By Aaron Swaney
Herald Writer
MONROE – On a night in which its big star Brett Walsh wasn’t quite on target, the Monroe boys soccer team needed someone else to step up.
Few thought it would be senior Joe Pieroni.
Pieroni, a Bearcat defender, scored his first two goals of the season to lead Monroe to a 2-1 victory over Shorecrest in the Class 4A Western Conference district semifinals.
“When the season started I didn’t quite know (Joe’s) role on this team,” said Monroe coach Paul Hurme. “But he’s a good athlete and he works hard. He just stepped up tonight when we needed him to and it’s exciting to see.”
The win propelled the Bearcats into a showdown with Mariner at 7 p.m. Friday for the third and final state playoff spot from Wesco.
Shorecrest was eliminated.
Pieroni’s first goal had a little luck on its side. From 20 yards out, Pieroni floated a ball just over the outstretched hands of Shorecrest’s goalie Colin Cufley and just under the cross bar to give Monroe a 1-0 lead early in the first half.
Shorecrest used a little luck of its own to tie the game just before halftime. Seconds before the referee whistled the first half over, the Scots were awarded a penalty kick that David Borton banged it into the bottom left corner.
Coming out of halftime, Monroe called on Pieroni again. His second goal was a piece of soccer art.
After a Monroe free kick was knocked down by Cufley, the ball bounced into the air and Pieroni rocketed a half-volley into the back of the empty net.
“I came out ready to play tonight,” said Pieroni. “I just saw the ball and kicked it.”
With the lead back it was time for Monroe goalie Ben Dragavon to step up and show why he’s considered one of the top goalies in Wesco.
Up against an all out attack in stoppage time, Dragavon made two beautiful saves to preserve the lead.
“That’s what he’s good at, big saves in big games,” Hurme said. “He keeps us in games and that’s huge in the playoffs.”
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