Dominant Blue Knights stay unbeaten

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KINGSTON — In each of the last four seasons, the Wyoming Seminary boys soccer team has fallen in the District 2 Class A semifinals.

It’s still early in the 2014 season, but with the way the Blue Knights are playing so far, they may be looking at finally getting over that obstacle six weeks from now.

Seminary remained one of just three unbeatens in the Wyoming Valley Conference on Monday knocking off previously undefeated Nanticoke, 5-1. Coughlin (5-0) and Wyoming Valley West (3-0) are the other two teams with no losses in the WVC this season. The Blue Knights have been dominating their competition outscoring opponents 43-4 as they improved to 7-0.

“Throughout the games we’ve had a number of scorers so it’s not just relying on one or two players,” Seminary coach Charles Carrick said. “The guys are stepping up and we’re trying to emphasize that it’s going to be unselfish play that’s going to win the day. When we have a lot of guys getting assists and a lot of guys getting goals that’s some really good chemistry.

“The kids are feeling good. It’s been some really, really good play. Guys are healthy. ...Good spirit and looking forward to moving into the second half of the season.”

Against a banged up Trojans (1-1-1) team — that nearly defeated the reigning District 2 Class 2A champion Tunkhannock team last week before settling for a tie — Wyoming Seminary took a little time to get going, but once the team did, it was nearly unstopable. Seminary put up an astronomical 35 shots with more than half of them being on goal on Monday afternoon.

“They outplayed us and they just played better than we did,” Trojans coach Mark Matusek said. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the game. ...They just totally dominated the game.”

Andriy Molchanov got the Blue Knights on the board with a goal at the 24:21 mark of the first half, taking a pass from Dominick Bohl for a 1-0 lead. About eight minutes later, Alex Grosek connected on a long through ball from about 30-yards out giving Seminary a 2-0 lead.

“He made a great run from the wing, stretched the defense so that passing lane was there and just connected and hit it for all it’s worth,” Carrick added. “It was a beautiful shot.”

Nanticoke had a good chance before the first half came to a close when Ed Lukowski headed the ball off a cross pass, but hit he hit the crossbar.

The back-breaker for the Trojans came less than 10 minutes into the second half. Nanticoke keeper Carmelo Pioquinto crossed the line on the 18-yard box on a kick resulting in a penalty setting up a free kick by Seminary’s Bohl, who nailed the shot in the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.

“When you can score on a free kick that can often time take the wind out of the sails of the opposing team,” Carrick noted. “And Dominick just lined it up and just slotted that ball beautifully.”

That score turned out to be big because five minutes later Nanticoke got on the board when Nik Placek struck the net on a corner kick trimming the lead to 3-1. It was the second time already this season that Placek has accomplished the not-so-common score. It gave the Trojans a little momentum, but being a two-goal deficit instead of one was a huge difference.

Seminary’s Geronimo Maspero capped the scoring with a pair of goals in the final 9:46 of the second half. Despite the one miscue, Pioquinto had a good game in goal for the Trojans making 16 saves. If not for some of his moves inside the pipes, the score could have been way out of hand.

Dallas 7, Holy Redeemer 2

Nate Wood scored five times and assisted on another to lead Dallas to the victory. Zack Kalna and Aleksey Gitelson also struck the back of the net for the Mountaineers.

Eric Schramm and Devin Dougherty scored for the Royals.

Wyoming Valley West 7, Pittston Area 0

Hunter Maxwell scored four goals in the second half after Mike Bazadona scored the only two goals of the first half for the Spartans. Mike Tandoh added a pair of assists in the victory while keepers Mitch Davis and Evan Weaver combined on the shutout.

Wyoming Seminary 5, Nanticoke 1

Nanticoke`0`1`—`1

Wyoming Seminary`2`3`—`5

First half —Second half —

Shots — NAN 6; WS 35. Saves — NAN 16 (Carmelo Pioquinto); WS 2 (Kyle Hall). Corner kicks — NAN 2; WS 3.

Dallas 7, Holy Redeemer 2

Holy Redeemer`0`2`—`2

Dallas`4`3`—`7

First half —Second half —

Shots — HR 7; DAL 19. Saves — HR 9 (Matt Blaum); DAL 7 (Jesse Goode). Corner kicks — HR 2; DAL 5.

Wyoming Valley West 7, Pittston Area 0

Pittston Area`0`0`—`0