Monessen routs Beth-Center, 5-1
MONESSEN — Beth-Center was in the thick of things for the fourth playoff sport in Section 1-A when it went to last place Monessen Tuesday afternoon.
But after the Greyhounds pounded the Bulldogs, 5-1, Monessen has a sense of playoff life while the Bulldogs looked uninterested.
“I was very pleased with how we played today,” said Monessen coach Sam Perry, whose team played without Tyler Caterino, a key offensive piece. “I loved the way we played the ball up top, the defense played well, and Nate (Lynch) played well in goal.
“With Tyler not playing, it was key for us to win and we exploded (offensively).”
Beth-Center coach Matt Berdar shared his disappointment and did not mince words.
“To be honest, I don’t have an answer (for how the team played),” he said. “They had no passion or drive today.
“Too many kids just don’t care.”
It was a pair of freshmen that carried Monessen offensively as Cam Frolo recorded a hat trick and had an assist while Leo Iacovangelo had the other two goals and three assists.
“I am very pleased with both of them and they have played well all year,” Perry said.
Iacovangelo opened the scoring with 24:58 to play in the first half when he scored off of an assist from Cory Fleming.
The Bulldogs (3-7-1, 3-6) gained the momentum when they tied the score with 20:18 to play in the half when sophomore Michael Berdar scored on a head ball off of a corner kick.
However, Monessen took the momentum right back when Frolo scored 14 seconds later.
“That gave us the momentum which was huge,” Perry said. “And (goalkeeper) Nate (Lynch) made a great save moments later that would have given them the momentum right back.”
Berdar shared his view on the quick goal as well.
“It was a complete mental breakdown by I think six kids,” he said. “That was the beginning of the end.”
Iacovangelo made the score 3-1 with 5:37 to play in the half and Frolo added a goal with 2:22 to go to give the Greyhounds (3-7, 2-7) a controlling 4-1 lead going into halftime.
With 34:41 to play in the match, Frolo scored the last goal of the match before both coaches gave younger players plenty of playing time.
Both teams have key section matches Thursday when Monessen hosts Chartiers-Houston while Beth-Center is at Bishop Canevin.