Box Score STEUBENVILLE – In a rematch of the quarterfinal matchup from last year, the Franciscan men's soccer team made history in a 2-1 win over La Roche, Saturday afternoon.
Not only did the win hand Franciscan its first-ever playoff win in program history but it set a school record for wins in a season with 11. The previous record was 10 wins, set by last year's team. Individually, senior Leo Herrmann broke two of his own single-season records. His game-winning goal late in the second half set the program's single-season goal record with his 19th of the year. He held the previous top mark of 18. His first goal of the game pushed his season point total to 43, setting that single-season record as well. He finished the day with 45 points so far this season.
Herrmann's record-setting goal came at the most important time for the Barons. With 22 minutes to play in regulation and the score tied at 1-1, the Barons continued to pressure the La Roche back line. The Barons got the ball into the box, but couldn't get a clean shot off and the Redhawk goalie attempted to clear the ball but it went almost completely straight up as Herrmann maintained his position in front of the net. As the ball came down, the senior was able to get his foot on it and pop it over the goalie who was off his line for the game-winning tally with 22:27 to play.
The Baron defense went to work in the final 22 minutes to keep La Roche from finding the back of the net. The Red Hawks were awarded a corner kick almost immediately after Herrmann's goal but Franciscan was able to clear the ball out right away without a shot on net. The Redhawks had two last opportunities but the Baron pressure was too much as one shot went wide and La Roche's final shot was blocked. With seven minutes left, Herrmann tried to make it 3-1 in favor of the Barons but his final shot was saved by the Redhawk goalie.
Herrmann's heroics were set up in the first two minutes of the second half as junior Mark Fioramonti hit a long shot that ricocheted off the crossbar. Freshman Sebastian Koehler was there to collect the rebound and immediately put the ball back on net but the La Roche saved it back into play. Herrmann was there to collect the second rebound of the play and bury the ball into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1.
The Baron defense shined the second half, limiting a very potent Redhawk offense to just six shots, none on target, as Franciscan controlled the pace of play in the second half.
The Redhawks looked to control the game early, scoring the game's first goal in the 12th minute of action. La Roche put senior keeper Thomas Dosedel to work early as the Redhawks earned a corner in the first 30 seconds of action. Two minutes later, the Redhawks got their first shot off, right on target, but Dosedel rose to the challenge and turned them away. After a pair of FUS shots were blocked on the other side of the field, La Roche used its speed to pressure down the field. The Redhawks got an initial shot off but Dosedel made another save. Two minutes later, Joaquin Vicent Franch fed a long pass to Pedro Ansede on the run. The pass pulled Dosedel off the line and Ansede was able to slip the ball inside the near post for the 1-0 advantage 11:52 into action.
The Redhawks had three more real opportunities to take a 2-0 lead, but couldn't capitalize. Two shots were stopped by Dosedel and third hit the crossbar and Franciscan was able to clear it out of any danger and keep the game 1-0 going into halftime.
Head coach Christian Bobak's halftime talk sparked a fire in the Barons as they came out fast in the second half to take control of the game and win their first-ever playoff game.
Herrmann led all players with 10 shots, while sophomore Ian Baldau had three and Firoamonti, Koehler and freshman JP Bobak each had two.
The Barons out-shot the Redhawks 22-13 while La Roche held a 7-4 advantage in corners.
Dosedel earned his 10th win of the year in goal with four saves, all in the first half.
Franciscan continues on as the Barons travel to the top-seeded Penn St.-Behrend on Wednesday for a 2 pm semifinal game.
