Wheeling Park tops Big Red
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WHEELING -- The Wheeling Park Patriots took a 5-0 win over the Steubenville Big Red on Tuesday, getting a first-half hat trick from Sam Rockey and a shutout effort from keeper Gavin Border and the Pat's defense to move Park to 10-2 on the season. Steubenville fell to 6-3-1, ending a four-game winning streak for the Big Red.
The first three goals of the game all belonged to Rockey, who helped Wheeling Park jump on Steubenville in the early-goings and never look back.
"They came out and played a great game," Steubenville head coach Greg Bowers said. "They came and put us on our heels early and we didn't recover in the first half. They did what a good team would do and put it on us."
Rockey's first of three came in the fifth minute off a feed from Wilson Hanna, who boxed out a defender to field a long pass from midfield before setting up his teammate.
In the 14th minute, Rockey knocked in a header after Josh Albrecht loosed a crosser near the corner.
Rockey, a sophomore, earned his third score from a Tresz McLeod assist in the 30th minute.
All five of Wheeling Park's goals were assisted in a game where head coach Mario Julian liked what he saw.
"I thought [our passing] was really good," the longtime Patriots coach said. "I thought we had moments where we were pretty sharp out there and made all the right decisions. I was very pleased with the way we came out, passed the ball, and finished."
While Steubenville did win their share of balls at midfield and possessed in Park's territory, they could not seem to get that last touch needed to put shots on goal at the same rate as the Patriots. The physicality and speed of Park's Lorenzo Donzella and Isael Juanez on the backline helped keep the Big Red off-balance.
Seconds before halftime, Spencer Zoladz booted a ball from midfield that split two defenders perfectly, falling into the lap of Matteo Gattesco, who put one past the keeper to take the Patriots into the half ahead 4-0.
Wheeling Park had nine shots on goal in the first half, opposed to Steubenville's four.
McLeod got on the board with a goal in the second half, assisted by Luke Dunaway in the 45th minute.
Park keeper Gavin Border put together a trifecta of impressive saves in the final 10 minutes of play to preserve the shutout, including saving a penalty kick in the 70th minute.
"Defense did fine," Julian said. "I thought the first half we were really strong defensively. The second half, once we got a couple more, they were putting pressure on us. Steubenville's a good team, and I think we got on them early and then our goalie and defense just kept the shutout which I was proud of."
With the OVAC playoffs starting next week, Park travels to Marietta on Thursday while Steubenville stays on the road to face St. Clairsville on Thursday.
"We've had some times where we had a couple different formations, but we think that we've settled in on one that gives us a nice balance of offense and a strong defense," Julian said. "We have a great goalie. I like where we're at right now halfway through."