Mustangs inches shy from earning draw with Hillers
Roman George’s blast from the 18-yard box struck the crossbar with less than a minute left, as Laurel Highlands dropped its Section 2-3A opener to Trinity, 2-1, on Thursday night at Mustang Field.
With time winding down in the match, the Mustangs’ Elliot Boor booted a long ball from Laurel Highlands’ zone to 30 yards from the Hillers’ goal. Trinity’s defense headed the ball back, but the home team’s Jackson Nairn regained possession, made a move and sent a pass to George from 20 yards out.
George corralled the ball with his left foot and switched to his right boot prior to sending the ball high and to the right, but the ball struck the woodwork with 55 seconds remaining.
Hillers keeper Joel Young, who made six saves, took a goal kick and the visitors were able to escape Uniontown with a victory.
Trinity improved to 1-0-0 in section play and 1-0-2 overall. The Mustangs dropped to 0-1-0 in the section and 0-3-0 across all competitions.
Laurel Highlands returns to section action on Tuesday at cross-town rival Uniontown (1-0-0, 3-0-0). The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and will be part of a girl-boy doubleheader at Bill Power Stadium. The Mustangs are at McKeesport (2-1-0) on Monday for a non-section match at 7 p.m.
The Hillers earned two of their five corner kicks in the first five minutes of the match before Blake Pendo scored with 32:36 remaining in the first half for a 1-0 lead.
Trinity won the ball from Laurel Highlands near the middle of the field, as Brady Anderson sent a ball into Sam Johnson, crossed the ball in front of the Mustangs’ goal. Pendo attempted the initial shot, which bounced off a Mustang defender before Evan Slagle got a foot on the ball. Slagle couldn’t put the attempt on target, but Pendo finished to the right of the net for the early lead.
Nairn had a free kick from 40 yards out that Boor put on target, but Young came out to make the stop and keep his team in front at 30:15 of the first half.
Boor and George had free kicks miss the target with 21 and 19 minutes remaining in the opening 40 minutes
The Hillers’ Cooper Cincinnati sent a shot just wide of the diving Dan O’Neal at 18:25 of the first half. O’Neal made four saves and came out to challenge any time Trinity had a 1v1 opportunity.
Slagle scored on the counter attack with 11:13 left in the first half for a 2-0 advantage. Anderson won the ball from Laurel Highlands 58 yards from the goal and sent the ball to Slagle, who beat the Mustangs’ defense and sent a low shot that was tucked into the right of the cage.
Young stopped Matt Kolencik’s line-drive free kick, but Laurel Highlands broke through with 1:42 left in the first half when Wyatt Newhouse corralled a deflection off a Hillers defender and tapped a left-footed shot past a diving Young to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Newhouse, who entered the match as a substitute, scored on the home club’s second shot on target. Isaiah Jones assisted on Newhouse’s tally.
The Mustangs came out a house of fire following the 10-minute halftime break, but Trinity held off the onslaught and maintained its one-goal edge.
Boor had a shot go wide right of the net from 25 yards out with 36:40 remaining in the second half before Newhouse took the home team’s first corner kick at 34:45. George had a shot sail just over the net 30 seconds later before Nairn’s free kick from 52 yards out was deflected by a Hiller and sent out of danger for the visitors.
George and Nairn continued to press forward, but the Hillers were able to clear the ball out of danger or Young made a save, including one on Nairn with 30:25 remaining.
Laurel Highlands’ Ethan Perkins blocked an attempt from Pendo 16 yards out at 28:09 to keep the match at 2-1.
George nearly chipped in the game-tying goal with 15:35 remaining in the second half, but Young pounced on the bouncing ball.
Nairn’s free kick from 25 yards out nearly a minute later was sent to the center of the goal and high, but Young was able to tip the ball away. George took the ensuing corner kick that Young jumped in front of and snatched the bending attempt before any of George’s teammates could take a shot at putting in the tying marker.
Trinity began to bleed the clock following George’s corner kick, and held the Mustangs’ chances to a minimum prior to the final minute.
Both squads were shown yellow cards, as each club had two apiece.