Latrobe makes 1st-half goal stand up in boys soccer win over Penn-Trafford
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Tuesday, September 10, 2024 | 10:39 PM
Penn-Trafford’s Chad Pusateri takes out Latrobe’s Roman Agostoni on Tuesday.
Latrobe’s Cameron Mikulsky fights for the ball with Penn-Trafford’s Cameron King on Tuesday.
Latrobe’s Nolan Dempsey fights for the ball with Penn-Trafford’s Yuriy Bidochko on Tuesday.
Latrobe’s Cameron Mikulsky gets past Penn-Trafford’s Ryan Geyer on Tuesday.
Latrobe’s John Massaro fights for the ball with Penn-Trafford’s JJ Porter on Tuesday.
Latrobe celebrates Roman Agostoni’s goal against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday.
Latrobe strengthened its lead in Section 3-3A boys soccer with a first-half goal and steady play from its defense.
It’s a good thing the latter came to play.
“We had to be physical and keep working,” Wildcats defender Brady Kring said. “Our communication was good tonight. We had to make sure we were working as a unit.”
That unit defied efforts by Penn-Trafford to get an equalizer and helped the host Wildcats post their second straight shutout and fourth straight win with a 1-0 victory Tuesday night at Rossi Field.
“We’re much better than that offensively,” Latrobe coach Jake Rice said. “I thought we’d win, but I thought we’d score more. Penn-Trafford is organized and has a nice team.
“Our offense didn’t do much, but our defense stepped up.”
Latrobe moved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in section, while Penn-Trafford dropped to 2-2-1 and 1-2-1.
Latrobe took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute off a harmless-looking free kick from about 40 yards away. The ball came off of Warren Agostoni’s foot and curved to his brother, Roman Agostoni, who was there behind the defense to corral it and finish in close range.
The goal held up as defenders knocked away dangerous possessions by the Warriors, in some cases before the ball even reached keeper Reece DiCasolo.
“Latrobe didn’t generate much,” Penn-Trafford coach Ryan Hankey said. “I thought we outplayed them, to be honest. We’re not playing bad. We’re just not dangerous enough around the box. We’re too finessey. We played good defense as a team, but we’re not attacking as a team.”
Penn-Trafford came in with 14 goals and only five against, and Latrobe had scored 20 and allowed nine. So a low-scoring game was somewhat of a surprise. Kring, though, will take it. He was awarded the third captain’s band for Thursday’s big section game against Franklin Regional based on his performance Tuesday.
“Brady won every head ball and challenged everything,” Rice said.
Moving Cam Mikulsky to the back also boosted the back line, much like it did last week in a 5-0 win over Belle Vernon.
DiCasolo made four saves for the Wildcats, who outshot Penn-Trafford, 7-5.
J.J. Porter had one breakaway for the Warriors, but DiCasolo made the stop.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Latrobe, Penn-Trafford
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