Rain was falling down in sheets, the pitch was hard to make out, and each and every player was soaked to the bone before the match even started.

As Williamsport put its 11-3 record on the line against Selinsgrove, which also entered at 11-3, it was anything but soccer weather. Sometimes though, it makes for the best game. Each player faced the adversity of playing as thick drops of water splashed down on them.

Williamsport’s Tom Pombor and Tiarnan Ferry scored two goals each as the Millionaires recorded a 5-1 win over the Seals, asserting themselves atop the league standings with Midd-West.

Williamsport had the better of play in the first half, spending nearly the entire 40 minutes deep in Selinsgrove’s zone. The Millionaires’ passing game was on full display as it used short, crisp passes to move the ball up for scoring chances.

Pombor recorded the first tally, splitting two defenders and tucking a low shot into the corner of the goal with a little more than 10 minutes left in the half.

“This was big,” Pombor said. “We lost for no reason to them earlier in the season”

In the early portions of the schedule Williamsport headed to Selinsgrove for what would turn out to be a bitter ride back up 15. The Millionaires gave up four goals before turning it on over the final 30 minutes to fall 4-3. It was a tough one for the Cherry and White, especially after scoring three unanswered goals.

“It feels good to show them how we play,” Williamsport coach Lee Kaar said. “We didn’t play our game down at Selinsgrove. We spotted them four goals. It’s always good to get a team that taps you in the beginning of the season.”

Near the end of the first half, in the most recent incarnation of the league series, Selinsgrove fought thought the rain to respond to Williamsport’s goal with a tally of its own.

Williamsport wouldn’t be down long. As the second half started it was clear Williamsport made an adjustment to exploit its team speed with Pombor and Ferry. Pombor doubled down just six minutes into the half when he caught up to a long ball for a one-on-one chance with the keeper. He quickly finished the attempt to give Williamsport the lead for good, but the scoring was far from over.

“When you get that one to go back up ahead the guys kind of perk up a little bit,” Kaar said. “In the first half I felt like it was just a matter of time. In the second half we go up 2-1 and I though alright let’s go.”

To Selinsgrove’s credit, it survived an onslaught from Williamsport, which posted five shots on goal throughout the second half. There were multiple other looks that just missed the frame, but still put pressure on the Seals.

Near the eight-minute mark, Ferry got into the action with a breakaway through the middle of the field for a quick scoring chance. Much like Pombor, Ferry elected to shoot for the corner of the goal. Just three minutes later and Pombor fed a ball across the goal to find the feet of Ferry, who quickly extended Williamsport’s lead with his second goal.

With the rain still falling hard and Williamsport pressuring nearly as hard, Selinsgrove gave up a handball in the box for a penalty kick. Sam Hillman buried the attempt to give Williamsport its fourth unanswered goal of the night.

“We have a lot of guys who do the little things that end up benefiting our two main goal scorers,” Kaar said.

Williamsport 5, Selinsgrove 1
SEL 1 4—5
WIL 1 0—1
GOALS: W—Tom Pombor (unassisted), 28:35; S—Tiago Marques (unassisted), 31:57; W—Pombor (unassisted), 35:10; W—Tiarnan Ferry (unassisted), 71:02; W—Ferry (Pombor), 74:02; W—Sam Hillman (PK), 78:31.
Shots: Selinsgrove 6, Williamsport 11. Shots on goal: Selinsgrove 3, Williamsport 7. Corners: Selinsgrove 2, Williamsport 6. Saves: Selinsgrove (Dylan Pardoe) 2, Williamsport (JR Confair), 2. Fouls: Selinsgrove 4, Williamsport 11. Cards: Selinsgrove Gray Catherman, 29:19 (Yellow). Williamsport Cam Pardoe, 68:54 (Yellow), Lucas Taveras, 64:17 (Yellow)
Records: Selinsgrove 11-4. Williamsport 12-3.
Next: Selinsgrove at Montoursville, Saturday, 11 a.m. Williamsport at Midd-West, Saturday, 7 p.m.