Zack Hernan's goal paves way to Mooney's 5-3 win

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- For two minutes in the second half of Tuesday's Division II regional semifinal, the Marlington High soccer team still had a chance at an upset.
Then Zack Hernan took it away.
After the Dukes cut their deficit to 3-2 with 12:57 left, Hernan broke open and scored his only goal of the game at the 11:01 mark, effectively ending the suspense -- and Marlington's season.
"That was the game-changer," Hernan, a junior, said.
Minutes later, senior Kiki Willis scored his third goal as the Cardinals (18-1-1) won 5-3 at Rockhill Elementary. Mooney advances to play Walsh Jesuit (16-1-2) in Saturday's regional final at Canton Central Catholic High School.
"That was huge," Mooney coach Lenny Krispinsky said of Hernan's goal. "It was a real tribute to our guys because there was no letdown.
"Marlington could have gotten back into it, but we hung in there and put it away."
Motivation
Mooney, which won the state title in 2002, lost to Chagrin Falls, 2-0, in last year's regional final. That loss has served to motivate the Cardinals this season.
"Oh yeah," said Hernan, who also had an assist. "There's a lot of hunger over that loss. We wanted to get back here."
Willis, who extended his state record for career goals to 166, now has 50 on the season to tie his school record set last year. He also had two assists, Aleko Frangopoulos had two assists and sophomore Dom DiPasquale scored a goal.
"The weather conditions were tough, and I think that's why the goalies struggled a little bit," said Krispinsky. "If it had been dry, it might have been a very different game."
Mooney, which was ranked second in the final state coaches poll, has played in four straight regional tournaments. Marlington was in its first, having beat Canton Central Catholic last Saturday for the district title.
That experience may have helped Mooney.
"Experience is definitely an advantage," said Hernan. "You know what to expect."
Good challenge
Seniors Nate Prueter and Ben Myers and junior Eric Francis scored goals for the Dukes (15-4-1), who also won the Northeastern Buckeye Conference title this season.
"They're a well-coached team, and this was a very well-played game," said Krispinsky. "We had a couple mental breakdowns once we got up by two and we let down our guard a little bit."
Marlington focused on Willis for much of the game -- doubling and sometimes triple-teaming him -- which created opportunities for the rest of Cardinal offense, which took a 3-1 halfitme lead.
With a little luck, the score could have been worse.
"When they're doubling Kiki, that just opens things up for me, Dom [DiPasquale] and Aleko in midfield," he said.
It wasn't a perfect performance, but it was a win. And Krispinsky is hoping for a similar result in Saturday's game, with one exception.
"I hope the weather is a little better," he said, laughing.
scalzo@vindy.com