Boerth, Strath Haven growing nicely together

MIDDLETOWN — Strath Haven’s boys soccer team isn’t the same one that traveled to the PIAA Class 3A final last year. The Panthers know that, perhaps no one more than Peter Boerth, the striker who is filling the largest shoes left behind from a season ago.

But as this year’s Panthers grow into their journey, they’ve had the luxury of building around a spine that includes Boerth up top and versatile midfielders Andrew Lowman and Emmet Young behind. That nucleus showed its value Tuesday in a 3-0 win over Penncrest, the latest step in that rebuilding process.

Boerth scored twice, and Young added a free-kick goal for the Panthers, who controlled play and would’ve had more if not for hitting the woodwork three times. It’s all predicated on the flexible midfield axis of Lowman and Young, who act as the conduit from a solid and relatively experienced backline to a more youthful attack that they set up in good spots.

“They’ve been so solid in being able to keep the ball, work it, spread it out, either get it to me and I can lay it back, or they spray it wide, they chip it over, they play it long,” Boerth said. “It’s amazing having them there because they’re so solid and you can always depend on them.”

The Panthers (6-4, 4-2 Central) lost plenty from last year’s District 1 Class 3A title and trip to the state final, a 4-0 loss to West Allegheny. Gone is Daily Times Player of the Year Nate Perrins. Also graduating were dangerous wingers Gavin Birch and Nicky Palermo, plus the starting center-back tandem.

It’s fallen to players like Lowman and Young to shoulder the legacy.

“The people returning have a big responsibility to carry,” Boerth said. “All the starters last year left really big shoes. We have some big shoes to fill, but we just try to get our teammates hype every game, go out there and work our hardest.”

Boerth is stepping into the largest shoes of all in Perrins’, scorer of 28 goals and 10 assists. Though Boerth started the season slowly, he’s fitting into the niche left behind.

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Strath Haven’s Peter Boerth, left, controls the ball as Penncrest’s Kevin Fernandes defends in the second half Tuesday. Boerth scored twice in a 3-0 Strath Haven win. (Pete Bannan/MediaNews Group