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No chances

Warren’s defense shines again in Dragons’ win over Meadville

Times Observer Photos by Brian Ferry Warren’s Parks Ordiway dribbles through the Meadville defense on Thursday at War Memorial Field.

Warren was faced with one of its tightest games of the season.

And the Dragons came through again.

Three different goal scorers found the back of the net and the Warren defense was stingy again as the Dragons improved to 12-0-0 in District 10 Region 4 boys soccer play with a 3-0 shutout of Meadville on Thursday at War Memorial Field.

The defensive back line of Jack Darling, Sean Duckett, Ethan Best and Ricky Madril shined and didn’t allow any Meadville shots to reach goalkeeper Alex Ferry en route to Warren’s 10th shutout of the fall.

“Our defense really didn’t give up any opportunities,” assistant coach Chris Darling said. “It was a contested game even though they didn’t have any shots. I thought Meadville played really well, our defense just stepped up big.”

Zane Anderson got the Dragons on the board in the second minute when he scored from Wesley Kiehl and JT Blum made it 2-0 in the 17th minute from Ian Darling.

At halftime, with the school marching band in the crowd, Warren’s six seniors — Ferry, Darling, John Page, Anderson, Duckett and Kiehl — walked the field one final time with their teammates behind them and presented their mothers with roses recognizing their final regular-season game at War Memorial Field.

“The band played the national anthem and a halftime show,” head coach Denny Flatt said. “We really appreciated them showing up.”

“They haven’t had the opportunities they would normally have at football games,” Darling added. “It’s been a nice venue for them. Aaron Reinard is the director and they do a really nice job.”

After the halftime break, Meadville held the Dragons in check until just seven seconds remained when Kiehl put home a corner kick from Page.

“They just played us tough today,” Darling said. “They were bunkered down a bit. There were times when you looked back and there would be seven or eight defenders behind the ball.”

“Games like this are important when the playoffs are a couple of weeks away,” Flatt added. “It showed us we have some things to work on with our attack. We are going to see teams that are going to play us tight. We’re going to learn from this one.”

Warren will close the regular season on the road next week at Saegertown on Monday and at Titusville on Thursday.

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