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By Alex Frazier
Playing his first full year on varsity, Mike Vare is still trying to find his niche.
Listed as a defender on the Central Bucks East roster, Vare has actually seen more time up top this year than in the back.
“I’m just switching around at the moment,” he said. “I’ll play wherever I’m needed. It’s all good to me.”
Which suits coach Mike Gorni.
“We like him wherever we need him,” he said.
Friday afternoon in a meeting between two league champions, Vare scored at the 7:48 mark of the first half, and the defending Continental Conference champion Patriots went on to defeat defending National Conference champion North Penn, 2-0.
“We’re a little concerned with every team coming in,” said Vare. “We just have to play tough, play smart and hope we get through.”
With North Penn moving into the Continental this year, this was the league opener for both squads.
“I’m actually disappointed we lost,” said North Penn coach Paul Duddy, “but they’re a very good team.”
Neither coach was particularly pleased with his offense.
“We’re doing a lot well,” said Gorni, “but we just need to score the ball more.”
“That was our best effort this year,” said Duddy, “but we’re having trouble finding the goal at this point.”
East controlled the ball for most of the first half, though there was a lot of midfield play.
Vare scored all the goals East would need early in the first half. Dan Christiansen worked past a defender on the right sideline and passed to Vare, who fired the ball inside the left post.
“He (Christiansen) made a great effort to get it back from the other guy,” said Vare. “He cut it right back, and I was just running in, trying to make the run to the near post. I caught the goalie a little out of position.”
It was Vare’s first varsity goal.
“It feels good,” he said. “I’m hoping to get more.”
East might have had another 15 minutes later when North Penn keeper Steve Dale was caught out of the goal, but Alex Supplee booted the shot off the goal line.
Early in the second half, the momentum shifted to North Penn. Wounded East keeper Jake Pickering (sprained right ankle), however, was up to the challenge. He made saves on two good North Penn shots from Pat Incollingo and Andrew Neno to maintain East’s lead.
Sandwiched between those two shots, East extended its lead on a corner kick, one of six the Patriots had.
Sean Peckham lofted the ball to the 18 where Alex Abdalla got a head on it. In the ensuing scrum, Mike Whittaker drove it home. Whittaker is also a defender, who comes forward on corners.
“He’s always one of our targets,” said Gorni.
Late in the game, Gorni moved Vare back to defense. One of East’s players was given a warning, and Gorni didn’t want to risk getting a yellow.
“Toward the end of the game we were getting tired and we wanted to be smart about things,” said Vare.
“Last year he played back there,” said Gorni. “We have a couple of injuries (Chris Eisold and Matt McPherson), so it gives us a few more strategic moves where we put players.”
The loss makes North Penn 0-2-1 on the year.
But the record is secondary to Duddy’s biggest concern. The Knights have yet to score a goal.
“We’ve been working on it, but it’s just not happening so far,” he said. “We’re just not executing.”
While the offense is sputtering, Duddy was pleased with the defensive effort. He noted specifically the play of Sam Bergey, who comes in off the bench to provide depth in the back.
“He did very well,” said Duddy. “It’s good to have another guy to rotate in there.”
North Penn plays at Hatboro-Horsham Monday, while C.B. East puts its undefeated and unscored-upon streak (2-0) on the line against Quakertown Monday at War Memorial Field.
“There are a lot of league games left,” said Duddy. “Hopefully we’ll have some say in it before it’s all said and done.”
Central Bucks East 2, North Penn 0
Goals: Mike Vare (CBE), Mike Whittaker (CBE)
Saves: Jake Pickering (CBE) 3, Steve Dale (NP) 3
Shots: Central Bucks East 11, North Penn 6
Corners: Central Bucks East 6, North Penn 3
Fouls: Central Bucks East 12, North Penn 12 (one yellow card)
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