LINESVILLE —
Soccer may be known as a defensive game, but don’t mention that to the Conneaut boys soccer team.
The Eagles went against the grain on Wednesday afternoon, trouncing West Middlesex 11-0 during a Region 1 contest in Linesville.
Conneaut head coach Alan Wise stressed aggressiveness before the game, and his team delivered.
“This was being aggressive, wanting to win, and believing you can win, and going out and actually doing it,” Wise said.
Other than four short-lived possessions by West Middlesex in Conneaut territory, the Eagles spent the entire first half in the Big Reds’ territory. Conneaut’s dominance was proven with seven goals in the first 40 minutes.
Junior striker Tyler Bone scored the first of many goals in a span of 15 minutes for the Eagles (7-3-1, 4-2 Region 1). Bone’s pass from Tanner Dittrich found the back of the net, just outside of the reach of West Middlesex goalkeeper Ethan Thompson.
It would take just two minutes for Bone to strike again. After Thompson could not secure the ball off Brandon Jackson’s foot, Bone found himself in the right place at the right time, tapping it in for his second goal of the game.
“We were on today,” Bone said. “Mainly our passing was working, but we got lucky sometimes too.”
The combination of skill and luck did not go away anytime soon for Conneaut.
Two minutes later, Bones decided to spread the wealth by floating a pass into the box for Dittrich, who scored to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
West Middlesex (0-10, 0-5) did not cross midfield until 11 minutes into the contest, but it had nothing to show for it.
Conneaut continued the scoring at the 25:02 mark in the first half when Richard Moore kicked a dribbler that found the back of the net after it tipped off the goalie’s hands.
A minute later, Bone completed the hat trick, trickling a shot off Thompson’s hands again for a 5-0 lead.
The unfortunate series of events continued for the Big Reds goalkeeper, who allowed another ball to go through his hands, this time off the foot of Dittrich.
West Middlesex had its first scoring threat with four minutes remaining in the half when Chris Mastrianno dribbled the ball into the box, only to have his shot blocked out of bounds.
The Eagles would score their last goal of the first half with less than a minute remaining. This time, some nifty dribbling and a nice shot from Cody Zinz led to the goal.
In the second half, West Middlesex tried a change in goalie, bringing in Lucas Combine. He suffered the same fate as Thompson.
The Eagles scored four goals in the second half, and one of those tallies was by Dittrich. The goal gave Conneaut two players in the game with a hat trick.
“It feels good to get a hat trick, let alone two in one game,” Bone said. “It was an awesome feeling.”
Also having a stellar game for the Eagles were Jackson with one goal and four assists and Moore with two goals.
“Everyone did well today,” Wise said. “I am pleased. The communication was there. They knew that it was all right to make a mistake because your teammates will back you up.”
With eight games remaining on the schedule, Wise and the Eagles hope this game can propel them to their ultimate goal — the playoffs.
“We are turning over a new leaf,” Wise said. “I like the results of how we are playing. We will let the chips fall where they may and hopefully we get some postseason experience.”
Local Sports
H.S. BOYS SOCCER: Eagles handle Big Reds
- Local Sports
-
-
No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness
Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Rockets too much for Bulldogs in season finale
TITUSVILLE — Year one of the Bruce Stewart era as the Meadville baseball head coach is officially in the books. Unfortunately it came with a defeat to the hands of Titusville. The Bulldogs committed three errors and allowed five unearned runs to cross the plate in a 7-3 loss at the Ed Myer Recreation Complex on Friday.
-
H.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Cards clinch No. 2 spot for D-10 tourney
It took them until the final day of the regular season, but the Cochranton boys volleyball team now knows where they stand for next week’s Class AA District 10 playoffs.
-
H.S. TRACK & FIELD: Sternby runs away with gold at D-10 meet
HARBORCREEK — It was sweet redemption for Meadville’s Heather Sternby during Wednesday’s Class AAA District 10 Track and Field meet at Harbor Creek High School’s Paul J. Weitz Stadium.
After falling in the 100-meter dash to Grove City’s Courtney Corbin in last year’s meet by .09 seconds, Sternby got her revenge by defeating Corbin by .10 seconds in this year’s event. -
H.S. SOFTBALL: Two-run sixth lifts Saegertown in Region 3 battle
With the playoffs looming, Saegertown head softball coach Mark McKissock hoped to get his girls an early taste of that intense postseason atmosphere.
-
TRACK AND FIELD: ’Dogs prepare for districts
It’s amazing how much difference a year can make. Last year at this time, the Meadville girls track and field team was the Region 3 champion and a serious contender to dethrone Grove City as the District 10 Class AAA champion.
-
H.S. BASEBALL: Saegertown rolls to sweep of Conneaut
Nothing could get in the way of the Saegertown baseball team picking up a pair of wins on Friday. Not even Mother Nature. With a dark cloud hanging over Ed Acker Field, the Panthers made quick work of Conneaut with a run-shortened 12-0 and 11-1 win in non-region play.
-
H.S. Baseball: Mother Nature interrupts Conneaut winning streak
Most years the most devastating opposition for area softball and baseball teams is old Mother Nature.
This year has been no different. The wrath, however, has been a little less traumatic. -
H.S. TRACK & FIELD: ’Dogs close regular season with sweep
The Meadville track and field team ended the season with a bang on senior day and will be rolling into next week’s District 10 Class AAA Championships at Harbor Creek High School after sweeping Central Tech on Thursday at the Barco-Duratz Athletic Complex.
The boys (1-5) delivered a nail-biting 75-70 win, giving them their first win of the season, while the girls (3-3) cruised to a 120-26 victory. -
H.S. BASEBALL: Oilers too slick for Eagles
LINESVILLE — The Oil City baseball team simply has Conneaut’s number this year.
“And that’s the only number we’ve had so far this year,” said Oil City head coach Adam Best. His team is now 2-12 on the season, 2-5 in Region 6. And both of those wins were against Conneaut. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
