October 11, 2020

Cougars’ section win streak ends

By Mon Valley Independent

By Dean Dellamalva Jr.

MVI Sports

The Mt. Pleasant boys soccer team got a second half goal from Lucas Toohey and held on down the stretch to claim a 1-0 win over Charleroi Saturday in Section 3-2A play.

The loss snapped the Cougars’ 41-game section winning streak and kept the Vikings alive for a share of the section crown.

Mt. Pleasant (9-1, 9-1) was able to capitalize on a Cougars’ defensive error for the game’s only goal.

“Our talking points since the last time we played them was not making mistakes in our own end,” Vikings coach Floyd Snyder III said. “That is what happens when two good teams play, someone makes a mistake and one team capitalizes.”

Toohey was able to elude a charging Cougars defender and get the ball into the box, scoring the game’s lone goal in the 49th minute.

“We left a bunch of the (midfield) exposed and they took advantage of that,” Cougars coach Jon Ducoli said. “We had our opportunities; we just couldn’t find the back of the net today. It’s a learning experience for us, it’s a humbling experience for this team. Now we’ll stay focused on Wednesday and finish off the rest of the season.”

The Vikings’ goal came right after a quality scoring chance for Charleroi. Senior Sam Iacovangelo advanced the ball up the right side and dropped a pass right into the box. However, Eben McIntyre’s header went just wide.

The Cougars continued to press for a tying goal. In the 55th minute, Dom Yocolano got deep into the Vikings’ end on a nice run down the left sideline. He got the ball to McIntyre down low, but the Vikings defense collapsed and his shot attempt at a low angle went off the side of the net.

Mt. Pleasant kept the offensive pressure, but Cougars keeper Nate Mazon came up with big saves down the stretch to keep it close, including one on Luke Rivardo in which Mazon got his fingertips on a high shot and snared the ball before it went across the line.

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