Ringgold rallies, plays Trinity to draw
Trinity’s Brady Anderson scored two goals and appeared to be the hero in Thursday’s Class 3A Section 3 boys soccer match at Hiller Field.
Ringgold spoiled the story for the Hiller freshman as senior Owen Haywood sent the ball into Juraj Stasko, who scored the game-tying goal with 10:50 remaining in regulation. Neither team scored in two 10-minute overtime periods for a 2-2 draw.
Trinity moved to 6-5-1 in section play and 6-5-1 overall while Ringgold sits at 9-2-1 in section and 11-2-1 overall.
The Hillers suffered a 1-0 setback to the Rams on Sept. 12.
Trinity is at Uniontown (2-9-0, 5-10-0) on Tuesday before closing its section schedule in a home match against Laurel Highlands (2-9-0, 4-19-0) on Oct. 12.
Ringgold hosts Thomas Jefferson (10-1-1, 12-2-1) next Tuesday and is at Bethel Park (11-0-1, 13-1-1) on Oct. 12.
Both teams are in prime position for a playoff berth, but the Rams will enter the postseason as the third-place team out of the section and the Hillers will be No. 4. Ringgold has earned 28 points as three are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
Trinity has 19 points, and even with victories over Uniontown and Laurel Highlands, the best it can do for points is 25.
Trinity opened the scoring with 13:57 left in the first half on Anderson’s header as John Garcia played the ball into the Ringgold box. Anderson, who played in the junior varsity match, came on as a substitute.
Ringgold had a corner kick at 12:45 of the opening half as Haywood booted the ball toward the front of the box, but Trinity goalkeeper Ryan Torboli snagged the ball before a shot could be taken.
The Rams had significant pressure in the Hillers’ zone around the three-minute mark in the first half, but Trinity was able to clear the ball out of danger before a shot could be taken.
The Hillers’ Braeden Knight had a shot go wide of the cage to the left of Ringgold keeper Aidyn Whaley with 30 seconds left in the first.
Ringgold tied the match at 35:16 of the second half after Jack Brodak scored with Nick Evans assisting.
Anderson gave his team a 2-1 lead with 25:29 remaining in the second half. Trinity earned a free kick to start possession in the Rams’ zone.