HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER Cardinal Mooney shuts out JFK, 4-0, for eighth victory

Christo Frangopoulos set a school record for assists. He also scored a goal.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Cardinal Mooney High senior Christo Frangopoulos was standing in the middle of the field after Thursday's game when the Cardinals' statistician walked up and said, "He just set the all-time assist record at Mooney."
Really? Did he know that?
"Nope," Frangopoulos said, shaking his head. "You'd think they'd forewarn you or something."
By the way, he also scored a goal and helped the visiting Cardinals beat Warren JFK 4-0.
Not a bad night.
"We were happy with the way we played," Frangopoulos, a starter on last year's state championship team, said. "We've had a target on our backs because of last year and we're learning to handle the pressure."
No. 40
Frangopoulos recorded his 40th career assist on a goal by Jason Franko, which gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
Mooney's coaches weren't sure how many assists he needed to set the record. They only knew the previous record holder was in the mid-30s. To be safe, they waited until Frangopoulos got to 40 to announce the mark.
"I'm excited," Frangopoulos said. "But I didn't even know how many I had."
Mooney, which is ranked 24th in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, played all but the last five minutes without standout junior Kiki Willis, who suffered a high ankle sprain last week against Lodi Cloverleaf.
The win showed the Cardinals have more than one scoring threat.
"That was one of our goals -- to spread the scoring around," Mooney coach Lenny Krispinsky said. "We feel like we have something to prove. That we're not just a one-man team."
Other scorers
Jon Freaney and Dominic Dipasquale also scored goals for Mooney (8-0-1), which is the state's top ranked team in Division II by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association.
"Overall, I wasn't totally displeased with our effort," said Warren JFK coach Lou Cali, whose team won the Div. III district title last season. "We're a little beat up and they're obviously a great team. Not to say we expected to get beat, but I think we expected to keep it a little closer."
Alecko Frangopoulos had two assists and D.J. Myers also had an assist for the Cardinals. Keeper Jeff Seddon had three saves.
Brian Wolnik had 16 saves for the Eagles (7-3).
"Kennedy is a fine program and they always play us tough," Krispinsky said.
Willis, who has scored 23 of Mooney's 41 goals this season, is expected to play in Saturday's showdown with Linsly School of Wheeling, W.Va. at 3 p.m. at Tri-County Sports Complex in Struthers.
Linsly won the West Virginia big school state title last season.
"It's one of the toughest games we'll play this year," said Frangopoulos, whose team lost 3-0 to Linsly last year. "[But] we'll have Kiki back. It'll be interesting."
scalzo@vindy.com