After being shutout for the first time this season on Saturday, it didn't take long for the Warren Dragons to get back on the scoreboard.
Hunter Mohney scored just 45 seconds into Warren's Region 4 opener against Bradford Monday at War Memorial Field and the Dragons went on to win the contest, 3-1.
Twenty minutes into the first half, Mohney added his second goal of the game off of a corner kick. The Owls keeper rushed off his line to punch the ball out, but just missed, leaving Mohney unattended in front of the goal.
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Times Observer photo by Jonathan McAfoos
Get a grip
Joseph Bell (4) passes a ball between two Bradford defenders during a boys soccer match with the Owls Monday at War Memorial Field. The Dragons opened their region season with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Owls.
"We call him Hunter 'right place, right time' Mohney," said Warren coach Tom Harrington after the game.
Bradford got right back into the game early in the second half when a player curled a shot into the net from just outside the 10-yard-line.
The teams traded chances throughout the remainder of the half, but it was Warren who finally broke through. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Liam Boger took a free kick and hit the ball off the post to give Warren its final goal of the game.
Quinn Boger, Liam Boger and Phil Acula all recorded assists for the Dragons.
Freshman Clark Eason made his first career varsity start - and second career appearance - in goal, with regular starter Nathan Sandberg missing the game to be with the Warren boys golf team. Eason made 12 saves for the victorious Dragons.
"I'm very happy with the way we talked and passed the ball today," Harrington said. "We're pretty beat up. We had some guys out with the flu so we had a short bench, but we sucked it up. It wasn't the prettiest game, but we got the job done and I'm happy with the heart and effort we showed."
Harrington added that he was happy with the performance by Eason in goal, and again stressed how well his defense has played all year long.
Warren (4-2, 1-0 in Region 4) will play their next five games against region opponents, starting with a match at Saegertown on Wednesday.
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Fairview 3, Eisenhower 0
FAIRVIEW - Eisenhower's four-game winning streak came to an end during its region opening match with Fairview Monday at Fairview Area High School.
Despite playing "pretty well," according to coach Mike Decker, the Knights fell short against the Tigers, 3-0.
"They took advantage of their chances and we had a couple injuries that forced us to shuffle our back line," said Decker. "(Fairview) caught on to that pretty quickly and used it to their advantage."
The Tigers scored their first goal on a corner kick nearly 15 minutes into the game and senior star Ben Irwin buried a second goal with three minutes left in the opening half.
While Fairview would score the only second-half goal of the game, Decker said his Knights had some excellent opportunities in the second 40 minutes.
"Jake VanHouten, Josh Eernisse and Erik Daugharthy all had good looks in the second," said Decker. "We either narrowly missed the shot or their keeper made a great save. They just didn't go in."
Eisenhower's region schedule doesn't get any easier from here. The Knights visit Mercyhurst Prep on Thursday at Erie Veterans Stadium. The game had originally been scheduled for Wednesday, but was moved due to a scheduling conflict.