Panuccio lifts Wildcats
October 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Sunday, October 28, 2007
BY MICHAEL BULLOCK
For The Patriot-News
As he watched a throw-in sail over his head, Gaetano Panuccio did what his instincts told him to do: Get in position for a rebound or a fortuitous bounce.
Since the ball hopped his way, we’ll let him describe what happened next.
“I just stuck my right foot out and tried to smack it in there,” Panuccio said.
“Luckily, it went in.”
Panuccio’s goal with 11:26 gone in overtime, his third of a wonderful game, lifted Mechanicsburg to a 3-2 victory over Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinal round of the District 3-AAA boys’ soccer tournament Saturday night at breezy Landis Field.
Up next for Panuccio & Co. is a date with second-seeded Red Land in the back end of a twinbill Wednesday night at Hersheypark Stadium.
Niko Corado and Jeff Gring collected second-half scores — the latter with 17 minutes gone in the second half — as CV (11-10-2) valiantly rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the second consecutive 3-AAA outing. Unlike Thursday at Warwick, this time the Eagles fell short.
“To get back to this game, with everything we went through this year, I’m just very, very proud of our seniors,” CV coach Matt Billman said.
“This is arguably the most determined, resilient group we’ve ever had. … They left a great legacy. A lot of teams would have folded when we were 4-7-1.”
A lot of teams would have folded down 2-0, but after surrendering Panuccio’s two first-half scores Billman’s hustling Eagles scrapped back to pull even.
Using some nifty dance-step moves, Corado rolled in CV’s first score before Gring followed with his tying penalty kick.
Once Mechanicsburg’s Sam Burkholder (6 saves) covered Colby Zeger’s rip with just over 18 minutes left in the second half, a well-paced game with plenty of end-to-end action and timely defensive plays began to swing back to the Wildcats (16-5-2).
Panuccio unleashed four terrific chances before regulation ended, but three sailed high or wide. The other was denied by keeper Vish Arya (6 saves).
Guy was just … we chased him a lot of the evening,” Billman said.
“[Panuccio’s] been fantastic [the last two games],” said Mechanicsburg coach Tony Lougee. “He played with a lot of determination and a lot of confidence.
“I can’t say enough about him.”
Or, for that matter, his whole team.
Though Greg Bretz could have won it early in extra time, his effort whistled wide of the left post.
Panuccio might have won it a short time later, but his bicycle kick split the football uprights.
Then, when Will Laubach’s throw from the right boundary sailed into the heart of the penalty area, a hustling Arya tried to punch the ball away. Instead, it went right to Panuccio.
Soon, it was resting in the net.
“This is pride,” Panuccio said. “It’s not only to make it to states or anything, it’s for pride.”
Hempfield’s season comes to stunning end
October 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By DAVE BYRNE, Correspondent
Lancaster New Era
Published: Oct 26, 2007 9:30 AM EST
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - A speedy offensive attack carried Hempfield to 15 victories this year, but the Black Knights could not have foreseen a speedy exit from the District 3 Triple-A soccer tournament.
Shane Jordan’s score 30 minutes in was the only goal of the game, and Mechanicsburg made it stand for a 1-0 upset victory Thursday night at Hempfield.
“(Shane’s) stepped up the last couple of games and scored some big goals for us,” said Wildcats’ coach Tony Lougee.
Few bigger than this one.
The 14th-seeded Wildcats (15-5-2) braved an early storm of Black Knight opportunities. Once they got the lead, they played eight or nine men behind the ball for the entire second half and left with their second 1-0 win of the tournament.
Mechanicsburg beat Gettysburg by the same score in its play-in game on Monday.
“District game, up 1-0, you try and hold the lead — that’s the name of the game,” said Hempfield coach Brendan Cregan, whose Black Knights entered the tournament as the third seed behind defending District champion Manheim Township and Red Land.
The name of the game, at least for Hempfield, was “unlucky”.
Unleashing the soccer equivalent of a no-huddle, two-minute-drill attack, the Black Knights (15-5-2) pulled Mechanicsburg into a race up-and-down the pitch.
“We knew that’s what the pace was going to be,” Lougee said.
“It was back and forth and that was fine. I trusted our goalkeeper and our defense.”
