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Quattro’s hat trick helps Ursuline boys soccer team oust United
Eagles tied the game with 10 minutes to go, then collapsed
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Gianni Quattro scored three goals as the second-seeded Ursuline High School boys soccer team defeated United, 5-2, on Saturday at Youngstown State University’s Farmers National Bank Field.
John Hintz and Mark Fusillo also scored in the Division III sectional final.
Tuesday at 7 p.m., Ursuline will be home against St. Thomas Aquinas.
It was Ursuline’s second win this season against United (10-8). The first game was a 2-0 victory on Sept. 13.
This time, the Irish had to work a little harder as the game was tied 2-2 in the second half.
“I just told John, Mark and the rest of the guys to dig in and pick us up,” Quattro said.
Quattro has five hat tricks this season and 27 goals. His initial tally at 24:45 of the opening half came off an assist from Fusillo.
Three minutes later, Hintz’s scored on a penalty kick after Patrick Conway was tripped inside the United Local box.
“This is a huge win because we fell short the past three years and it’s just exciting to be moving on in the tournament,” Hintz said.
A corner kick by United’s Blake Montgomery at 24:21 of the second half sliced the Irish lead to 2-1. Andrew Martin tied the game with 10:21 remaining.
Fusillo’s goal at 7:52 put the Irish ahead for keeps. Quattro scored at 5:51 and 0:58.
“When you work that hard to tie the game and then have the lead taken away a few minutes later, you could see the demoralized look on our kids’ faces,” United Local coach Spencer Widlicka said. “Ursuline came back to take the lead on a quick transition with their last two goals coming after we pressured them much higher, hoping to score our third goal with the hopes of tying the game once again.
“They finished their opportunities and that was big, especially late in the game,” Widlicka said.
Fusillo said the difference was pressure.
“We just kept pounding their goalie with shots,” Fusillo said.
Ursuline head coach Roy Schmidt said regrouping after the tying goal was key.
“The momentum was so in their favor,” Schmidt said. “We were playing on our heels.”
Ursuline has a 10-game winning streak with three shutouts. The Irish have outscored their opponents 38-10.