A long time coming
Uniontown qualifies for WPIAL soccer playoffs for 1st time in 30 years
Uniontown’s soccer program has faced tough times in the last 25 years, but all the frustration has turned into joy after the Red Raiders battled from a two-goal deficit in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw with Ringgold on Tuesday night at Bill Power Stadium in Section 2-3A boys soccer play.
The Red Raiders earned a point and are 3-4-1 in section play, which puts them in fourth place with matches remaining with Thomas Jefferson (6-2-1) and Trinity (5-1-2).
Laurel Highlands finished its section schedule with a record of 3-6-1 and 10 points. The Mustangs sit in fifth place, which would put them out of the playoffs, but could move into a tie for fourth and a berth in the postseason if Uniontown (10 points) loses its final two section matches. The Jaguars and Hillers won the first meetings with Thomas Jefferson earning a 3-0 victory on Sept. 24 at Uniontown and Trinity recording a 6-1 triumph at Hiller Field on Sept. 17.
Laurel Highlands and Uniontown split the season series with both teams earning home victories, as the Red Raiders earned a 5-2 win on Sept. 15 and the Mustangs were victorious, 2-0, on Oct. 6.
Both teams played Ringgold to 2-2 in one match, and according to the WPIAL’s criteria for playoff qualification, all teams who finish in a tie for the final playoff spot that can’t be broken will enter the tournament, which would put the crosstown rivals in the district playoffs.
Uniontown would enter the WPIAL postseason for the first time since 1996 when Ed Yauger was the coach.
“To fight back from 2-0 down and be able to come back and earn a point to move us one step closer to possibly making the playoffs is unbelievable,” Uniontown coach Jamie Holland said. “It is a big step forward for the program and the kids, and they deserve everything they are getting tonight.”
The Red Raiders and Rams played a tight first half, but neither team could finish their chances until Ringgold’s Jack Kozon put a shot in off a rebound that ricocheted off the post with 1:31 remaining in the opening 40 minutes for a 1-0 lead.
Jaxon Wichterman extended the Rams’ advantage to 2-0 at 37:24 of the second half, and Ringgold thought it had a third goal, but the offside flag was raised.
Uniontown found life near the midway point of the second half when Ty Harvey put in a goal off a corner kick that was taken by Josh Paris to cut the deficit to 2-1 with 21:15 left in the match.
“Josh Paris is my guy for the corner kicks,” Holland said.
The Red Raiders honored their seniors Saul Amezquita, Logan Davis, Noah Holland, Tommy Hriscisce, Chase King, Ryan Sinal and Braylon Woods prior to the match, and it was fitting that they made an impact.
Woods tied the match with 10:27 remaining in the second half for his 15th goal of the campaign. Harvey assisted on Woods’ tally.
Holland, who had eight saves, robbed the Rams with less than 10 minutes remaining to keep the score level. Hriscisce won’t get credit for a save on the stat sheet, but he made a stop from his defensive position to deny Ringgold an opportunity at a wide-open cage.
“If Noah Holland doesn’t make that one save right there it’s 3-2, and that’s it,” Jamie Holland said. “That save was a game changer for him, and if he doesn’t get up in that top corner and make that save, we’re down 3-2, and I’m telling you, that would have deflated the whole team, so for every single one of them, even the kids who were on the bench cheering, they are the ones who did it. They turned the game around for themselves. Tommy Hriscisce tracked back and that stop was just as big as a goal.”
Rams keeper Donovan Fortuna stopped nine of the 11 shots that Uniontown put on target. The Red Raiders had eight shots travel wide or high of the net.
Ringgold earned seven corner kicks, while Uniontown took three.