His trust was sorely tested as the Knights put together six great scoring opportunities in the first 26 minutes.
In the first 6:30, Dan Haldeman was just wide with a shot deflected by ‘Cats keeper Sam Burkholder, Matt DeMascola headed a ball off the upper right corner of the goal post and Burkholder made a great save on Forrest Moul’s shot.
In an extended trip in the offensive third, carrying from the 16th to 18th minutes, Burkholder (10 saves) blanked Andy Hollinger, then leaped to catch Keegan Nauman’s riser.
Finally, in the 26th minute, Moul bent a blast from the left side that struck, yet again, the right corner of the post and crossbar.
“We had some good opportunities, hit some crossbars,” said Cregan. “It just wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”
During the onslaught, Mechanicsburg wasn’t content to sit back and take it.
The Wildcats, two years removed from a District championship game loss to Pequea Valley, returned just three starters from a team that defeated Hempfield 3-0 in last year’s Triple-A quarterfinals.
But two of those three were Gye Panuccio and Shane Jordan, a pair of three-year veterans.
Panuccio, the ‘Cats’ leading scorer with 18 goals, logged as many miles roaming from touchline to touchline Thursday as he did from the goal line to midfield, always alert for an opportunity to go on offense.
He got his chances, the best coming midway through the first half when he bananaed a free kick from the left side, five yards off the top of the box, and hit the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, with both sides slowing visibly, Panuccio sent a ball ahead to Jordan, who carried into the Hempfield box.
Knights’ keeper Kyle King came off his line to challenge Jordan, cutting the angle, but Jordan deflected the ball off King, recovered, and pounded it into the right side of the net.
“He (King) had to come out. He had no choice,” said Cregan. “You’re going to have bounces like that and you hope you’re on the positive end of some of them.”
They didn’t on Thursday.
Despite the Wildcats packing in behind midfield, Hempfield had its chances in the second half — and finished with a 15-10 advantage in shots — just not the quality of those opening rushes.
Hollinger and DeMascola tested Burkholder in the 55th minute and the Knights had five opportunities in the last 4:10, including two headers by Ben Durst, the second coming as the clock rolled zeroes.
CONTACT US: dbyrne@LNPnews.com
Penalty kick closes Gettysburg’s season
October 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By TOM SIXEAS
Hanover Evening Sun Correspondent
Article Launched: 10/23/2007 09:41:44 AM EDT
Mechanicsburg’s Gye Panuccio scored the only goal of the game on a penalty kick with 29:01 left in the first half to lead the Wildcats to a 1-0 win over
Panuccio was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty shot. He beat
Boys’ D3 Soccer: Wildcats down Warriors
October 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Jeffrey Kauffman
Last updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:14 AM EDT
Sports Reporter
Sportsdoor@cumberlink.com
Mechanicsburg and Gettysburg already played two double-overtime games this season so no one expected anything less than that when the squads squared off for the third time in the District 3-AAA play-in contest Monday night at Gettysburg. Gye Pannuccio drilled a penalty kick early in the contest and the Mechanicsburg defense held up their end of the battle to win the contest 1-0.
Mechanicsburg, the 19th seed at 14-5-2, won an earlier contest 2-1 and tied the other game 1-1 as both games went to the second overtime, expected a physical battle and a close contest and that is exactly how the game played out.
“It was a dogfight against them both times this year,” said co-captain Greg Bretz. “We expected the physical contest tonight. We’ve been able to kick it and go get it especially with Gaetano up there. Add the speed of Arnold and DeNicola and when they start to put the ball in the back of the net consistently we are going to real dangerous.”
“You have to give Sam Burkholder credit,” added Chris White. “You don’t hear much about the keepers in the league and he has to be one of the most underrated ones in the league. He was real solid and it is easier to step out when you know he’s behind you. We are comfortable with each other defensively and you know you can challenge a ball because someone will be behind you.”
Both defenses played solid games and allowed very few shots. There were only twelve shots on goal by both teams and Mechanicsburg had six corners to five for Gettysburg.
Wildcat keeper Sam Burkholder was the difference as he stopped all seven shots by Gettysburg, none of which were extremely difficult saves. He was in control and in position throughout the contest. His toughest save was his first in which he bobbled across and had to snap it up before Evan Mudd was able to get a toe on it to knock it in.
