Plum shuts out rival Franklin Regional in early season section showdown
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Thursday, August 31, 2023 | 11:06 PM
Plum’s Zack Mauro (right) celebrates his goal with Brady French during the first half against Franklin Regional on Thursday.
Plum’s Brady French works past Franklin Regional’s Dom Kaforey during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Eli Wastchak battles Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon for a header during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Zach Carnahan fouls Franklin Regional’s Danny Christafano during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Aryan Selokar makes a save on Plum’s Zach Mauro during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Zack Mauro (15) celebrates his goal with Brady French during the first half against Franklin Regional on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Zack Mauro (15) celebrates his goal with Brady French during the first half against Franklin Regional on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Aryan Selokar makes a save next to Plum’s Eli Wastchak during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Aryan Selokar makes a leaping save against Plum on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Franklin Regional’s Noah Walker battles Plum’s Brady French for a header during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Travis Kodman heads the ball away from the goal next to Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon during their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Franklin Regional’s Joey Bayne battles Plum’s Tyler Yurisinec for possession during the first half og their game on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum’s Brady French heads the ball against Franklin Regional on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum goalkeeper Owen Zalewski makes a save against Franklin Regional on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum goalkeeper Owen Zalewski celebrates as time expires in the Mustangs’ 1-0 win over Franklin Regional on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Plum.
Plum is finding different ways to score goals this soccer season.
It doesn’t have to be pretty. It can even be boring, as long as the ball goes in the net.
The fourth-ranked Mustangs did enough to claim a 1-0 shutout in a chippy Section 3-3A matchup against neighboring Franklin Regional on Thursday night at Mustang Stadium.
“We know we’re going to have to grind out some games this year,” Plum coach Raf Kolankowski said. “This was one of them.”
Plum (3-1, 2-0) is learning to play without standout Aldi Flowers, a fast-paced junior who enrolled in the FC Cincinnati development academy as he pursues a professional career.
With Flowers gone, the Mustangs have had to get more creative in the attacking third. And more players are contributing.
Franklin Regional (2-2, 1-1) had trouble generating shots in a game with a number of late stoppages.
“They took it to us in the first half,” Franklin Regional coach Lukas Petersen said. “They wanted it more. They came out firing, and they were motivated and inspired. We didn’t have an answer.”
Plum controlled play from the opening kick in the first half, crossing passes in front and whizzing some early shots toward Panthers keeper Aryan Selokar.
“That was the best first half we’ve played,” Kolankowski said. “We had some chances and missed some bunnies. You have to finish against a team like Franklin Regional because they keep coming at you. We went into more of a defensive shell in the second half. But it was a gutsy performance by our guys.”
Junior Noah Walker knocked away two attempts for the Panthers, using his leg to sweep away a dangerous ball.
Senior Tristan Ralph delivered a nice setup near the net, but the Panthers dodged another one.
They couldn’t stop them all, though.
Senior forward Zach Mauro took possession wide inside the 20-yard line and dribbled at Selokar.
He released his shot low and wide, and the ball found the lower-right corner to make it 1-0 in the 14th minute.
The Mustangs limited the Panthers’ ball movement most of the way forward.
“We’re still finding our scoring legs,” Petersen said. “We were out-coached, out-everything-ed in the first half. We got punched, and our game plan went out the window. We looked shellshocked, and our greenness showed.”
A tense final few minutes saw the Panthers get a last chance that nearly added to a wild finish.
Plum’s Jonathan Aristyl was red-carded, and officials asked that nine seconds be put back on the clock.
A long free kick by the Panthers missed, though, and Plum celebrated.
Aristyl will have to sit out Plum’s next game.
“It’s always intense when we play them,” Kolankowski said. “This is the fourth (straight) year playing them, and it’s always a one-goal game.”
Plum, which beat Ambridge, 4-2, lost to Upper St. Clair, 2-1, and blanked McKeesport, 8-0, outshot the Panthers, 10-3.
The Panthers had won two in a row. They defeated Ambridge and Obama by 3-0 scores after a 2-1 loss to Wheeling Park to begin the season.
Selokar made eight saves for Franklin Regional.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Plum
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