George’s brace key as Mustangs battle Rams to 2-2 draw
Roman George’s brace and a surge in the final 10 minutes of the second half helped Laurel Highlands to earn a point in a 2-2 draw against Ringgold on Thursday night in boys Section 2-3A soccer play at Mustang Field.
The Mustangs trailed the Rams with 11:43 remaining in the match when Jackson Baker drew a foul just inside the 18-yard box that provided the home team with a penalty kick.
George took the penalty and buried a right-footed shot to the center of the goal and past Ringgold keeper Donovan Fortuna, who guessed incorrectly on where George’s attempt would go.
Laurel Highlands’ offense came alive following George’s second goal, and Baker had a shot sail over the net at 10:20 of the second half before the Mustangs earned a free kick that was off target at 7:10.
George’s free kick from 25 yards out on the left side was parried away by Fortuna. LH maintained possession and Matt Kolencik had a shot that went high to keep the match level.
George nearly had a hat trick with 3:22 when his attempt went just wide of the net before Elliot Boor’s shot hit the crossbar at 2:15.
Kolencik had a chance in front of the net that Fortuna smothered with 25 seconds remaining and Fortuna kicked away an opportunity with 10 seconds left in the match.
The Mustangs put seven shots on target, while the Rams had three.
Laurel Highlands has earned a victory and draw in back-to-back matches to improve to 1-3-1 in section play and 2-5-1 overall. The Mustangs are two points behind Uniontown (2-3-0, 4-4-0) for the fourth and final playoff spot in Class 3A.
Ringgold sits at 3-0-2 in the section and 5-2-2 overall. The Rams are two points behind Trinity (4-0-1, 5-0-3) for first place in the section.
The first 10 minutes of the match didn’t open up, but Mike Aubele had a shot travel to the right of the cage for the home team with 33:27 left after George sent in a cross to the front of the box. George put the first shot on goal for the home team at 32:35 of the opening half, but Fortuna made the first of five saves.
George provided Laurel Highlands with a 1-0 lead at 31:50 of the first half when he got past the Ringgold defense and put a right-footed shot low and to the left of Fortuna for the tally.
The sequence to George’s first goal began with Mason Cicci taking a throw in prior to Kolencik winning a 1v1 battle for possession 72 yards from the goal and sending a deep ball to George, who corralled the ball 25 yards from the net. The junior moved the ball from his left foot to his right before taking his shot from 14 yards out.
The Mustangs earned their first of three corner kicks with 26:50 remaining in the first half, but the Rams leveled the match 30 seconds later on a goal by Cole Scheponik.
Scheponik retrieved a pass from Josh Molisee that was sent in 60 yards from goal, corralled the ball from 30 yards out and put a left-footed shot past Laurel Highlands keeper Dan O’Neal, who had come out of his net to challenge the opportunity, but the ball got past him and Scheponik had an open cage from 25 yards away.
Ringgold’s James Jaki had a shot head over the net at 25:20 of the opening 40 minutes before Izaiah Wilson put the visitors ahead with 24:27 left in the first half.
Wilson sent a left-footed shot high and to the right corner of the goal for a 2-1 lead on the Rams’ second shot on target.
O’Neal dove to stop Molisee’s shot with 19:39 remaining in the first half.
The Mustangs’ Elliot Boor found some space at 7:40 of the first half, but Fortuna dove on the ball before a shot could be attempted.
Laurel Highlands’ Wyatt Newhouse had his effort hit the left post and bounced off Fortuna for a corner kick with 3:45 left before halftime.
Ringgold was able to clear the Mustangs’ attempt from the corner out of danger and regain possession for a 2-1 advantage at the half.
Laurel Highlands’ Jackson Nairn had a shot go over the net at the 38-minute mark of the second half before the Rams had two shots sail off target.
Jake Jaki thought he had given Ringgold a 3-1 lead with 32:18 left in the match, but the offside flag went up.
Nairn put the Mustangs’ fourth shot on target at 29:32 prior to his free kick from 45 yards out hitting the crossbar at 27:55 of the second half. Fortuna stopped a second shot on target from Nairn with 17:40 remaining.
The two teams will meet again this Tuesday at Joe Montana Stadium in Monongahela. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.