Greg Bretz made a strong run down the right touch line and as he went to turn the corner he was taken down. The referee signalled a penalty shot and Pannuccio stepped to the line and drilled his shot low to the right corner only 11 minutes into the contest.
The Wildcats added a second goal as Pannuccio flipped the ball over the defense and Andrew Bohn appeared to run onto the ball and head it past the keeper, but it was disallowed as the referee ruled that Bohn was a hair quick past the defender and his hand also was ahead of the defender.
Both teams’ defenses were anticipating the ball well, stepped to the ball well, and played the ball well out of the air. The Wildcat defense of Will Laubach, Chris White, Garrett Murphy, and Steve Fowler were lights out on the back side. Only one shot was taken within the penalty area and the others were taken from 25 yards or further out.
“I thought we played better defensively throughout the whole game, said Wildcat coach Tony Lougee. “Will, Fowler, Murph and Chris just did a great job in the back and Sam was solid in the goal. None of his saves were phenomenal but he was just solid. We created some opportunities but they didn’t work but that was okay.
“It wasn’t like we sat back on defense as we certainly had some chances. I thought the second goal was a well- developed play but it didn’t count. It is tough to play someone three times and Gettysburg is a good team and well-coached and played hard.”
Gettysburg, the 14th seed, had two big hits from Derik Yager and Michael Celius, but Burkholder was in position to field both of them in the first half.
Cort Hutchinson, Bretz, Shane Jordan and freshman Matt Steele all contributed solid defense and runs in the midfield area.
Pannuccio, John DeNicola, and John Arnold made great runs and had several chances but couldn’t add that second goal that counted.
The Mechanicsburg defense blanketed Bryce Shaffer, the leading scorer for Gettysburg with 21 goals. He was held to one shot and was a non-factor
Gettysburg finishes the season at 12-6-1.
The 14th seeded Wildcats move on to take on the third seeded Hempfield Thursday at Hempfield at 7:00pm.
Boys’ Soccer: Wildcats fall to Trojans 2-1
October 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Jeffrey Kauffman
Last updated: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 1:44 AM EDT
Sentinel Reporter
Sportsdoor@cumberlink.com
The Mechanicsburg boys’ soccer team played possibly its best game of the season Tuesday, dominating Hershey or much of the game. However, the Wildcats still ended up on the losing end of a 2-1 decision at the Northside Soccer Pitch. Mechanicsburg (9-3-2 Keystone, 13-5-2 overall) got off to a quick start in the game, as Gaetano Pannuccio nailed a penalty kick in the first three minutes. John Arnold broke through the defense and was taken down, creating the penalty shot situation for Pannuccio. The Wildcats out-shot the Trojans 12-3 over the course of the first half, but could not dent the back of the net. A wild flurry in front of the Hershey cage at the 20-minute mark, but the ball didn’t bounce the right way for the Wildcats — Jonathan DeNicola hit the post, and
Arnold’s follow-through in the box somehow didn’t make it across the goal line, and was finally covered by Trojan keeper Mike Walmer. Hershey did have a couple of chances, utilizing the speed of Kyle Patrick, arguably one of the Mid Penn’s top players, but his chances were stopped by Wildcat goalie Sam Burkholder. DeNicola and Arnold combined for another scoring opportunity late in the half, but DeNicola’s shot hit the crossbar. “Hershey is dangerous, and Patrick is dangerous up top,” said Mechanicsburg head coach Tony Lougee. “In the second half, we broke down, and we were out of our shape. But overall, I thought we played very well.”
Hershey came out quickly in the second half, with Patrick forcing a 1-1 tie. Kurt Heffner fed a long ball to Patrick. He split two defenders and was able to slot a ball low past Burkholder. It was Patrick’s 28th goal of the season, and his 18th Keystone Division-game score.
