CORRY - Thanks to some help from Bradford and Titusville, the Warren Dragons' boys soccer team is once again a region champion.
Bradford's victory over Saegertown on Monday, coupled with Warren's 5-0 victory over Corry - and Titusville's double overtime tie with the Owls - on Wednesday, allowed the Dragons to claim the outright Region 4 crown.
The Dragons (13-4) will be the region's top seed when the D-10 Class AA playoffs get underway in the coming weeks.
"Things just worked out our way I guess," said Warren coach Tom Harrington. "We got some help from Bradford Monday and took care of what we needed to tonight. I'm happy with the victory and happy with the region title."
With Corry bunkering down and playing anywhere from 9-to-11 players in the box, according to Harrington, it took the Dragons quite some time to find the back of the net in Wednesday's win.
With 7:25 remaining until halftime, Warren finally got on the board when Joseph Bell found Tristan Boger, who buried the shot for his first varsity goal.
Just over two minutes later, Phil Hachula fed Matt Sandberg for Sandberg's 25th goal of the season and the Dragons led 2-0 at intermission.
The Dragons came out firing in the second half, needing just a minute and a half for Liam Boger to find Sandberg for Sandberg's second tally of the evening. Two minutes later Bell found Hachula for the team's fourth goal of the night.
The scoring concluded with six minutes remaining as Joey Close assisted on Quinn Boger's score.
Nathan Sandberg and Clark Eason combined for the shutout in goal, but both were untested as Warren outshot Corry, 49-1.
No junior varsity game was played.
The Dragons' final regular season game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday when they travel to Erie to square off with D-10's top Class AAA team in McDowell.
"That's a great team to play right before the playoffs," said Harrington. "It should have us playing at a high level when the postseason begins."
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North East 3, Eisenhower 0
NORTH EAST - With North East playing for a playoff spot and share of the region title, the Grapepickers played at full strength Wednesday, handing the Eisenhower Knights a 3-0 loss at North East High School.
"Despite the score, we actually played quite well," said Ike coach Mike Decker. "We were able to hold them scoreless until the final two minutes of the first half."
North East scored that goal on a breakaway despite the fact that Casey Vincent got a hand on the ball. The ball still found the back of the net and the hosts led 1-0.
The Knights had to play against a stiff wind in the second half and held North East off the board until the midway point of the half when again North East scored on a breakaway. The Pickers would add a late goal to close out the scoring.
Decker credited Vincent with playing a strong game in goal despite loads of North East pressure as well as the defensive efforts of Matt Eernisse and Ryan Williams.
The Knights (7-6-1) visit Smethport on Saturday before closing the regular season at home at 4 p.m. Tuesday against Iroquois.