Slippery Rock boys soccer’s season ends at hands of Cathedral Prep in District 10 semifinals
MEADVILLE — The sense of urgency was there, but the goals needed to pull even with Cathedral Prep did not follow.
Trailing the No. 2 Ramblers 2-0 at the start of the second half in Monday’s District 10 Class 2A boys soccer semifinal, No. 3 Slippery Rock’s effort yielded three corner kicks and a number of throw-ins and free kicks near Prep’s net. But by the time Logan Berry’s late header sailed past goalie Breese Stoeger, the Ramblers had tallied a third goal and the Rockets were dealt a 3-1 defeat that ended their season at Meadville High School’s Barco-Duratz Athletic Complex.
“We saw some things on film that we thought we could exploit,” Slippery Rock head coach Kyle Hopkins said. “Unfortunately, that did not happen. But I am proud of the guys for staying with the attack, and we got the goal with (20) seconds left.”
The all-important first goal came on a penalty kick from Prep’s Will Agresti in the 16th minute.
Slippery Rock’s Zach Lasko thwarted another scoring chance 19 minutes later, but the Rockets (12-5-2) were unable to clear the ball and Marshall Spitzer made it 2-0 for Prep.
“They play tough teams all season, so they are prepared for this,” Lasko said of the Ramblers. “That matters, and their size was also a factor.”
Wade Freehling blistered a shot from 20 yards early in the second half, but it smacked off the right shoulder of Prep defender Drew Johnson.
Stoeger needed to make just three saves in the game.
It was that kind of night for the Rockets until Lasko’s corner kick led to Berry’s goal in the final minute. Ethan Cain had scored for the Ramblers (11-6-2) four minutes earlier for a commanding 3-0 edge.
Slippery Rock goalie Parker Wilhide stopped seven shots, all of them on challenging attempts.
“I knew he was athletic, but good God, he was incredible tonight,” Prep head coach Sam Tojaga said of Wilhide.
“He got us here by stopping two penalty kicks in that shootout last week (in a quarterfinal win over Hickory),” Hopkins said.
Slippery Rock won at least a share of the District 10 Region 2 title for the fifth straight season this fall. Prep will face top-seeded Fairview in Wednesday’s final at a site and time to be determined.
Lasko, a senior midfielder and team captain, was part of the last four region championships.
“This was the most enjoyable year for me,” Lasko said. “The bonds created on this team, it’s a special group. That’s all I can say.”