Patrick had another chance just minutes later, but Burkholder was in position and knocked it down, with teammate Will Laubach there to clear the ball out defensively. Hershey (10-4 Keystone, 14-5 overall) finally got the go-ahead goal in the second half on a perfect cross from Patrick to Max Howie, who simply had to nod the ball home. The goal came at the 65 minute mark. Mechanicsburg had several good scoring chances over the final 25 minutes, but the Hershey defense blocked shots or the ball was hit right to Walmer. One ball passed Walmer, but Heffner was there to clear the ball off the goal line and out of danger. “We had a ton of chances and opportunities, but we had some bad luck” said Lougee. “We had some real good looks, but we missed a couple and that will happen. It will be tough but if we play in Districts the way we played tonight we’ll be okay. “All of our seniors did a good job this year. They all worked hard, their roles have changed where they are at, but the guys have been great. Guys like Ryan Bailey and Jon Quigley are young individuals with great character. Greg Bretz, Chris White, and Guy (Pannuccio) worked hard and freshman Ryan Steele played very well tonight. I thought all the kids played very well tonight. Everybody who went out there did a great job.” Mechanicsburg will advance to the District 3 Tournament. More information on the Wildcats’ first-round opponent will be provided when known.
High School Boys’ Soccer: Carlisle escapes in OT
September 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dexter Lamparter had to kick it twice to ensure the Herd’s first win in the past eight games as he deposited a penalty kick in the opening minute of overtime to beat Mechanicsburg 2-1 at Ken Millen Field Saturday evening.
Just under a minute into overtime of the Mid-Penn nondivision match, Chase West went into the box and went down while holding possession of the ball. With no hesitation, the official blew the whistle and pointed to the spot for a penalty kick. Lamparter blasted the kick into the right corner but the goal was waved off as a Carlisle player was inside the box. Lamparter was forced to kick again and found the back of the net a second time for the win.
With Mechanicsburg struggling over the past week and the Herd having lost seven games in a row, including six Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division games, few knew what to expect out of the game. Carlisle coach Brandon Eiserman benched five of his players for a set period of time in the first half and his staff found what they were looking for as the Herd hustled to the ball and challenged much more intensely than they have all season.
“It was meant to be a message as there were certain things going on in practice that is a mold that we are trying to break,” Eiserman said. “I think they got the point as we had emotion on the bench and they were aggressive. This was a confidence win for them to get them over the hump. Nathan Shimandle won some big 50-50 balls on defense in the air and played well. Brewster Tisson did a good job on ( Guy Pannuccio). Brice (Merwine) came up with a huge save. Dexter has been our guy from the beginning and he puts the ball in the back of the net. We got production from everyone tonight.”
The teams were evenly matched as they went into overtime at a 1-1 tie. Carlisle (3-7) had a slight 13-12 advantage in shots and each keeper corralled five saves in the back-and-forth match. Each team had several dangerous scoring chances but shots just missed the posts or crossbars or keepers were up to the task.
The teams played a scoreless first half in which each team did a lot of dump and chase, trying to get their forwards one-on-one with a defender or the keeper, but each had an opportunity or two. Pannuccio was well-marked up front for the Wildcats (6-3-1) as all teams are aware of his ability to be dangerous with the ball in the offensive end. He had several runs with the ball but had defenders draped all over him each time he tried to move with the ball. The Herd offense had a tendency to hit shots wide right or wide left. Wildcat keeper Sam Burkholder only had two saves in the first half.
Carlisle had one good chance when Alec Longarzo took a feed from Chase West but blasted the ball just over the crossbar.
In the second half, the Herd jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Brennan Zizzi fed a ball down the right sideline to Alec Longarzo, who split two defenders and toed the ball into the net past Burkholder. One official came to the scorers table and called it an own goal as he said it went off a Mechanicsburg player into the net. Either way, Longarzo was taking credit and the Herd led the game.
“I was the one that kicked that ball into the net,” stated a happy Longarzo after the contest. ” This win was huge, maybe the turning point for us. We have been close in games but couldn’t get over that hump. We had key players — Brewster and the Shimandle’s (Nate and Tyler) stepped up tonight. Brice is a good young player and we just need to keep marking and working together. These young guys are going to be tough down the road in a year or so.”
Carlisle and Mechanicsburg both played good defense despite the shirt-grabbing and clutching you would normally see in the ice rink. Both teams were aggressive to the ball and were not taking cheap shots at each other. In the second half, there was very good passing to move the ball up the field.
