Howell Falls to Rival CBA

It was just a typical Howell-CBA soccer game.

Through the hard fouls, and low score, Monday afternoon's match-up was in many ways like every other meeting between these two rivals.

In the end, the Rebels (4-1) could not get their offense clicking, falling to the Colts, 2-0 for their first loss of the season.

CBA scored goals in the first ten minutes of both halves to take the lead, and eventually, put the away.

With the Colts opening goal in the ninth minute, the Rebels fell behind for the first time in 2011, and they struggled to respond.

"I don't think [falling behind] affected the way we played. We knew they were going to come out hard and that they're a dangerous team," Howell head coach Rich Yuro said, "I like our intensity, that was my concern. It was just defensive breakdowns."

Rebels' keeper Luke Weber was tested constantly for the first time this season, but he played impressivley and kept Howell in the game.

Brandon Kolchynski anchored Howell's defense, and he did a good job controlling the pace in the Rebels' end of the field.

Howell's best two chances came mid-way through the second half. Drew Lyon's free kick from outside the 18-yard box shifted wide of the net after bouncing off the head of a Colts' player.

Lyon then had back-to-back corner kicks, but neither found the back on the net.

Randy Stout appeared to have scored in the 53rd minute, drawing Howell within a goal, but the goal was waved off due to interference with the goalie.

What was thought to be a goal started when Stout ripped a free kick towards the goal, and after a bounce and a number of players colliding with each other, the ball found the twine.

CBA was able to take advantage of their oppurtunites, scoring on a cross that Howell was unable to clear in the first half, and later netting a goal off a free kick in the second half.

"It's not a matter of breaks, we could have played a little sharper," Yuro said, "We had our chances out there but everything they put in was dangerous, everything we put in wasn't where it needed to be."

Jeremy Hoops supplied Howell with a number of chances, but the Rebels weren't able to capitalize on any of them.

Chris Hill was stopped by the swarming CBA defense late in the second half, as he was double teamed and his pass eventually found the goalie.

Kevin Campfield and Nick Anello both battled hard against CBA all game long, but the Colts' experience seemed to out-do the Rebels' younger players.

"It's a good indicator because these guys challenge us more than we have been this year," Yuro said, "When we played, we had a good amount of the play and put them on their heels. They made it happen we didn't."

Howell will play at home again on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when they host Middletown North at 3:45 p.m.