DIVISION II BOYS SOCCER Mooney wins 4-3 over Canfield in OT

Senior Christo Frangopoulos scored the game-winner.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Cardinal Mooney High senior Christo Frangopoulos wanted to end his team's toughest soccer match of the year.
Frangopoulos scored from 20 yards out with 6 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in overtime, as Mooney defeated Canfield 4-3 in the boys Division II district championship game at Tri-County Sports Thursday.
Mooney (18-0-1) will face Alliance (10-5-4) in a regional semifinal at Ravenna Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The winning shot hooked to the left in flight, glancing off the goalie's hands. When did Frangopoulos know his shot was going to score?
"When it started curving and he went the other way. I just got real lucky," he said.
The game was tied four times, including 3-3 after 80 minutes.
"We wanted to win at home and go to the regionals again," said Frangopoulos, who has 15 goals and 25 assists this season.
Third straight district title
The defending state champion, Mooney is in the regional for the third straight season, has a 36-match unbeaten streak and has won 30 consecutive home games.
Senior Patt Pietro scored all three goals for Canfield (13-6) and a strong defensive effort by Adam Jones and Rob Kime kept Mooney off track.
Kime, one of nine seniors in the Canfield lineup, drew the assignment of checking Mooney's Kiki Willis. For much of the game, Kime was up to the task.
Pietro took a pass from Dave Piersante at the top of the box and scored at the 31:50 mark of the first half.
Willis was pulled down in the box and his penalty shot tied the score at the half.
"They were up, they were ready to play us," said Willis, a junior with 48 goals this year and 114 in his career. "They had us on our heels at first but we bounced back."
Second goal for Pietro
Early in the second half, Mark Bezy fed Pietro for his second goal.
Willis banged the ball off a Canfield defender, then off the upright before scoring his second goal.
"We broke down a couple of places and they took advantage of the breakdowns," said Canfield coach Phil Simone.
Mooney took its first lead seven minutes later.
"They kept coming back," Pietro said. "We'd put one in and they'd get one. We put one in and they'd get two."
Mooney coach Lenny Krispinsky knew his team was facing trouble from a Canfield team he's beaten the last four times.
"This game is reminiscent of last year's game we had with Canfield -- that 6-5, shoot-a-thon," he said.
With 18 minutes to go, freshman Dominic DiPasquale slid between the Canfield defense to give Mooney a 3-2 lead, but Pietro answered five minutes later.
"We played the game of our lives," said Pietro. "I'll remember this game forever."
Then, after nearly 95 minutes of play, Frangopoulos hammered one home that Canfield couldn't answer.
Alliance 2, Marlington 1
ALLIANCE -- Ferruccio Valmarin and Matt Paidas scored for the Aviators. Dustin Brown had an assist for Alliance. Aaron Tournoux scored for the Dukes (11-7-2).
sullivan@vindy.com