Mooney unseats 2001 champ

Mooney, which blanked Canfield 4-0, has out-scored its last nine opponents 44-1.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- The Cardinal Mooney High boys soccer team turned in a near flawless defensive effort in a 4-0 win over Canfield in a Division II district tournament semifinal game Monday.
To put the issue in perspective, Mooney sophomore Kiki Willis scored three goals himself, while Canfield was held to three shots as a team. By the time Canfield got off its first shot, Mooney was ahead 3-0.
Canfield (14-3-1), the defending district champion, had trouble getting its offense on track against a Mooney (16-2) team, the defending Div. III district champion, that has eight shutouts in its last nine starts.
"Things just weren't clicking for us offensively," Canfield second-year coach Phil Simone said. "We were making runs, [but] our touch seemed off. I think they executed a perfect game plan. Their kids performed as well as they can perform."
Grabbing the lead
Willis, who has 32 goals this year, took a perfect lob pass from Christo Frangopoulos midway through the first half and lifted it over the goalie's head for a 1-0 lead at the break.
"It's a great feeling to come out here and play against such a good team -- a top competitor in the area," said Willis of Canfield.
Even Willis was impressed by the Mooney defense.
"Our defense came out and played so well, they were determined to shut this team out. We did a good job at that," he said.
With the second half just 14 seconds old, senior Pat Walker turned a Willis pass into a 15-foot goal.
This year Walker has 23 goals for top-seeded Mooney, which has outscored its last nine opponents, 44-1, and has 10 shutouts this season.
"Our defense was outstanding tonight," said Mooney stopper Mike Hernan.
Lesson learned
Mooney beat Canfield 6-5 during the year and Hernan said his team paid extra attention to not allow that many goals this time out.
"Only allowing Canfield three shots as opposed to five goals last game -- we were so focused," he said. "We've been waiting for today forever. Jon Freany, Josh Werning, Ken Huber and [goalie] Tim [Reigrut] in the back, just played outstanding."
Ten minutes into the second half, Canfield goalie Brian Ricks dove to reject a shot by Mooney's Alex Simon. The ball was deflected to an unmarked Willis, who made it 3-0.
Simon assisted on another Willis goal a few minutes later.
Second-seeded Lakeview, which blanked Hubbard 1-0, will play Mooney at Valley Sports Thursday at 7 p.m.