Cards prove their talent

Kiki Willis had two goals and goalie Tom Reigrut a shutout as Mooney beat Notre Dame-Cathedral to gain its first regional final berth.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LYNDHURST -- The Cardinal Mooney High boys soccer team took it personally.
Just when it seemed a state championship drive is motivation enough for the Cardinals, coach Lenny Krispinsky provided another.
Now, they're one win from the state tournament.
Messages for Mooney
"We took some abuse on the Internet. People said that we couldn't hang with an average Cleveland team," said Krispinsky, after Mooney defeated Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 3-0 in a Division II regional semifinal Tuesday at Korb Field.
Krispinsky made copies of the Cyberspace criticism and handed them out to his players.
Overrated? All hype?
"When someone doesn't give you respect, you want to rub it in their face," Mooney senior stopper Mike Hernan said. "This is a big step for soccer in Youngstown."
Senior forward Pat Walker, who had a goal and an assist against Notre Dame (10-8-2), added, "I didn't want to take it with anger. I wanted to practice harder and turn it into positive energy."
Walsh Jesuit next
The Cardinals (18-2), ranked fourth in the state, will play Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (12-2-5) for the regional title Saturday at 7 p.m. at Ravenna High School. Walsh Jesuit defeated Bay Village Bay 4-0.
"What we wanted to do is get some credibility for the Youngstown district," Krispinsky said. "It has never gotten the credit it deserves from outside the Youngstown area."
Tuesday's victory may have provided that, but it also put Mooney into its first regional final. The Cardinals lost in last year's Div. III regional semifinal.
"We had a taste of this last year," Krispinsky said. "We were determined to come back and avenge that loss, or the season would not be a success in our eyes."
Playing surface
Mooney, which won its 13th straight game, took advantage of the game with speed on Korb Field's artificial surface. The Cardinals had practiced the night before on Stambaugh Stadium's turf.
"It's to our benefit," said Mooney sophomore Kiki Willis, who scored two goals and assisted on another. "It helps us with moving the ball and spreading the field."
After Mooney senior goalkeeper Tim Reigrut made several key saves early in the game -- he finished with 10 for the 12th shutout this season -- the Cardinals took charge on a cold, windy night.
"I credit our first goal to the defense," Walker said. "[ND-CL] could have scored three times before our first. I've never seen our goalkeeper play a better game."
Scoring recap
Willis gave Mooney a 1-0 lead off an assist from Walker with 10 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the first half.
Willis' second goal, his 36th of the season, came four minutes into the second half on an assist from Hernan. Willis assisted on Walker's goal at 25:28 to complete the scoring, and send Mooney into the regional final.
richesson@vindy.com