Philibin scores late help Mooney to a draw
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
YOUNGSTOWN
Cardinal Mooney rallied with three minutes left on the clock and Andrew Philibin scored a goal that ended the Cardinals’ home opener in a tie.
The boys soccer teams from Cardinal Mooney and Bloom-Carroll played to a 2-2 draw Saturday at Farmers National Bank Field at Youngstown State.
The Cardinals came out ready to play in the first half and Paul Graziano made the first goal with 6:41 left in the half. His goal was unassisted and got Mooney on the board before Bloom-Carroll.
“I got a moment of open space and took a shot from about 18-yards out,” Graziano said. “I put it on frame to the corner.”
The Cardinals are a young team with more than half of the roster made up of freshmen and sophomores. They are learning to work together as a team and showed a large improvement from a 3-1 season-opening loss to Austintown Fitch.
Mooney coach Thomas Beck and the players all agreed that the game against Fitch and the game against Bloom-Carroll was night and day. Beck said the players were hungrier and wanted to come out and perform. The team was more relaxed and able to move the ball around better.
“They did everything I asked and it showed very well on the field,” Beck said.
The first half of the game Mooney’s defense held their ground and keeper Mike Martin didn’t allow any goals from Bloom-Carroll. Martin ended the game with four saves.
“I think we’re a good, skilled team. We just need to get in better shape and play a full game how we did in the first half,” Graziano said.
Although the defense held strong in the first half, they began to play sloppy in the second. Letting balls get through allowed the Bulldogs to score two goals.
Bloom-Carroll noticed Mooney getting tired in the defensive zone and the Bulldogs used that to their advantage. Tyler Swafford got the first goal for the Bulldogs 13 minutes in and ten minutes later he scored his second goal. Both of Swafford’s goals were assisted by Justin Mason.
Committing fouls in the second half prevented the Cardinals from keeping the ball in their possession. The team knew they had to start playing how they were in the first half and get the ball in the net.
Philibin came off the bench and as soon as he went in he knew he only had a couple minutes left to make something happen. Teammate Luiz Caleffi crossed the ball and put it in the right spot for Philibin — earning him an assist.
“I just had to keep composure and put the ball in the back of the net,” Philibin said.”I knew my team needed me for that, so I just finished the way I should’ve.”
Beck said he thought they were in control of the game for the most part, but made two or three mental mistakes here and there. Bloom-Carroll was able to capitalize on those mistakes and score their two goals.
“We have work to do and I think if we stay focused and concentrate they can go places,” Beck said.
Bulldogs coach Zach Spriggs said his team didn’t adhere to its plan.
“I thought we could’ve played better. We didn’t do some of the things we talked about,” Spriggs said.
Spriggs said his players need to improve their defense and develop more intensity.