valley High School), Jon Zook (Chambersburg Area Senior High School) and Sam Johnson (South Hagerstown High School).
"On the bright side, our team play did improve over the season. If our freshman players return next year they should give us a good nucleus around which to build next year's team. It is also gratifying to note that the majority of our players are young men and women of high character who take their academic pursuits seriously," Coach McKinney adds.
The team looks to work hard in the offseason and come back strong, fit and ready to go for the 2012 season.