Falcons edge Mustangs, 3-2
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ Eli Mitchell and Connellsville’s Luke Hammerie battle for possession during the first half of Monday’s non-section match at Mustang Field.
Connellsville's John Trimbath pressures Laurel Highlands' Dylan Seaman during Monday's non-section match at Mustang Field.
Laurel Highlands' Seth Yanik gets ready for a throw-in during the first half of Monday's non-section match against Connellsville at Mustang Field.
Connellsville's Tommy Deason passes to a teammate during Monday's non-section match against Laurel Highlands at Mustang Field.
Laurel Highlands keeper Jacob Campbell punts the ball during Monday's non-section match against Connellsville at Mustang Field.
Connellsville's Gaven Wood watches the play develop after taking a corner kick in Monday's non-section match against Laurel Highlands at Mustang Field.
Laurel Highlands' starting lineup huddles prior to Monday's non-section match against Connellsville at Mustang Field.
Connellsville head coach Jason Rice waits to shake hands with Laurel Highlands' starting lineup prior to Monday's non-section match at Mustang Field.
Connellsville scored three first-half goals and held off Laurel Highlands in the second for a 3-2 non-section victory on Monday at Mustang Field.
The Falcons (7-4-1, 11-5-1) and Mustangs (6-3-1, 11-5-1) await their playoff fate when the WPIAL pairings are announced on Wednesday. Connellsville, who missed the postseason last year, is in for the third time in the last four seasons, and Laurel Highlands is making its second straight appearance.
“We have done a lot of good things this year,” Connellsville coach Jason Rice said. “We upset Penn-Trafford, tied Norwin and had a great chance against Franklin Regional. We knocked off Kiski Area twice this year, which is big and something we’ve never done. This group has come together and jelled pretty well.
“I am just hoping we can stay away from the overall No. 1 in the first round because that is who we have drawn the last two times. I think we can play with anybody.”
LH head coach Jerry Rogers, and his son, Jerry, are hoping the the committee schedules the Mustangs opening match for next Monday, as the elder Rogers’ daughter is having her wedding Saturday.
“I know what I’m going to do,” Rogers said. “I hope they put us on Monday. If not, we have to go to the third coach on the schedule, and the kids know what to do. We haven’t deviated from our gameplan too much this season.”
Laurel Highlands had a strong second and cut the deficit to 3-2 at 12:26 when Brayden Steele scored after Colby Davis’ shot hit the cross-bar.
“It was a good game on both sides,” Rogers said. “They dominated in the first half and we responded in the second.”
The Mustangs had a chance to tie the match with 32 seconds remaining when Davis had a run towards the box but was taken down. Dylan Seaman was awarded a free kick but Connellsville keeper Alex Shultz made the save.
“We had a little breakdown at the end, and that is something we have to fix before the weekend,” Rice said. “We kept him (Davis) in check most of the night, but we got a little high with a minute left and left a nice opening for him to run through.”
The Falcons opened the scoring at 21:14 of the first when Garrett Brighton beat Laurel Highlands keeper Jacob Campbell.
Connellsville extended its lead to 2-0 at 27:49 when Luke Peperak scored on a penalty kick.
The Mustangs earned a penalty kick of their own at 10:46, and Seaman scored to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Peperak’s header off Seth Traynor’s corner kick gave the Falcons a 3-1 advantage at 4:34.
“We look to play possession, try to win the ball early, move it around and keep the pressure forward,” Rice said. “If we feel a little pressure, we are able to go back, regroup and go forward again.”
Both teams had 11 shots on goal. Shultz made nine saves and Campbell had eight.
“Shultz have been tough in goal for us all year long,” Rice said.
Connellsville outshot the Mustangs, 7-4, and had a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.