By Ryan Kozlowski, Assistant Coach
The Conneaut Eagles on the prior Tuesday won against Saegertown with 25 seconds left.
Against Meadville they decided to once again live life on the edge, as it took until the final minutes for the Eagles to break the deadlock for the second time; this time senior Tanner Houck finished with a minute and 27 seconds remaining.
The 2-1 result was deserved with the second half performance Conneaut had against Meadville, but not so much with the first half performance.
Conneaut scored 14 minutes into the game when Brandon Moss sent a pinpoint cross back post, dropping the ball right into left winger Ethan Mona's run who applied an easy finish; quite possibly the best goal yet.
However, the goal didn't ignite Conneaut but instead slowed them down.
Overconfidence, possibly stemming from a previous scrimmage against Meadville where Conneaut held 75% percent of the possession and 25 shots to 4, put Conneaut in coast mode for the rest of the first half.
And as it goes in soccer, if you give an opponent opportunities to build on and build on, they'll eventually make you pay.
Meadville, feeling pretty good about their 4-4 tie with Erie East the day prior, would tie it up once again with 7 minutes left in the first half to make it 1-1.
A locker room talk at half, encouraging Conneaut to get out of coast mode and take it to Meadville seemed to do the trick, as second half Conneaut came out re-energized as a different side.
The Eagles put a first half that was probably their worst behind them, and followed it up with their best 40 minutes this season.
Everyone passed well, everyone battled, everyone moved without the ball, and when that happens opportunities start to present themselves.
Conneaut was outshot by Meadville first half 8 to 4, and turned that on it's head in the second half by outshooting Meadville 6 to 1 for a 10 to 9 overall advantage.
The best opportunity to present itself early in the second half was in the 58th minute when senior striker Tanner Williams made a nice move and then was chopped down in the box by a Meadville defenseman.
Tyler Bone, who to this point was Mr. Clutch for Conneaut soccer, stepped up to the penalty spot and shot a weak one right at the keeper; which was probably justified as the penalty call was a bit soft.
No worries. In soccer you have to have a short memory and Conneaut has showed themselves to have one, as they just kept playing and receiving more opportunities.
Richard Moore, who probably had his best half yet, did a phenomenal job at striker in the second half by connecting passes and being a nuisance; his performance led to a break away against the keeper in the 71st minute, but with half a net wide open to pass to, Moore discouragingly allowed the goalkeeper to cut down the angle and make a save.
But, however frustrating, Conneaut kept plugging away and believing; and with a minute and 27 seconds left- a melee in the box finally found the ball at Tanner Houck's feet, from 18 yards out, and the senior buried it.
The Conneaut coaches joked with the starters after the game, pleading for them to score earlier; but, nevertheless two game winners in the last two minutes of the last two games, is a sign of a good team.
Good teams find a way to win no matter what and Conneaut did so improving to 3-0-1.
Starting lineup:ST- Mark McLean, ST- Tanner Williams, LW- Ethan Mona, CM- Tyler Bone, CM- Brandon Jackson, RW- Brandon Moss, RB- Josh Betts, CB- Tanner Houck, CB- Tommy Mullen, LB- Cole Snodgrass, GK- Nick Stockton
Substitutes used:Richard Moore, Tanner Dittrich, Nick Moss, Cody Zinz, Luke Graham, Chase Vickers, Mark McLean, Brandon Haylett, Kyle Ledford, Chris Toth
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