Gateway boys soccer hits stride ahead of 2nd half of section play

By: Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The Gateway boys soccer team finds its in solid position to reach the WPIAL playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

Coach Mike Rugh said the Gators, who were 6-4 overall and 3-2 in Section 1-4A heading into the start of the second cycle of section play, are hitting their stride and hope for some promising outcomes against the section's top teams.

"As every season goes on, you jell as a team and get know your teammates and their tendencies a little bit better," Rugh said.

"That really helps. I think we've seen that through the first month of the season where we're taking advantage of time in practice and in games to sharpen our skills and be better as a whole."

After tough losses to Plum, the top team in Section 1-4A, and defending WPIAL champion Norwin by 4-0 and 6-0 scores, respectively, the Gators won four straight through a 4-2 home victory over Class 2A power Springdale on Sept. 24.

The run started with a 4-3 overtime triumph over Central Catholic that decided third place in the section at the halfway point of the section slate.

Gateway jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half and carried that advantage into the break.

But Central Catholic rallied and scored the game-tying goal on a corner kick with one second left.

In the end, the Gators were able to shake off the adversity and tallied the game winner, a goal from senior midfielder James LoCoco off an assist from fellow senior midfielder Owen Echegaray midway through the first overtime.

"I think we surprised them a little bit and got a nice lead," Rugh said.

"We made a speech to the guys at halftime that we were going to have to score four or five to win the game, regardless of what the scoreboard read at that moment. That ended up being true. We kind of let some corner kicks go in. The last one was a heartbreaker. The guys were upset that they let the lead slip. But at the same time, they were determined to get it back in the extra session. It soon became a pleasant bus ride home."

LoCoco finished with two goals in the game. He followed that output with consecutive hat tricks in wins over section foe Hempfield, 6-2; as well as Kiski Area, 5-3; and Springdale, 4-1.

He entered last Thursday's section game at Penn Hills with four hat tricks and a team-best 17 goals.

"It is a testament to the work he's put in for himself and for the program the past four years," Rugh said.

"His goal to me at the start of the season was to get to double digits. He got there pretty fast, and he's well on his way to 20 or more."

Echegaray tallied a goal in each of the wins over Kiski and Springdale.

"We're definitely building chemistry each day," Echegaray said.

"We've made some mistakes and let up some goals we shouldn't have, but we're learning together."

Sophomore forward Camden Simon scored a goal and tallied an assist in the Central Catholic win and added two assists in the victory over Hempfield. Freshman midfielder Ryan Helman contributed a goal and an assist against Hempfield, senior defenseman Brett Rossi scored a goal against Kiski Area, and junior midfielder Troy Boden tallied a goal in the Central Catholic triumph.

Freshman Maximo Estremera made 12 saves in the OT win over the Vikings and added 10 saves against Springdale.

Gateway this week was to face Plum on Tuesday before taking on Norwin on Thursday with the rematch against Central Catholic at home on Monday (Oct. 7).

"Plum and Norwin are powerhouses," Rugh said. "We knew a lot about Plum, and we didn't know as much about Norwin. But the guys saw what they saw the first time around and have been champing at the bit for these second meetings.

"Central Catholic, I am sure, feels like we took something from them at their place, and they will be looking to get it back when they come here. Hopefully, this time, we can play a full 80 minutes against them. They're a good team, and we'll just have to see how it goes."

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at .