BOYS SOCCER Young Ursuline team wins 2-0

The Irish, with a lineup of 10 sophomores and freshmen, can play defense.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
STRUTHERS -- The Ursuline High boys soccer team has suffered through growing pains early in this season.
Thursday night at the Tri-County Sports soccer complex, those aches began to show gains, as the Irish (2-5) turned back a good Columbiana team, 2-0.
Playing with a squad that featured six sophomores and four freshmen, the Irish hit the Clippers with back-to-back goals midway through the first half, and then played solid defense the rest of the way to grab the win.
"Our young players are starting to come around now," said Ursuline coach Lou Fusillo. "We're starting to move the young kids around a lot and now they are starting to produce.
"I think the freshman-sophomore jitters are out of the way. They're starting to relax a little and tonight could be a turning point for us."
Talented upperclassmen
The Division III Irish, who have played a predominately Div. I schedule so far, also have a strong mix of talented upperclassmen to help out the process, and one of the seniors got Ursuline on the scoreboard first.
Seung Min Paik scored on a goal off an assist from Anthony Yorcho at 19:52 of the first half to put the Irish ahead 1-0.
Minutes later, at the 12:07 mark, freshman Justin Mihaly scored the second goal on a header off a corner kick by senior Keith Little.
"We scored a couple of quick goals on them," said Ursuline assistant coach Harry Leith. "We could have scored a lot more if we would have executed better."
The Irish relied on their quickness to press the Clippers throughout much of the contest.
With the game played mostly in the Irish offensive end of the field, Columbiana's goal keeper, senior David Cramer, had his hands full.
Cramer sets record
Cramer, the son of Columbiana coach Steve Cramer, turned back 22 shots by the Irish, setting a school record.
The Div. III Clippers (6-2-1) have only played varsity soccer two seasons.
"David had the best game I've ever seen him play," said Steve Cramer. "Two of those saves were unbelievable, and he literally kept us in the game tonight."
The Clippers battled valiantly but never could get past the Irish defense, led by senior sweeper Steve Novotny.
The Irish goal-keeping tandem of sophomores Gerard Daly and David Patrick had nine saves in pitching the shutout.
"This was a good win for our team," Fusillo said. "We still have to get better, but winning will definitely help our young players do that."