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PLAINS TWP. — The deck was stacked against the Pittston Area boys soccer team on Monday.
The 10th-seeded Patriots had won just two games over the last two seasons. Their District 2 Class 3A first-round opponent, No. 7 Coughlin, had beaten them by a score of 11-1 in the prior two meetings this season, including a 5-0 loss in the regular-season finale. Pittston Area hadn’t won a playoff game in over a decade, either.
Not to mention, the Patriots had to overcome adversity within the game itself. They faced an early one-goal deficit and the Crusaders had bombarded Pittston Area goalkeeper Kyle Mlodzienski with over 40 shots.
Yet, some how, the Patriots found a way to get the job done anyway.
Pittston Area upset Coughlin 2-1 (4-3) in penalty kicks on the road to punch its ticket into the quarterfinals for a date with second-seeded Abington Heights on Wednesday.
“It’s surreal to be honest. I didn’t think anybody thought that this was going to happen,” Pittston Area head coach James Bell said. “It was a heck of a game by both teams. They scored at the beginning, we came back with a nice shot from about 25 yards out. Their goalkeeper played well.”
After watching Alex Kresge put the Crusaders up just over 10 minutes into the game, it wouldn’t take the Patriots long to answer.
While Pittston Area only had seven shots, Domonic Stella made one of them count. He took an impressive shot from 25 yards out that the Coughlin goalkeeper wasn’t expecting.
Once the game was tied, Bell would need a couple of gutty efforts from two of his starters.
Both Mlodzienski and Brandon Overman went down with knee injuries during the second half, but after sitting out briefly both would return and play key roles down the stretch. Mlodzienski finished with 35 saves on 36 shots on goal while Overman scored the game-winner during penalty kicks.
Overman also replaced Mlodzienski when the goalkeeper went down making a save with 4:30 remaining in regulation. He didn’t see a shot as Pittston Area was able to clear the ball and Mlodzienski re-entered the game the next substitution.
“My goalkeeper is a freak of nature. He is the reason, probably, we won the game. Because of Kyle,” Bell said. “I can’t be more proud of a kid. I really can’t. I really can’t. Went down with an injury and I thought that was it for us, but he powered through. He powered through.
“Kyle didn’t have to come up big until the sudden-death shootout. Luckily that kid put it right toward his face and he put his chest in the way and it stayed off the line. Then Brandon, Brandon comes in and just spot-places the ball right into the corner, which is exactly what you’re supposed to do on a PK. Two kids that definitely deserve all the recognition in the world.”
After just watching Mlodzienski save a shot from Coughlin’s Cameron Cocoran in the sixth round of penalty kicks — a sudden-death round — Overman had a chance win it. After tying the game before half, he had the chance to be the hero.
And he took a deep breath, took the advice of his coach and took his shot.
“Get up there — nervous. Just place it to a corner where the keeper could not reach it. Coach’s rules,” Overman said. “It feels amazing. Everyone’s so happy and cheerful. Honestly, happiest I’ve seen them in a long time.
Pittston Area’s savior on Monday has “came a long way since last year,” according to Bell.
After allowing 114 goals last season, Mlodzienski trimmed that number down by 75 goals and averaged 12-15 saves a game in 2017. He was even nominated for an “all-state accolation” on Sunday but was outvoted.
“Just give it your 100 percent,” Mlodzienski said of his mindset heading into the playoff game. “If you don’t you lose the game. If you get hurt, you get back up.
“Fricking phenomenal. Wow, I’ve never made it this far. Third win of the season, first win of the postseason, first time (as a team) we’ve ever gotten this far.”
Now the Patriots head to No. 2 Abington Heights where they’ll try to keep their miracle season alive. Wednesday’s quarterfinal match has a 3:30 p.m. scheduled start time.
Valley View 8, Wyoming Area 0
Valley View took control with two goals about three minutes apart in the first half to eliminate Wyoming Area from the D2-3A playoffs.
Ryan Cesarini scored on a chip shot from about 30 yards out to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead about 14 minutes into the game. Matt Cesarini followed, scoring on a through ball on the right side of the penalty area for a 3-0 lead less than three minutes later.
