Published: November 04, 2009 12:14 am      

Westmont boys stop Somerset

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Westmont Hilltop coach Steve Meehan wasn’t even sure who scored the game-winning goal.

After more than 100 minutes of scoreless play in the District 6 Class AA boys semifinal, it didn’t matter. Meehan was just happy that his team was able to come away with a 1-0 victory over Somerset at Hollidaysburg.

“After the initial play, I didn’t have any fingernails left,” Meehan said. “After the first overtime, I was down to my knuckles. In the second overtime, I was starting to look at my toes.”

Westmont’s Stephen Novelli set up the game-winning goal with a corner kick from the right side. After a scramble, Tyler Kleinmeyer poked it past Somerset keeper Vaunte Epps, setting off a wild celebration.

“There were 21 kids in the goal area and somebody put it in the back of the net,” Meehan said. “We had a lot of opportunities, and so did Somerset. Nobody got lucky through the game or the first overtime, and we did in the second.”

Both teams came close to scoring, but neither team could finish.

“We tried to finish,” Meehan said. “I can’t tell you how many times we hit the post, and them, too.”

Westmont will face Lewistown on Thursday. The Panthers, who beat Huntingdon 4-2 on Tuesday, knocked the Hilltoppers out of the playoffs a year ago.

“I expect it to be tough,” Meehan said. “At playoff time, everybody’s tough.”