Mooney boys reach Div. II regional tourney

Cardinal Mooney blanked Lakeview to win the district title, 4-0.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- The Cardinal Mooney High boys soccer team doesn't discriminate between divisions. In the end, the destination remains the same.
One year after winning the Division III district title, the Cardinals are returning to the regional, this time in Div. II.
Mooney scored two goals in the first 16 minutes in a 4-0 victory over Lakeview in the district final Thursday at Valley Sports.
Coach's expectations
"I don't think we've played our best game yet," said Mooney coach Lenny Krispinsky, still critical of his team's play. "I keep stressing to our kids that any game we play from now on could be the last game in a Mooney uniform."
Still, the Cardinals' success has some saying they are the area's best chance to reach the state tournament.
"I would like to see them go because we don't get that much recognition on this side of the state," said Lakeview coach Joe Megyesi, when asked whether the Cardinals are good enough.
Mooney (17-2), the state's sixth-ranked team, must first get through the regional at Lyndhurst Brush High School, starting Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Cardinals will face Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin.
"We felt that if we did not get to this level, we would not have lived up to our expectations," Krispinsky said.
Coming through
Mooney, which lost to Gates Mills Hawken in last year's regional, proved why it was the district's top seed.
Kiki Willis, a sophomore, scored three goals for the seventh time this season and the Cardinals' defense posted its 11th shutout.
Every time second-seeded Lakeview (16-2-1) mounted an attack, its forwards were swarmed by Mooney defenders, making senior goalkeeper Tim Reigrut's night run smoothly.
"I have to credit the defense," Reigrut said. "They keep the ball away from me all the time. They just do the job."
Willis scored two of his goals in the first half to give Mooney a 3-0 lead. He used his head and feet to escape two Lakeview defenders past midfield, make a long run and finish off a goal with his head 6:54 before halftime.
Willis' final goal came with just under 10 minutes remaining when he teamed with senior Pat Walker, who scored in the first half, on a crossing play.
"I knew about Kiki, but we had a hard time keeping up with him," Megyesi said.
Lakeview sophomore goalkeeper Alex Koltsov prevented the score from being more lopsided. He made eight saves, several in dramatic fashion.
Cardinal contributors
Junior Christo Frangopolis and senior Josh Werning also had assists for the Cardinals, who will be without starting defender Jon Freany for the regional. The junior was red-carded and ejected late in the game for elbowing.
"It will hurt," Krispinsky said. "But we've been blessed with depth this year."
Now, it's back to the regional for Mooney. This time, the Cardinals have experience on their side.
"We learned last year that we can't go in and expect to win every game, because there's lots of teams better than us," Willis said. "We have to prepare for that."
richesson@vindy.com