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Leopards, Rams battle to 0-0 draw

By Bill Hughes for The 3 min read

CARROLL TWP. — The rivalry between Ringgold and Belle Vernon carries over in every sport, and Tuesday night was no different as the teams played to a scoreless tie at Joe Montana Stadium in a Section 3-AAA match.

“We had some chances and so did they,” said Belle Vernon coach Rob Miele. “Each team controlled play at different times and either team could have won.”

“This was an even soccer match,” said Ringgold coach Steve Persaud. “We had some chances but (Cam) Guess made saves and they had chances but Travis (Yahnite) made saves.”

How even was the game?

Belle Vernon had 17 shots and Ringgold 16.

The teams seemed to feel each other out early, and the first shot on goal did not take place until Ringgold senior Eli Schoedel took it with 27:27 to play in the first half.

Guess, starting in net for Belle Vernon due to an injury, made the save by knocking the ball over the net, and he saved the other three Ringgold shots on goal in the half.

Ringgold senior Christian Egan placed a solid shot on Guess at the 26:25 mark, but he punched the ball away.

Ringgold (3-2-2, 2-0-2) was in control of play at the time, but it shifted in favor of the Leopards (5-1-1, 2-1-1).

Belle Vernon junior Markello Apodiakos recorded the Leopards’ first shot 25:50 to play in the half, but Ringgold keeper Travis Yahnite made a diving save.

While Ringgold had four shots on goal in the first half and five overall, Belle Vernon put all three of its shots on goal with Yahnite saving all three.

The contest went into halftime scoreless.

Schoedel had a chance to give Ringgold a 1-0 lead at the 31:46 mark of the second half, but he drilled a wide-open shot high and to the right of the net.

Both teams controlled play at certain points of the second half, and Schodel once again had a chance to win the match.

Ringgold played the ball into Belle Vernon’s zone, and Schoedel got around the right side of the defense.

He drilled a shot towards goal, but Guess made the save with 0:31 to go in the second half.

Through regulation, Ringgold took 13 shots and Belle Vernon 11 with both keepers making seven saves.

In the first overtime, Apodiakos had the best chance to score and put a shot on goal with 1:24 to play, but Yahnite made the save and the match went into the second overtime.

Belle Vernon’s Jackson Guess had the first shot on goal in the second overtime as he had a free kick from 25 yards out with 3:57 to play.

But the senior hit the ball inches above the crossbar and Yahnite played the ball on a goalie kick.

Each coach talked about the stellar play in the net as Guess made 10 saves and Yahnite had nine.

“Both keepers played well,” said Persaud. “Travis made some solid saves and so did Guess.”

“Each team had chances but both keepers made some solid saves,” Miele said. “That is what happens when players step up in big games.”

Both teams return to section play Thursday as Belle Vernon hosts Albert Gallatin and Ringgold is at Trinity.

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