Rivals Collide
GROVE CITY — The Grove City boys soccer team has been waiting for a signature win all season.
That may have finally come on Monday.
The Eagles received goals from Pete Conley and Cole Latimer, then held off Slippery Rock 2-1 in District 10 Region 2 action at Forker Field.
“This game is something we should have done all year,” said Eagles coach Ron Churchill. “We've outplayed our opponents. We've outshot our opponents, bar none.”
Grove City (8-9, 2-7) has under-performed this year, but against the Rockets, played a strong game throughout. In the process, the Eagles may have handed the Rockets (7-7-1, 6-3) a damaging blow to their playoff hopes.
“There are some other tough teams in District 10,” Rockets coach Kyle Hopkins said. “It will come down to the end.”
Conley provided a huge spark for the Eagles, particularly when he buried a shot past Slippery Rock goalie Zach Latorre with 17:07 left in the first half.
Latorre had blocked a shot from Will Potter, but when he couldn't corral the ball, Conley deposited it in the net.
“That was the whole game,” Churchill said. “Slippery Rock is our biggest rival and Slippery Rock has usually given us battles.”
Said Hopkins, “You saw the intensity out there. It's always there whether we're both on the top or on the bottom. They came out with more intensity and that's why they came away with the win.”
The Rockets would double their lead just 4:37 into the second half when Larimer also put a loose ball past Latorre, with an assist credited to Jake Gordon.
Ten minutes later, with 25:17 to play, the Rockets trimmed the deficit when Evan Mysliwiec fired a long pass ahead to Cole McCandless, who led a breakaway attempt and fired a shot past Jed Grimm.
“Their strikers are great,” said Churchill of the Rockets. “Their midfielders are strong. They make their breaks. They capitalize on mistakes. Cole put that one in.
“Tonight, we were the stronger team. We managed to secure the win,” Churchill added.
The Rockets made one final push in the closing minute when Mark Cessar attempted a shot from the right side that Grimm made a nice save in the front corner.
“We were still trying to work the ball in the middle,” Hopkins said. “Towards the end, we were trying to get more guys higher to get that goal.”
Notes: Grimm finished with five saves and Latorre with six. ... Grove City won the junior varsity game, 2-0. ... Next up, Grove City will host Hickory, while Slippery Rock will travel to Wilmington, both on Wednesday.
