Falcons remain unbeaten in Section 3-AA with 3-1 win over Cougars
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Brownsville’s Jake Sabatula passes out to a teammate during the last minute of the first half in the Falcons’ Section 3-AA match against Charleroi on Tuesday at Redstone Field. Sabatula scored two goals in his team’s 3-1 win. The Cougars’ Spencer Addis (23) follows the play while keeper Caleb Carson stays in his net anticipating a shot on goal.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Charleroi players release red and black balloons to the sky in memory of 2017 graduate Michael Shipe, who died in a car accident early Saturday morning on Interstate 70. Shipe was the Cougars’ captain last season. The ceremony was held prior to Tuesday’s kickoff between Brownsville and Charleroi at Redstone Field.
Brownsville players hand out balloons to Charleroi prior to Tuesday's Section 3-AA boys' soccer match at Redstone Field. The Cougars were playing with a heavy heart following the death of 2017 graduate and soccer captain Michael Shipe, who died early Saturday morning in a car accident on Interstate 70. Brownsville organized the releasing of the red and black balloons and had a moment of silence for Shipe prior to kickoff.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Brownsville’s Shandon Marshall gets ready for a throw-in during the first half of Tuesday’s Section 3-AA match against Charleroi at Redstone Field. Marshall scored a goal for the Falcons in their 3-1 victory.
Charleroi's Joe Caruso and Brownsville's Jake Sabatula race for possession during Tuesday's Section 3-AA match at Redstone Field.
Brownsville's Jake Sabatula moves the ball upfield during Tuesday's Section 3-AA match against Charleroi at Redstone Field. Sabatula scored two of the Falcons' three goals in a 3-1 victory.
Brownsville's Nick Climes moves the ball upfield with Charleroi's Joe Caruso in pursuit during the first half of Tuesday's Section 3-AA match at Redstone Field.
Charleroi's Evan McGuire plays the ball to a teammate during the first half of Tuesday's Section 3-AA match against Brownsville at Redstone Field.
REPUBLIC — Brownsville kept its undefeated record alive in Section 3-AA on Tuesday evening at Redstone Field with a 3-1 victory over Charleroi in boys’ soccer action.
The Cougars were playing with a heavy heart following the funeral for 2017 Charleroi graduate Michael Shipe, 18, who died early Saturday morning in a car accident on Interstate 70. Shipe was the Cougars’ captain on the soccer team last year.
The Falcons (5-0, 7-0-1) trailed, 1-0, at 31:37 of the first half, but tied the game less than a minute later and took the lead for good in the second.
Jake Sabatula, who had a chance hit off the top of the cross-bar in the 23rd minute, gave Brownsville a 2-1 lead at 21:39 when his free kick went inside the left post and past the diving attempt of Caleb Carson.
“Going off of scoring situations, no one is a tremendous goal scorer,” Brownsville coach Harry Rufcorn said. “We’re abroad. We’re built for everybody to be able to strike. I could have easily took someone from the back end.”
Charleroi (4-2, 5-4) had a run in the 20th minute but Falcon center-midfielder Colton Dellarose cleared the ball out of Brownsville’s box.
Teammate Shandon Marshall’s free kick in the 16th minute was stopped by Carson.
The Cougars’ Jace Kepich took a free kick in the 13th minute but Nate Kovscek made the save.
The Falcons’ defense dropped back in the last nine minutes to preserve the lead, but Charleroi came through with a chance in the sixth minute that was stopped by Kovscek and cleared by Brownsville’s back line.
The Cougars were awarded a penalty kick at 5:52 when a foul was called on the Falcons in the box, but the attempt hit the post.
“Sometimes the post is your friend and sometimes it isn’t,” Ruffcorn said.
Charleroi’s last effort in Brownsville’s box was blocked, and with its defenders up on the play, Marshall outraced the Cougars for the insurance goal with 40 seconds remaining and a 3-1 lead. Dellarose added the assist.
Nick Laskey scored Charleroi’s lone goal.
The Falcons answered right back at 30:51 when C.J. Eperjesi set up Sabatula for the tying goal.
The Cougars appeared to take the lead at 20:06, but the offsides flag went up and the game remained 1-1.
“We had opportunities and didn’t capitalize on them,” Charleroi coach Jon Ducoli said. “When you have two of the top teams in the section going at it, that is the kind of game you are going to have. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Carson kept Charleroi in the match during the first when he made a one-handed save to stone Sabatula at 15:35.
The senior made another big stop at 8:12 of the first when Marshall’s header was on target.
“That goalie was phenomenal,” Ruffcorn said.
Brownsville had four shots-on-goal in the first but had nine in the second for 13. Carson stopped 10 shots.
The Cougars had 16 shots on goal, but Kovscek made 15 saves.
The Falcons had eight shots to one for Charleroi. The home team had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Brownsville doesn’t want to rest on its laurels, and looks to finish the first half of section play undefeated when it travels to Waynesburg Central (4-1, 5-3) this evening.
“It’s one game at a time,” Ruffcorn said. “They want it, and I told them to write the history book one page at a time. Waynesburg is the most important game because it’s the next game.”
The Cougars have dropped to third place, and travel to play the Raiders on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in their section finale for the first half.
Falcons honor Shipe
The Brownsville Area School District, its soccer team and the fans in attendance paid tribute to Shipe prior to kickoff. The Falcons handed out red and white balloons to the Charleroi players that were released to the sky before a moment of silence was asked for in honor of Shipe.
“He was friends with everybody,” Ruffcorn said. “We played with him and against him.”
“They are consoling each other,” Ducoli said.