Matt Cesarini finished with two goals and two assists. Jahquan Cole scored twice.
Wyoming Valley West 3, Honesdale 0
Nick Bazadona scored two goals in the first half and Jake Gurtis added one for Wyoming Valley West, and Brian Oppelt made seven saves for the shutout.
Honesdale’s Clay Martin saved 10 shots in goal. Valley West will play top-seeded Crestwood in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Tunkhannock 5, North Pocono 2
Eddie Melan recorded one goal and assisted three while Billy Prebola added one goal and assist for Tunkhannock. Matt Goodwin and Ryan Harder made a combined five saves.
North Pocono’s Kohl Kincel scored two goals.
Tunkhannock will travel to Dallas on Wednesday.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A
Berwick 4, Holy Redeemer 1
Berwick’s Kenneth Marshman led the charge, scoring all four goals and Luis Garcia saved 13 shots.
The Royal’s Eric Schramm scored the lone goal, and Lance McGrance made 22 saves.
The Bulldogs advance to the quarterfinals, where they will play top-seeded Scranton Prep on Wednesday.
Montrose 6, Lake-Lehman 0
Zach Dieck scored four goals for Montrose to elimate the Black Kinghts from the playoffs.
Lake-Lehman’s Chris Ash made eight saves.
Wyoming Seminary 10, Mid Valley 0
Edge Miller led Wyoming Seminary with a hat trick and assisted one and Reggie Grayek added two goals. Ryan Anderson and Justin Negron saved a combined two shots for the shutout.
Wyoming Seminary will host the winner of Nanticoke at Dunmore on Thursday.
Meyers 11, GAR 0
Meyers’ Johnny Torres scored four goals to lead the Mohawks, Tanner Nilon added a hat trick and Sam Germain scored one goal and assisted three. Joel Vazquez saved seven shots in goal for the shutout.
GAR’s Joel Aldaco made 12 saves.
The Mohawks will host Lakeland on Thursday.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A TOURNAMENT
Pittston Area 2, Coughlin 1, 4-3 PK
No. 10 Pittston Area`1`0`0`0`4`—`2
No. 7 Coughlin`1`0`0`0`3`—`1
First half — 1. COU, Alex Kesge (Chad Regan), 29:49; 2. PIT, Domonic Stella, 14:29. Second half — No scoring. First overtime — No scoring. Second overtime — No scoring. Penalty kicks — 1. COU, George Oko (made); 2. PIT, Shane Syms (missed); 3. COU, David Cortez (made); 4. PIT, Nick Barbieri (made); 5. COU, Jeff Mondulick (missed); 6. PIT, Mike Mikitish (made); 7. COU, Kresge (made); 8. PIT, Dominic Stella (made); 9. COU, Manuel Tlatelpa (missed); 10. PIT, Justin Talipan (missed); 11. COU, Cameron Corcoran (missed); 12. PIT, Brandon Overman (made).
Shots — PIT 7; COU 42. Saves — PIT 35 (Kyle Mlodzienski); COU 6 (Cameron Corcoran). Corner kicks — PIT 2; COU 10.
Valley View 8, Wyoming Area 0
Wyoming Area`0`0` — `0
Valley View`5`3` — `8
First half – 1. VV, Jahquan Cole (Matt Cesarini), 3:11; 2. VV, Ryan Cesarini, 14:00; 3. VV, M.Cesarini, 17:35; 4. VV, M.Cesarini (Seth Kashuba), 28:01; 5. VV, Bryce Shorten (Cole), 36:07; Second half – 6. VV, Cam Ceccotti, 45:36; 7. VV, Cole (M.Cesarini), 57:16; 8. VV, Gary Ladomirak, 75:00.
Shots — WA 7, VV 15. Saves — WA 8 (AdamWisnewski), VV 5 (Nick Bianchi). Corners — WA 3, VV 3.
Wyoming Valley West 3, Honesdale 0
Wyoming Valley West`3`0 —`3
Honesdale`0`0 —`0
First half — 1. WVW, Jake Gurtis (Scott Nilson), 1:24; 2. WVW, Nick Bazadona, 10:37; 3. WVW, Bazadona (Nate Naugle), 17:13.
