Leopards tune for playoffs with 9-0 rout
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
If Monday’s playoff tuneup against Ligonier Valley is any indication of how the Belle Vernon Area boys soccer team will play in the playoffs, head coach Rob Miele will surely be happy.
The Leopards scored seven times in the first half, including three goals in under two minutes, as they rolled to a 9-0 win over the Rams.
“I really wanted to push the guys who start every game, kind of testing their fitness as we get ready for the playoffs,” Miele said. “We didn’t sub a lot in the first half and I wanted to see how they looked.
“In the second half, we were able to rest a lot of guys, we got everyone in the game and we were able to see some production out of those guys.”
It took a while for the Leopards (14-2) to settle in as they controlled the ball in the midfield but weren’t able to get a lot of pressure on the net.
But Daniel Sassak ended that just over 10 minutes in, as he gathered in a great pass from Hunter Meade and ripped one past Rams keeper Noah Lawson.
“We did get off to a bit of a slow start,” Miele said. “They came out in a sweeper-2, which is something we’re not accustomed to seeing. I wish we would have adjusted to it a little sooner, actually. It’s tough, though, because we never play those guys and we didn’t have film on them. We kind of went on the fly a little bit tonight.”
The Leopards broke it open three minutes later when Hunter Meade started off a flurry of goals with a nice reception of a pass from Sassak on a corner kick to make it 2-0.
Only a minute later, Sassak sent home a rebound of his own shot that was saved by Lawson to make it 3-0. Just 49 seconds later, Tyler Kovatch caught Lawson out of position and sent home a shot from the right of the goal to make it 4-0 just 15 minutes into the game.
The outbreak of goals showed some nifty passing through the midfield for the Leopards, something their coach was happy to see.
“We’re always capable of that,” Miele said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s against these guys or the best team out there. We showed the ability to do it and we probably should do it more often, honestly. Our passing was great tonight and I’d like to see more of that.”
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