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<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; The Wyoming Valley West boys soccer team wanted to make a statement Wednesday night at Crestwood.</p><p>And make a statement it did.</p><p>After blowing a two-goal lead against Crestwood in the first meeting on Sept. 24, the Spartans wouldn&#8217;t do the same this time around. Wyoming Valley West got out to that same two-goal lead Wednesday, but thanks to the strong play of senior goalkeeper Chris Stoodley the Spartans held on to win 2-1 and deliver the Comets their first loss of the season.</p><p>&#8220;We went up against the best team in the conference,&#8221; Stoodley said. &#8220;Came in not knowing what we were going to do. Played a tough one against Dallas (on Sept. 28). We tied that one. We came out strong (tonight) and we just wanted it more.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;This is a really big one,&#8221; Wyoming Valley West senior Nate Naugle added. &#8220;We just had to keep our composure.&#8221;</p><p>Heading into the matchup, Wyoming Valley West head coach Charlie Whited gave Stoodley a challenge. He wanted his goalie to make &#8220;five good saves each half.&#8221;</p><p>Stoodley did more than that.</p><p>The keeper fended off 21 of the Comets&#8217; 22 shots. The only shot that found the back of the net came off of Crestwood senior Hubert Herrera with 31.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Wyoming Valley West was already up 2-0 at that point and the Comets had run out of the time.</p><p>&#8220;Last time we played them, we had a bunch of shots against us, so I was expecting it coming in,&#8221; Stoodley said. &#8220;The defense, in the beginning we were a little off, but we found a way and we just came in and got the win.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Their goalkeeper had an amazing game,&#8221; Crestwood head coach David McFarland added. &#8220;Their team came up with the goal of being strong defensively and kick the ball upfield and just pray that something good happened.&#8221;</p><p>There&#8217;s no denying Crestwood&#8217;s offensive firepower.</p><p>The Comets had scored 95 goals in 14 games going into Wednesday night. The only time Crestwood scored less than four goals was that Sept. 24 tilt.</p><p>Whited took all of this into account and made the conscious decision to play with six defenders and just four attackers. The Spartans would sacrifice offensive chances &#8212; they only mustered six shots &#8212; for a stout defense.</p><p>It worked.</p><p>&#8220;I think the biggest thing was, I think we defended better today,&#8221; Whited said. &#8220;Doubled Max (Gariano) and Hubert (Herrera) when we needed to and kind of let a couple other guys go &#8212; let someone else beat us. That kind of thing.&#8221;</p><p>Despite registering just six shots, the Spartans scored on 33 percent of them.</p><p>The first goal came on a perfect shot from midfielder Saquan Portee from just over 30 yards out with 25:29 remaining in the first half. The sophomore was able to lift a shot into the back of the net and just over Crestwood goalkeeper Chris Smith, catching the Comets defense off guard.</p><p>Then, with Crestwood threatening late in the second half, Naugle found himself dribbling the ball and streaking to the net. All he had to beat was a charging Smith.</p><p>The senior goalie met the Spartans forward out of the net and was able to make the diving save on the first shot, but Naugle stayed with the rebound. He found the back the net to ice the game with 8:25 remaining in regulation.</p><p>&#8220;We needed it. We just had to keep pushing until we got it,&#8221; Naugle said of the second goal. &#8221;Eventually an opening came up and we topped it in and took the opportunity.&#8221;</p><p>The win wasn&#8217;t easy by any means for the Spartans.</p><p>Considering Crestwood came up with 22 shots, McFarland figured more than one would go in, and if it did, it would come with more than 31 seconds left in the game.</p><p>But the Comets will take their first loss of the season with stride. This gives them an opportunity to regroup and move forward with districts next week, where the Comets will look to win their third straight Class 3A title.</p><p>&#8220;It was a close one,&#8221; McFarland said. &#8220;Unfortunately we waited way too long before we scored that first goal. I think if we scored that first goal, if we had opened up our scoring tally early it would have been a different game I think.</p><p>&#8220;Especially with this team, we should always believe that it&#8217;s possible and things will happen in our favor, but it didn&#8217;t tonight.&#8221;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Wyoming Valley West 2, Crestwood 1</strong></p><p><strong>Wyoming Valley West`1`1 &#8212; 2</strong></p><p><strong>Crestwood`0`1 &#8212; 1</strong></p><p><strong>First half &#8212;</strong> 1. WVW Saquan Portee, 25:29. <strong>Second half &#8212;</strong> 2. WVW, Nate Naugle, 8:25; 3. CRE, Hubert Herrera, 0:31.</p><p><strong>Shots &#8212;</strong> WVW 6; CRE 22. <strong>Saves &#8212;</strong> WVW 21 (Chris Stoodley); CRE 4 (Chris Smith). <strong>Corner kicks &#8212;</strong> WVW 0; CRE 7.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Saquan Portee defends Crestwood&#8217;s Anthony Gesford in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Saquan Portee defends Crestwood&#8217;s Anthony Gesford in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Kevin Grodzki, left, kicks the ball away from Crestwood&#8217;s Hubert Herrera in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Kevin Grodzki, left, kicks the ball away from Crestwood&#8217;s Hubert Herrera in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Scott Nilson heads the ball in front of Crestwood&#8217;s Nick Curry during WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Scott Nilson heads the ball in front of Crestwood&#8217;s Nick Curry during WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West goalkeeper Chris Stoodley guards the goal during Wednesday&#8217;s game against Crestwood in Wright Township. The senior stopped 21 of the Comets 22 shots to secure a 2-1 win. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wyoming Valley West goalkeeper Chris Stoodley guards the goal during Wednesday&#8217;s game against Crestwood in Wright Township. The senior stopped 21 of the Comets 22 shots to secure a 2-1 win. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Nate Naugle, left, battles Crestwood&#8217;s Justin Sterling for the ball in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL101818Crestwood-WVWBSOC_3.jpg</photo4><caption4>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Nate Naugle, left, battles Crestwood&#8217;s Justin Sterling for the ball in WVC boys soccer action Wednesday night in Wright Township. </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Spartans give Crestwood 1st loss of season</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By DJ Eberle</p><p>djeberle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WVC boys soccer: Wyoming Valley West delivers Crestwood its 1st loss of season