×

Warren rolls to Senior Night win over OC

Warren’s Jake Funari (7) heads a ball during the first half of a match against Oil City at War Memorial Field, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. The Dragons rolled to an 11-1 win over the Oilers on senior night.

Six of the eight seniors honored on Senior Night scored and the Dragons sent that group off War Memorial Field for the last time with an 11-1 win over Oil City Thursday.

Most of that group has been playing together since they were 10 years old, and Warren coach Denny Flatt has coached them through that progression.

“They’re a great group of kids,” Flatt said. “They’re really good players, but even better mentors. They’re role models on and off the field.”

The seniors, Andrew Beyer, Colin Blair, Caleb Ei, Jake Funari, Tommy Harrington, Beck Labesky, James Lawson and Griffin Suppa, all drew the start and all were on the field when the final horn sounded.

Blair got the scoring started less than three minutes in. He took a pass from Caleb Lindell and pushed it past the Oil City keeper for a 1-0 Dragons lead. Suppa took a centering pass from Lindell at 10:58 and drilled a shot to put Warren up 2-0.

Warren’s JT Blum (9) turns upfield after scoring a goal during the first half of a match against Oil City at War Memorial Field, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. Blum scored a pair of goals on the night as the Dragons cruised to an 11-1 win over the Oilers.

Lawson put another in two minutes later and Funari made it 4-0 at 17:01.

Alex Nebinski was the first underclassmen to record a goal when he scored at 23:30. JT Blum made it 6-0 with just over seven minutes to play in the first half, and that was the score at halftime.

Lindell scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season in the first two minutes of the second half.

With just under 17 minutes to play, Labesky pushed a bouncing ball past the keeper and in for his first career goal.

Oil City got on the board a minute and a half later as a high shot went over keeper Alex Ferry’s head, bounced just in front of the goal line, hit under the crossbar and went in.

Warren defender Beck Labesky (29) puts the ball on net during the second half of a match against Oil City at War Memorial Field, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. Labesky was one of seven seniors who scored on senior night as the Dragons rolled to an 11-1 win over the Oilers.

With 9:25 to go, starting keeper Tommy Harrington donned a forward jersey, got behind the defense and tucked the ball into the corner for his first career goal.

Blum closed out the scoring two minutes later with his second of the game.

The seniors finished their final home game with a combined six goals and seven assists.

A big win behind them, Warren’s coaching staff continued to rave about their senior class.

“The underclassmen were genuinely excited about sending them off,” assistant coach Chris Darling said. “They said so many nice things about them (prior to the game), it really got us in the mood for senior night. They really celebrated these kids.”

“We get to see first-hand the great job their parents have done,” Flatt added. “We’re very proud to be their coaches. It’s such a good group.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today