Mooney eyes title

By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- It may seem like odd words coming from a soccer player with nearly 70 career goals, but Cardinal Mooney High senior forward Pat Walker doesn't care if he scores again.
Walker will play the final game of his outstanding high school career Saturday when Mooney (20-2) meets Columbus DeSales (15-3-4) for the Division II state championship at Columbus Crew Stadium at 11 a.m.
"I'd be happy with no goals, just having fun and being with my team," said Walker, who's scored 26 times this year.
Key goals
Walker tallied twice in the final 11 minutes Tuesday as the Cardinals rallied to defeat Granville 2-1 in the semifinal game.
After trailing much of the game, Walker headed in a shot to knot the score and give Mooney new life.
"It was a perfect pass from Kiki [Willis]," said Walker. "There was a guy marking me. I swept around and circled in around the goal.
"The ball was kind of near me. I just dove at it. I didn't think I could do that."
The shot ignited Mooney.
"It started a flame getting up," said Walker. "As soon as I scored the goal, we knew [we'd win]."
Then, with just 2:46 to play, Walker headed in the game-winner when the Granville goalie couldn't hang onto a wet ball.
"I am just happy to be a part of it," said Walker of Mooney's first trip to the state soccer tournament.
Finding the net
Walker scored 20 times as a junior, giving him 46 goals and seven assists in two years. Still, he's the second-highest scorer at Mooney -- Willis has 38 goals this year.
Walker, who's worn jersey No. 2 since grade school, was told of the irony -- the second highest scorer on the team scores twice in the second biggest game of the year.
Wearing No. 2 on his back.
Would you be satisfied with the season if Mooney doesn't win Saturday?
"Who wants to be second?" Walker said. "I want to win."
He's considering attending Duke, Clemson, North Carolina or North Carolina State and walking on the soccer team there.
Not a second-rate college in the group.