FOUNTAIN SPRINGS -- Jordan Bowers was an energizer bunny for Minersville in a 5-1 win over Schuylkill Haven in the District 11 1A semifinal Thursday at North Schuylkill's Spartan Stadium.
Bowers scored twice in the first half and added a third goal in the second half to propel the Battlin' Miners (16-3) to a District 11 1A Championship matchup with Tri-Valley next Wednesday, October 29.
"It's going to be a fight and leading into this game we were all energized, putting in the work and everyone on this team wants a championship title now," said Bowers. "Especially since Schuylkill Haven was the defending champion and we took them down in a convincing way."
It's grand news for a Minersville squad which was taken over by head coach Ed Burke last season when the Miners watched Schuylkill Haven (7-12) win the District 11 1A Championship.
"Something we've preached from the start is to play whistle to whistle whether you're ahead or behind and to do your job," said Minersville head coach Ed Burke. "We came in here knowing we had to do our job."
Minersville wasn't going to let their rival Hurricanes reach the title game this season as they slowed down Schuylkill Haven's offensive surge to just five shots on goal all game.
Things got started when Bowers and Evan Handling each sent shots at the goal through the opening 10 minutes of regulation.
The string of missed shots were followed by a Bowers goal on a breakaway on the right side of the goal for the 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the match.
"I saw some holes in the defense and my teammates were able to find me for beautiful through balls and I couldn't do it without them," said Bowers.
Schuylkill Haven got their lone goal from Landon Bayer to knot it at 1-1 six minutes later.
Minersville wasn't done pushing the ball up field in the first half as they went to halftime with nine shots on goal. A Zach Seddon head shot off a Bowers inbound pass just missed while Chase Zimerofsky, Johnny Burgess and Bowers each had another shot on goal before the Battlin' Miners went up 2-1 in the last minute of the first half.
Bowers drove to the goal and netted it for the 2-1 halftime lead with just 34 seconds left in the opening half.
"We just have to play with the mindset that they're (Schuylkill Haven) not going to get the ball and we've got to get the first touch and outwork them."
Play got physical in the second half when Bowers scored on a penalty kick opportunity for the 3-1 lead nine minutes into the second half.
"I can't say enough good things about Jordan (Bowers) as a leader," Burke said. "I could tell at practice this week he was on another level and the boys are good at following the tone he sets."
Another Bowers shot rolled wide right before Zimerofsky added Minersville's fourth goal for the 4-1 lead with 27 minutes left in regulation.
The Battlin' Miners flipped the field and Burgess was able to rise from his defensive position to score on a second chance goal for the 5-1 lead with eight minutes left.
"We like to build our team from the back forward and we really showed up for our goalkeeper Dylan Haslam on his 18th birthday today," said Burke. "Johnny (Burgess) is the heart and soul of the defense and I wanted to give him a run and I was happy to see him be part of the offense there."
Minersville finished with 15 shots at goal while Schuylkill Haven had just five shots at goal through 90 minutes of play.
The Battlin' Miners now get set for Tri-Valley in the District 11 1A Championship who knocked off Salem Christian 2-1 in the semifinals Thursday.