Mechanicsburg had a great chance to tie the match at one in the 19th minute. A cross by Greg Bretz found the head of a Mechanicsburg player but freshman keeper Brice Merwine made a phenomenal save as he tapped the ball away and defender Robert Gilroy was in the right place as he cleared the ball away from the front of the cage and Nathan Shimandle was there to clear it out of danger.
The Wildcats finally tied the contest at the 8:16 mark as Chris White stuck a loose ball in the back of the net. White missed the first half of the game as he was on a college visit and arrived at the stadium at half-time.
Carlisle had two key chances late as Zizzi ripped a direct kick off the wall and Darwin Martinez just missed the upper right post from about 25 yards out.
“This a tough loss,” Mechanicsburg coach Tony Lougee said. “I thought we had our chances but we didn’t finish. That first own goal was tough but our kids battled back. We moved the ball well at times and created opportunities but we didn’t have that good look to finish. We can’t be unhappy with that. I have always enjoyed these games with Carlisle and it has turned into a good rivalry.”
Carlisle travels to Chambersburg for Tuesday night game while Mechanicsburg hosts Middletown on Tuesday night at the Northside Soccer Pitch.
Mechanicsburg on WGAL
September 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Click to watch Mechanicsburg vs. Gettysburg on WGAL.com
VIDEO: H.S. Soccer - Double OT Thriller in Mid Penn
Panuccio heeds advice
September 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
BY MICHAEL BULLOCK
For The Patriot-News
Engaged in light chatter just before the second overtime session kicked off, Gaetano Panuccio listened intently to Mechanicsburg assistant coach Bill Edwards’ lively spiel before a wide grin creased his face right before the whistle sounded.
While their impromptu chat had everything to do with a second-half breakaway that the prolific Panuccio could not polish off, Edwards hoped to perk up the prolific Wildcats senior with a “You owe me one. Now get me one.”
Two minutes later, that one arrived.
Panuccio’s goal with 1:57 gone in the second overtime, his second of the game, handed Mechanicsburg a 2-1 victory over Gettysburg in a lively Mid-Penn Keystone Division boys’ soccer match Tuesday night at Mechanicsburg’s chilly Northside Cage.
Bryce Shaffer netted the lone score for Gettysburg (5-3, 3-3). His 25-yard blast whistled inside the left post with just 14:19 gone, handing the hard-working Warriors a 1-0 advantage not long before the sun began to fade. One Panuccio & Co. wouldn’t let stand.
Panuccio pulled the Wildcats (6-2-1, 4-1-1) even with just 3:01 gone in the second half when he flagged down a John Arnold serve about 25 yards out, slipped around hard-charging keeper Ben Szoke (5 saves) and slid a firm shot into the vacated net.
“I thought we played pretty well,” said Gettysburg’s Chad Wright, whose club was denied a second goal when Wildcats goalkeeper Sam Burkholder (5 saves) made a diving save to rob Evan Mudd.
“When we gave up the goal, there was a slight momentum shift and it began to build.”
Nearly 15 minutes later, Panuccio had an opportunity to pop Mechanicsburg in front when he hustled on to a Chris White ball that put him behind three pursuing Warriors defenders. Instead of driving deeper, Panuccio unloaded a shot that Szoke’s right hand deadened and Colin Byrne cleared.
Though both teams had several chances to finish off the other, neither team could convert. Mechanicsburg was particularly aggressive in the first OT, but Szoke denied Shane Jordan and Andrew Bohn. Panuccio also nodded a shot off the frame.
Enter Edwards.
“I just had to get my mind-set down,” said Panuccio, who has scored 12 goals. “Just listen to my coaches and stay up high. Just do my job, wait and be patient. … He told me, that’s how you scored the first goal, now get me another one.”
Receiving the ball on the right flank, Panuccio wheeled into the corner, then skipped down the end line when several Gettysburg defenders were unable to pin him. When he neared the cage, Panuccio cut to the six, then uncorked a left-footed strike that eluded Szoke.
Gye’s just got to be patient and he’s got to wait for his chances, realize there’s going to be dudes hanging on him … he’s going to get his looks,” Mechanicsburg coach Tony Lougee said. “He certainly scored two great goals; the second one was fantastic.”
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