Cougars open with 4-0 win over Raiders
FALLOWFIELD TWP. — 聽Charleroi used a complete effort and disciplined style to open up its Section 3-AA schedule with a 4-0 win over Waynesburg Central, the defending section champions Tuesday night.
“This was a complete team effort and I am extremely happy with how disciplined out guys played,” said Charleroi coach Jon Ducoli. “This win will give us momentum and we wanted to make a statement tonight.”
Waynesburg coach Matt Blair was complimentary of Charleroi and was impressed with its play.
“Charleroi came out and played a disciplined style,” he said. “I give them credit and they are a well-coached club.
“I think once we had a few close calls and then they scored, it snowballed from there.”
Play was even throughout the first half and neither team had many scoring chances.
The first real opportunity to score of the match was when Waynesburg (1-2, 0-1) was awarded a direct kick from 35 yards out with 27:19 left in the first half.
Sophomore Gavin Benson played the ball towards the net and over the reach of Charleroi senior goalkeeper Caleb Carson, but the ball hit the crossbar and the Cougars cleared it.
Waynesburg had another chance with 19:03 to play in the half, but senior Blake Brewer’s shot also hit the crossbar.
Brewer had played the ball in from 50 yards out and split two Charleroi defenders en route to the shot attempt from 15 yards out.
Charleroi’s first legit scoring chance came with 9:24 left in the half when sophomore Evan McGuire hit sophomore Chase Kepich with a pass, but Kepich’s shot went over the crossbar.
The Cougars (2-1, 0-1) finally got on the board with 4:29 to play in the half when Kepich set up junior Randy Carson with a pass and Carson placed it behind Waynesburg junior goalkeeper Scott Benco for the only goal of the first half.
Waynesburg looked primed to tie the match moments into the second half as it had a 3-on-1 advantage on Caleb Carson, but senior Dylan Cowell hooked the shot past a diving Carson 12 yards out.
“Caleb was lights out tonight,” Blair said of the All-WPIAL and All-Section goalkeeper. “He is a stud.”
The Cougars extended their lead to 2-0 when Kepich scored on a head ball off of a crossing pass from sophomore Cullin Woytovich with 25:54 to play in regulation.
The pair teamed up again with 14:40 to go as Woytovich set up Kepich, and then Kepich scored his third goal with 11:36 to play on a direct kick to close the scoring.
“Kepich is picking up where he left off and the two of them are working as a two-headed monster,” said Ducoli. “They feed off of each other and once the guys smelled the blood in the water, it was over.
“This win will set the whole pace for the rest of the section.”
Blair spoke about his team having one goal in three matches.
“I think it’s just a matter of possessing the ball and trying to force things too much instead of letting the play develop,” he said. “Once we relax and play within our skill set, we will be fine.”
Charleroi hosts Belle Vernon tonight in a non-section match that is also the fourth out of five matches in six days to start the season, while Waynesburg heads to Valley Thursday for a non-section match.