History at Mars' expense
ADAMS TWP — Blackhawk coach Jerrod Rebich said his players had a message for him as they boarded the bus.
“They told me 'we're going to make history today,'” Rebich said.
They knew what they were talking about.
Senior midfielder Michael Day snapped a scoreless tie with his team-leading seventh goal of the season early in the second half as the Cougars surprised Mars, 3-1, in a first-round WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer playoff game Saturday.
The victory was the first postseason win in Blackhawk boys soccer history. The Cougars (10-4-3) were 0-10 in the playoffs entering Saturday's tilt, including a 9-8 loss on penalty kicks to Thomas Jefferson last year.
“That first goal was the big one,” Mars coach Chris Knauff said. “Once they scored, we had to start chasing.
“We applied some pressure. It just didn't work out.”
Day headed the ball into the net — Bryan Culler drawing the assist — just three minutes and three seconds into the second half. Blackhawk outshot Mars 16-9, with freshman Planet goalkeeper Jacob Gareis making stellar saves at times to keep the game close.
While Mars was pressing for the tying goal, Blackhawk senior forward Adam Rolston received an outlet pass, got a step on a Mars defender and rolled a shot beyond Gareis for a 2-0 lead with 17:03 left in the game.
A Logan Corradi goal with 7:39 to play extended the lead.
“They were coming at us pretty strong,” Rebich said of Mars when his team had a 1-0 lead. “But they did have to pinch in a little bit to keep the pressure on and Adam was able to get behind them.
“We were a little nervous in the first 10 minutes or so today. Once we settled down and started playing our system of soccer, we were OK.”
The Planets (10-6-2), co-section champion with Knoch this season, nearly scored the game's first goal with 16 minutes left in the first half. Cory Ferguson's header was stopped by Ethan Burawa's sprawling save and the rebound was shot just wide of the net.
Dan Feathers and DJ Carter nearly combined for a goal with five seconds left in the half, but Burawa secured the shot.
Carter wound up scoring Mars' lone goal with 1:08 left in the game. He took a crossing pass from Corey Heim and drilled it past Burawa to foil the shutout.
“We had our chances in this game, but the play was in our end too much,” Knauff said. “They came in here and executed very well.”
The Planets had four of their five corner kicks in the second half. Blackhawk had three corner kicks.
Carter was in alone on Burawa with 21:40 remaining, but the goalkeeper came out, challenged and broke up the play. Burawa made a diving save on Heim with 11:40 to play. Dane Beller rolled a shot just wide of the left post, off a corner kick, with 11:08 to play.
“We were a battle-tested team coming in here,” Rebich said. “We finished third in our section to West Allegheny and Montour, both outstanding teams.
“Our section schedule helped prepare us for today, I know that. I'm so proud of these kids. Finally, we got over the hump.”
Mars says goodbye to 12 seniors: Ross Byers, Anthony Machi, Matt Perdziola, Sean Hannon, Corey Ferguson, Pedro Lopes, Heim, Thomas Hayward, Ian Geotz, Max Qualicoe, Feathers and Chris Check.
“That was a good senior group,” Knauff said. “But these are the playoffs. You never know what's going to happen.”
