FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - The stage is set for the Jim Thorpe boys soccer team.

Back in the limelight for a second consecutive season, the Olympians are making a return trip to the Schuylkill Boys’ Soccer League championship, where they will try and defend the crown they won in 2019.

The road wasn’t without bumps for Thorpe on Monday evening on the all-purpose turf of Ghosh Orthodontics Field in Spartan Stadium.

Minersville certainly wasn’t giving sway, but Jim Thorpe’s superb junior Aiden Clements made sure his team had a chance to defend its title.

After a scoreless opening half of play that produced nary a big offensive threat, the action got heated up right at the beginning of the second half.

Clements kept jousting and dribbling until finally cashing in with 25:29 remaining for what turned out to be the only goal in this hard-fought 1-0 decision.

The score was something that Clements and his team were looking for, but just couldn’t quite pull the trigger until that boot. Clements had seven in all, but the tough goalkeeping by Minersville’s Koda Whalen was the big reason that his team hung around.

“They’re a very good team; their record doesn’t reflect how good of a team they really are,” Jim Thorpe coach Mike Dudak said, lauding the overall play of the Battlin’ Miners. “We really earned this win; we used patience and good overall team play.”

The defense played was terrific throughout the contest on both sides. Thorpe most certainly had chances galore - 17 to be exact on the shot barometer - thus keeping Whalen more than active throughout the 80 minutes of play.

It all came down to Clements drilling the game winner into the back of the net.

“I wish I would have scored more,” Clements said with a smile. “I’ve been working at calming down in the box more. When I make runs, I try to stay calm and keep my composure.”

Dudak knows how well Clements can play.

“He never gives up. Most kids would have backed away (on the play that won the game), but he stayed with it and showed his aggressiveness. It was a scrum opportunity, and he stayed with it all the way.”

Minersville had some chances as well, but Jacob Geiser fended off several good shots. One in particular came at the 35:52 mark of the opening half when it looked as if the Miners were going to crack the scoring column, but Geiser had a terrific save.

“We had to get back to playing our style of soccer,” Dudak said. “They were run, run, run and that’s not our style. We’re a slower team … move the ball around, possess the ball. That’s what I told our kids at halftime. We had to be able to play our game.”

The Olympians did exactly that in the second half, controlling play and eventually getting the game winner.

FAMILIAR FACE ... Thorpe’s opponent in the title game will be a familiar face as Blue Mountain defeated Nativity 6-3 in Monday’s other semifinal. This will mark the third meeting between Jim Thorpe and Blue Mountain this season. The teams split during the regular season. The championship game is Thursday at 5 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS

… Thorpe had 11 more shots on goal than Minersville (17-6), and one more corner attempt (3-2). Both goalies were outstanding throughout the action.

RECORDS

… Jim Thorpe improves to 12-3-1. Minersville is 12-7.