Shots — WVW 18; HON 11. Saves — WVW 7 (Brian Oppelt); HON 10 (Clay Martin). Corner kicks — WVW 4; HON 3.
Tunkhannock 5, North Pocono 2
Tunkhannock`2`3 —`5
North Pocono`1`1 —`2
First half — 1. NP, Kohl Kincel, 5:00; 2. TUN, Paul DeMarco (Eddie Melan), 13:00; 3. TUN, Eddie Pietrowski (Melan), 36:00. Second half — 4. NP, Kincel (Tyler Riley), 42:00; 5. TUN, Billy Prebola (Alex Paduck), 48:00; 6. TUN, Melan (Prebola), 59:00; 7. TUN, Sawyer Aitken (Melan), 61:00.
Shots — TUN 18; NP 7. Saves — TUN 5 (Matt Goodwin/Ryan Harder); NP 12 (Connor Richards/Brooks Hanna). Corner kicks — TUN 3; NP 3.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A TOURNAMENT
Berwick 4, Holy Redeemer 1
Berwick`1`3 —`4
Holy Redeemer`0`1 —`1
First half — 1. BER, Kenneth Marshman, 25:17. Second half — 2. BER, Marshman (Misael Hernandez), 18:12; 3. BER, Marshman (Mitchell Thelemaque), 28:15; 4. HR, Eric Schramm, 31:25; 5. BER, Marshman (Blake Girton), 38:24.
Shots — BER 26; HR 14. Saves — BER 13 (Luis Garcia); HR 22 (Lance McGrane). Corner kicks — BER 5; HR 5.
Montrose 6, Lake-Lehman 0
Montrose`2`4 —`6
Lake-Lehman`0`0 —`0
First half — 1. MON, Riley Birchard, 6:00; 2. MON, Zach Dieck (Jackson Griffiths), 31:00. Second half — 3. MON, Dieck (Tom Vaccaro), 47:00; 4. MON, Dieck, 56:00; 5. MON, Nicholas Warriner (Griffiths), 57:00; 6. MON, Dieck (Birchard), 63:00.
Shots — MON 13; LL 5. Saves — MON 3 (Ethan Hitchcock); LL 8 (Chris Ash). Corner kicks — MON 6; LL 4.
Wyoming Seminary 10, Mid Valley 0
Wyoming Seminary`7`3 —`10
Mid Valley`0`0 —`0
First half — 1. SEM, Will Ziegler (Jared Weisenberger), 2:00; 2. SEM, Reggie Grayek (Colin Sung), 25:00; 3. SEM, Edge Miller, 25:00; 4. SEM, Grayek (Miller), 27:00; 5. SEM, Miller (Jack Davis), 30:00; 6. SEM, Matt Parsons (Luke Johns), 33:00; 7. SEM, Johns (Parsons), 38:00. Second half — 8. SEM, Miller (Johns), 45:00; 9. SEM, Davis (Johns), 51:00; 10. SEM, Kyle Hromisin (Hugo Kachi), 70:00.
Shots — SEM 36; MV 1. Saves — SEM 2 (Ryan Anderson/Justin Negron); MV 14 (John Piorkowski). Corner kicks — SEM 10; MV 0.
Meyers 11, GAR 0
Meyers`4`7 —`11
GAR`0`0 —`0
First half — 1. MEY, Sam Germain (Tyler Schneikart), 2:43; 2. MEY, Tanner Nilon, 3:42; 3. MEY, Johnny Torres (Germain), 10:09; 4. MEY, Torres (Germain), 24:40. Second half — 5. MEY, Nilon (Germain), 43:15; 6. MEY, Torres (Mellt Molina), 46:36; 7. MEY, Torres, 49:07; 8. MEY, Nilon (Corey Manganiello), 51:10; 9. MEY, Pablo Vargas (Abass Rabu), 60:15; 10. MEY, Caden Strobel (Ruddy Diaz), 68:20; 11. MEY, Diaz, 75:15.
Shots — MEY 23; GAR 7. Saves — MEY 7 (Joel Vazquez); GAR 12 (Joel Aldaco). Corner kicks — MEY 3; GAR 1.
