First-round rout
KARNS CITY — Who says soccer isn't a contact sport?
Aaron McGarvey played with his left wrist and hand wrapped like a mummy. Chris Harmon wasn't sure if he would be able to go after having a blood vessel rupture in his calf.
But the Karns City boys soccer duo made their presence felt in the opening round of the District 9 Class AA playoffs, leading the Gremlins to a 6-0 win over overmatched Brockway.
"Chris has been beat to heck all year," said Karns City boys soccer coach Roy Parker. "He dislocated his shoulder in the first scrimmage of the year, and he's had to play all season with a dislocated shoulder. He's lost all of his mobility. He just keeps on plugging away.
"Then he gets hit in the calf in practice, it swells up and he's not sure if he can even play tonight."
McGarvey scored two goals one minute apart midway through the first half, then Harmon added the backbreaker with 26 seconds remaining before halftime for a 3-0 lead.
McGarvey scored again early in the second half.
That was plenty for a Karns City soccer team built on scoring quickly, then letting the defense close out a win.
"Our defense is so dominant. We've only given up nine goals in the conference all year," Parker said. "So, when we get a lead, that's the whole game."
It wasn't that way last year, when Karns City cruised through the regular season before being upset by Northern Potter in the first round of the district playoffs.
This year, with that experience under their belts, the Gremlins were determined not to let that happen again.
"This was the exact same thing as last year," Parker said. "We ran the table after an early loss. The only difference is last year we didn't have any seniors and I knew the experience was going to be a problem."
Karns City (18-1) outshot Brockway 23-5.
Keeper Josh Grenninger had a quiet night, but when he was called upon to turn away a Brockway scoring opportunity, he did so, recording four saves on the night.
The Gremlins will host Redbank Valley Tuesday at a time to be determined in the district semifinals.
"Tuesday is going to be his test," Parker said. "Big, bad Redbank is coming to town. That's when Grenninger is going to earn his pay."
