Minford senior goalkeeper Kade Glockner (with ball) made a dozen saves in leading the host Falcons to a 3-1 Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer win over Wheelersburg on Tuesday at Minford High School.

Courtesy of Regina Tipton

MINFORD — Minford Falcon goalkeeper Kade Glockner posted 12 saves on Tuesday to lead Minford to a 3-1 Southern Ohio Conference Division II boys soccer win over visiting Wheelersburg at Minford High School.

The win puts Minford at 6-1, but alone in first place in the conference at 5-0.

For the season, Minford has scored 36 goals and allowed only nine.

“We put a lot of pressure on (Glockner)” Minford coach Jacob Hackworth said of his goalie. “We are hard on each other and that makes us better. We don’t call him ‘Golden Gloves Glockner’ for nothing. He was solid back there. What a game.”

Minford had a 3-1 lead in the second half when Wheelersburg’s Nick Sylvia had a penalty kick attempt with 20:25 left on the clock.

Wheelersburg senior Nick Sylvia (10)

Courtesy of Regina Tipton

Glockner was able to knock the shot down and keep the lead intact at 3-1, and sole possession of first place in the conference in sight.

“It was close, and it was a great shot,” Glockner said. “We watched three penalty kicks he took on film and I knew where he was going to go with the ball. I knew it.”

Wheelersburg coach Jon Estep said his Pirates (6-1, 4-1 SOC II) had several chances to score, but came up short.

“We had a penalty kick and some other opportunities but didn’t take advantage of them,” he said. “We had a lot of shots on goal within three feet, left or right, down the middle, from tying the game. We just didn’t execute.”

The Falcons got on the board with 30:39 to go in the first half when Alex Reeder scored off an assist from Mark Napier.

Wheelersburg tried to counter when Evan Mitchell took a shot from the corner, but it was grabbed by Glockner at the 27:38 mark.

Wheelersburg junior Evan Mitchell (17)

Courtesy of Regina Tipton

Two minutes later, with 25:11 left, Glockner went airborne to save another goal for the Falcons.

The Pirates tied the game 1-1 at the 11:47 mark in the first half — when Mitchell put in a deflection at the goal.

“The top of the league is always tough and goes back and forth,” Hackworth said. “We expected (Wheelersburg) to come out with a lot of energy.”

Minford grabbed a 2-1 lead with 5:22 left in the first half — when Peyton Caudill dribbled down the right side and slid the ball past Wheelersburg goalie Caleb Partin.

Minford junior Peyton Caudill (13) vs. Wheelersburg seniors Garrett Williams (8) and Carter Porter (12)

Courtesy of Regina Tipton

“He has brought so much energy to this team,” Hackworth said of Caudill. “A great addition and he’s just so fast and you can’t teach speed.”

Minford extended the lead to 3-1 when Gavin Downey booted the ball into the net with 34 minutes to go in the second half.

“Their drive was a little bit more than ours tonight,” Estep said. “This was their home turf and they defended it well. We have to make sure we stay in this thing and be ready when they come to Wheelersburg soon.”

Wheelersburg senior Carter Rawlins (17) vs. Minford senior Ethan Cordle (22)

After a collision between Wheelersburg’s Ethan Hochstetler and Reeder, the Pirates earned their second yellow card of the match.

With 21:06 to go in the game, Glockner saved another shot, and a few seconds later, the stage was set for his heroics on the penalty kick from Sylvia.

“That was big,” Hackworth said. “A big play. It’s our home field and you have to one-up-them on that,” he said. “Protect home turf and I thought we did that well tonight. At the end of the day, we had guys in the right spots for some goals.”

Minford senior Myles Montgomery (10) vs. Wheelersburg senior Miller McKenzie (2)

Courtesy of Regina Tipton

* * *

Wheelersburg 0 1 — 1

Minford 2 1 — 3

M — Alex Reeder (Mark Napier assist) 30:39 1st, (1-0 M)

W — Evan Mitchell (unassisted), 11:47 1st (1-1 tie)

M — Peyton Caudill (unassisted), 5:22 1st (2-1 M)

M — Gavin Downey (unassisted), 34:01 2nd (3-1 M)

SHOTS — Wheelersburg 22, Minford 19

SHOTS ON GOAL — Wheelersburg 17, Minford 14

SAVES — Wheelersburg 9 (Caleb Partin), Minford 12 (Kade Glockner)

CORNER KICKS — Wheelersburg 6, Minford 7

YELLOW CARDS — Wheelersburg: Nick Sylvia 15:14 1st, Ethan Hochstetler 21:06 2nd; Minford: none

RED CARDS — none