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Mooney outlasts Lakeview; Cards to meet Poland
By Steve WILAJ
STRUTHERS
When Cardinal Mooney’s Keyton Graff nailed a free kick from about 40 yards out in the 27th minute of a Divison II district semifinal matchup with Lakeview on Wednesday night, it was a familiar sight for his Cardinals teammates.
“For the past couple practices, he’s been doing a free kick from that spot,” senior captain Myles Harris said. “He’s been hitting it as hard as he could in the back of the net — right where the keeper can’t get it — just as you saw tonight.”
Graff’s goal was the first score of the game. Harris then added a goal in the 48th minute as Mooney hung on to beat Lakeview, 2-1, at the James Simon Sr. Soccer Park. The top-seeded Cardinals advance to a district final matchup with fifth-seeded Poland at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
“I thought scoring the first goal was incredibly big,” Mooney coach Lou Cali Jr. said. “It was a heck of a game.
“Obviously the free kick was huge and it’s nice having Myles Harris on our side of the field because we can put him anywhere. He brings to the table what we need at that time.”
However, the first decisive play of the contest came in the 13th minute when Lakeview’s Matt Pasternak lined up for a penalty kick.
The Bulldogs’ senior tried a shot to the left corner of the net, but Cardinals goalkeeper Dustin Hudka timed it perfectly and smothered Pasternak’s attempt. It was the fourth time this season Hudka denied a penalty kick.
“It was huge because we were a little down at that time, but that brought our momentum up and we just started playing better and better,” Harris said. “We started applying more pressure and everything went our way after that.”
Lakeview coach Bryan Phillips agreed that the save was an early momentum swing.
“He made a big play,” Phillips said. “I thought we were kind of unfortunate to be down at halftime the way [Graff] made that free kick from 40 yards out. But it was a great strike and take no credit from them. They played their guts out in the second half and Myles made a great play.”
Harris’ goal — which came with 31:29 remaining in the game — found the back of the net after he danced around a few defenders.
The Bulldogs (12-3-3) finally got on the board with just 3:50 left in the contest on Noah Busefink’s short strike. However, that would be all for Lakeview.
“Unfortunately the 2-0 deficit was too much to overcome,” Phillips said. “I’m proud of my kids, though, the way they fought. We battled right to the end. Sometimes you just don’t come out on top.”
As for Mooney’s upcoming matchup with Poland, Cali is expecting a tough contest.
“[Poland coach] Brian Garcar is one of the best young coaches in the state and I know he’s going to have his team prepared,” he said. “It’s going to be a great battle.”
That match also will be played at the James Simon Sr. Soccer Park.