Mastrangelo’s hat trick puts Indians in fast lane
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Ringgold's James Snyder (right) tries to maintain control while Thomas Jefferson's Ty Antonelli tries to steal during the second half of the game. Thomas Jefferson won 1-0.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Peters Township's Jake Valley dribbles the ball down the field during the game against Fox Chapel on Monday, October 20.
Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Ringgold's Jake Reiland receives the ball from a teammate during the second half of the game against Thomas Jefferson on Monday, October 20.
McMURRAY – The Peters Township boys soccer team got its march to a WPIAL title started in style.
Mario Mastrangelo netted a hat trick in three minutes, and Peters Township coasted to a 7-0 victory over Fox Chapel in a WPIAL Class AAA first-round game Monday night.
Peters Township advances to play the Franklin Regional-Bethel Park winner Thursday.
“We had a couple chances earlier that we didn’t finish,” said Indians coach Bobby Dyer.
“I thought as long as we continued to work hard and put the ball in the dangerous places, I felt we were going to get our opportunities, and then we were able to finish them.”
After repeated attacks met without success, the Indians (15-2) tried a new tactic on a corner kick.
On their seventh corner in the first 22 minutes, Wes Ward’s delivery that stayed on the ground was tipped in by Mastrangelo for the game’s first goal.
That opened the floodgates.
Barely a minute later, Mastrangelo recorded his second goal of the game by heading in Sean Harrison’s long throw-in.
Proving his versatility, Mastrangelo capped off the hat trick by threading a 30-yard free kick through the defensive wall and into the bottom corner for a 3-0 Peters Township lead in the 24th minute.
Not to be outdone, twin brother Nicco Mastrangelo made it 4-0 when he got behind the defenders, dribbled around the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the vacated goal. He added his second of the game two minutes into the second half by freezing the goalkeeper with a shot.
The onslaught continued seconds later. The Indians earned a free kick that was sent off the crossbar, but Matt Massucci knocked home the rebound for a 6-0 lead.
Peters Township started sluggishly and also benefited from a heads-up defensive play early in the game. Fox Chapel (8-6-3) appeared to score off a rebound from a free kick, but the Indians’ back line caught the Foxes in an offside trap, and the goal was disallowed.
That’s when Peters Township stepped on the gas and took control of the game.
“I think that every playoff game we’ve ever played, the first game, the first 10 minutes, we’ve struggled,” said Dyer. “It’s got to be poor preparation by the coaching staff. The disallowed goal was certainly a wake-up call for the coaching staff. I would think that it was for the kids.”
Bennett Faloni also scored for the Indians.
The seven goals tied a season-high for Peters Township.
“We worked really hard to get our chances,” said Dyer. “It was nice to get rest for guys for Thursday.”
Time literally ran out on the Ringgold boys soccer team’s season.
After a mad scramble and a foul called on Thomas Jefferson with roughly 15 seconds to play, the Rams hustled to get into position for the free kick from 28 yards. A hurried shot sailed over the goal, time expired and Thomas Jefferson, behind a hot goalkeeper, hung on to upset Ringgold, 1-0, in a Class AA first-round game at Peters Township High School.
“Their goalkeeper kept them in the game when they needed him to,” said Ringgold coach Frank Perez. “He provided a spark whenever they got flat.”
The only scoring was done early, in the 11th minute, as Thomas Jefferson (13-5-1) found a weakness in the Ringgold back line. Matt Prezioso’s shot was fended off by Josh Zakrzewski, but the rebound bounced right to Conor O’Leary, who knocked it in for an early 1-0 Jaguars lead.
Ringgold (13-4-2) controlled most of the play, but the Rams couldn’t find many weaknesses in Thomas Jefferson’s defense. When the Rams were able to penetrate and get quality scoring chances, Jaguars goalkeeper Colin Bucsok proved ready for each challenge.
The sophomore made several outstanding saves, finishing with nine for the game. One of his best came just three minutes after O’Leary’s goal, when he dove to his right to keep a shot out of the top corner.
His biggest save, though, came in the 65th minute, when James Snyder’s free kick, a low shot curved around the wall, was ticketed for the bottom corner. Bucsok dove and knocked it away.
Ringgold’s best chance to tie the game was in the 72nd minute, when Nick Fowkes got behind the defense and had a one-on-one with Bucsok, but his shot sailed over the goal.
“I’m still proud of the boys,” said Perez. “It’s been a long, hard season. Just because they lost this game doesn’t change the fact that they won the section and accomplished a heck of a lot.”