Charleroi stays perfect with win over EF
Charleroi’s Cullin Woytovich (10) and Elizabeth Forward’s Robert Hrabosky each try to gain control of the ball during a playoff game at Ringgold
Charleroi’s Nick Laskey gets ahead of Elizabeth Forward’s Robert Hrabosky in a playoff game at Ringgold
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Charleroi’s Ryan Withers (8) and Elizabeth Forward’s Maxwell Salanskiewicz battle for the ball during a playoff game Monday at Ringgold.
Members of the Charleroi soccer team celebrate their win over Elizabeth Forward during the first round of playoff games at Ringgold High School
Ringgold’s Kobe Norfleet (3) is given a high fvie by teammate Eli Schoedel (9) after scoring a goal in the playoff game against Indiana
Ringgold’s Andrew Bottino drives the ball downfield to eventually score a goal against Indiana in a playoff game at Ringgold
Ringgold’s Mason Fabean drives the ball past Indiana’s Keagan Pilch to score in a playoff game at Ringgold
Ringgold’s Jason Vaccaro fights for control of the ball with Indiana’s Keagan Pilch in a playoff game at Ringgold
MONONGAHELA – The undefeated Charleroi boys soccer team has been an offensive juggernaut all season, and Monday night was no different with a 6-1 victory over Elizabeth Forward in a WPIAL Class AA first-round match.
Nick Laskey had a hat trick and Cullin Woytovich scored twice to pace the Cougars.
“Even though we beat them earlier this season, they were a 100 percent different team and they came in ready,” said Charleroi coach Jon Ducoli of EF. “We were able to capitalize with that first goal to put them on their heels and that was a big advantage.”
The match was scoreless for most of the opening 20 minutes with both teams looking to make a play, but Charleroi (17-0) controlled more of the action.
When Elizabeth Forward (8-11) was called for a push inside the goalie’s box with 21:25 to play in the half, Charleroi was awarded a penalty kick. Woytovich gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead by burying the shot behind EF keeper Ben Durant.
Laskey extended the Charleroi lead to 2-0 with 16:05 to play in the half from an assist from Woytovich, and the duo switched roles with 10:26 to play in the half when Laskey set up Woytovich.
Up 3-0 at the half, Charleroi extended its lead to 4-0 when Eben McIntyre scored with 25:29 to play.
“We put Eben in and he found the back of the net seconds later,” Ducoli said. “The guys are always looking for that fresh feed and to have all of these weapons is nice.”
Andrew Smith scored for EF with 20:17 to play to trim the lead, but Laskey scored two goals to close it out.
Charleroi advances to Thursday’s quarterfinal match against perennial power South Park.
“We know they are a talented program and we will have to play our best,” said Ducoli. “At this point of the year, everyone is good.”
In the nightcap, Ringgold avenged a first-round upset loss to Indiana with a 4-0 win over the Indians Monday night.
“We wanted to score first and then score again so the pressure was on them,” said Ringgold coach Steve Persaud. “We came out and played from the start. “We played a totally different game than we did last year and we didn’t want to let them hang around.”
The Rams controlled the WPIAL Class AAA first-round match from the opening kick.
Unlike last year, when Ringgold was shutout, 1-0, there would be no doubt which team was going to advance.
The Rams scored with 38:14 to play in the first half when Kobe Norfleet scored off of an assist from Eli Schoedel.
Mason Fabean extended the lead to 2-0 with 25:02 to play in the half and the Rams scored an own-goal with 22:24 to go before halftime when Indiana played a shot by Andrew Bottino into its own net.
Norfleet scored the lone goal of the second half with 7:33 to go, and Ringgold advances to take on Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals on Thursday.