CONNEAUT MEN'S SOCCER BLOG
By Ryan Kozlowski, Conneaut Men's Assistant Coach
Kennedy Catholic came into this contest with a 12-1-1 record, while Conneaut's up and down season had them at a respectable 7-5-2.
With that in mind, many probably wouldn't have pegged the Conneaut Eagles traveling to Kennedy Catholic and putting up a win with the season that the other Eagles (of the golden variety) were having.
Yet a total team effort by every Conneaut Eagle that stepped on KC's soggy field led to Conneaut's best performance of the season.
Tanner Williams, Tommy Mullen, Josh Betts, and Chris Toth were resolute in defense.
Cole Snodgrass, Brandon Jackson, and Ethan Mona challenged in midfield.
While a striker triumvirate of Richard Moore, Tyler Bone, and Tanner Houck created havoc by pressing the back four of Kennedy with speed and pressure.
Overall, Conneaut had 10 shots on goal to Kennedy Catholic's 8, and the Conneaut Eagles had the better chances while KC rarely threatened.
Nevertheless, goalkeeper Nick Stockton had to be on the top of his game at moments and his clear outs to the strikers were spot on.
Conneaut pressed and pressed, and worked the over the top ball, but couldn't find a breakthrough.
Until the 63rd minute, as Conneaut's Tanner Williams pressed up the right side and then switched a beautiful ball to a wide open Cole Snodgrass who snuck unmarked on a back post run.
Snodgrass trapped the ball..
Then there was a second or two pause on the field..
As no one in the Conneaut or Kennedy Catholic camps could probably believe how open Snodgrass was, let alone Snodgrass..
Then it was just Snodgrass vs. KC's goalkeeper Cianci..
And Cole ripped a shot into the right back post and wheeled off in celebration.
Yet there were still 27 minutes to play and that's where not only the defense but all 11 players on the field for Conneaut stepped up and played team defense, won the 50-50 balls, and killed clock with clever play after clever play in the offensive third.
Kennedy Catholic's coaches, bench, and fans pleaded and pushed their eleven for an equalizer, but quite simply it wasn't their day; it was Conneaut's.
"This is the level of play our team is capable of when all eleven put their minds to a task. Unfortunately that desire by all eleven to win the 50-50 balls, to put pressure on the defense, and to challenge the other team, instead of laying off, hasn't always been there this season.
If we play like this we can beat 12-1 teams and compete with anyone. Hopefully the players put that in their back pocket and use that to inspire them the rest of this season," stated Coach Kozlowski.
With the win Conneaut improved to 8-5-2 overall and 5-3-1 in conference, while Kennedy Catholic dropped to 12-2-1 and 6-2-1 in conference.
Starters: GK- Nick Stockton, LB- Cole Snodgrass, CB- Josh Betts, SW- Tommy Mullen, RB- Tanner Williams, CM- Ethan Mona, CM- Brandon Jackson, LM- Richard Moore, RM- Brandon Moss, ST- Tyler Bone, ST- Tanner Houck
Substitutes: Chris Toth, Mark McLean, Luke Graham, Nick Moss
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