43
Mooney soccer blanks Ursuline
Photo
Cardinal Mooney’s Justin Parkins (42) runs with the ball while Ursuline’s Justin Oaks (23) attempts to steal it during a match Tuesday at the James Simon Sr. Soccer Park in Struthers. The Cardinals beat the Fighting Irish, 2-0.
By Brandon Judeh
Struthers
It’s no secret that the Mooney-Ursuline rivalry is among the fiercest in the Valley, not just in football, but in every sport.
Both boys soccer teams reiterated this Tuesday night at James J. Simon Sr. Soccer Park as the Cardinals defeated the Irish 2-0.
Late in the fourth minute of the first half, Mooney co-captain Myles Harris rocketed a goal past Ursuline goalie Trey Roller to give the Cardinals (2-3-1) the early lead.
“Grabbing the lead early was big, especially in a game like this,” said Harris. “This rivalry is so big; we are always out to prove that Mooney is still the team to beat.”
The passion and intensity showed throughout as bodies, as well as yellow and red cards, were flying up and down the field.
In the second minute of the second half Harris received his second yellow card of the game, which meant he would have to sit the rest of the match.
“It was hard to have to sit out almost the entire second half, especially because the penalty happened in the first couple minutes, but my teammates picked it up and we were able to put them away,” Harris said.
With Harris out of the game the Cardinals didn’t miss a beat.
The Cardinals continued to control the pace of the game and kept the ball on their half of the field throughout. Senior co-captain Jake Payne broke through in the 23rd minute to put the game away.
“The great thing about this rivalry is the fierce, competitive attitude; no matter what the talent levels are, it’s always a close, hard-fought game,” said Mooney coach Lou Cali Jr. “I told our kids at halftime that I felt we were taking them too lightly. You can never take any Ursuline team lightly.”
Midway through the second half Mooney freshman Justin Parkins narrowly missed a goal when Irish (2-3-2) goalie Trey Roller made a terrific tip save to set up a corner kick for the Cards.
However, after the kick, Roller was tossed from the game after an apparent elbow was thrown, forcing Ursuline to put in its backup.
Mooney goalie Jeremy Billett finished the game with seven saves while Roller had six.
“For whatever reason there were some violent fouls out there, but the passion between these schools from both sides of the river is incredible,” said Ursuline coach Roy Schmidt. “There is nothing better.”
Despite all of the penalties, perhaps the game’s intensity could be summed up by the example one player — Ursuline’s Gianni Quattro, who was playing the game with an arm injury.
The sophomore played the entire match, running and diving for every ball in his radius.
“We think he has some sort of fracture in his arm, but that right there shows you the kind of heart these kids have for this rivalry,” said Schmidt. “I had kids all night long pulling at the back of my shirt saying, ‘Come on coach let me get back out there.’”