Frisina scores 100th career goal, Pioneers top Explorers 5-4
By Tracy Cook, Reporter Emeritus
Senior Connor Frisina scored his 100th career goal for the Pioneers today with a hat trick in Conestoga’s match up against La Salle College High School. Senior Tyler Brooke and sophomore Jake Scott each chipped in a goal as well, as the Pioneers bested the visiting Explorers, 5-4, in a closely fought match and Conestoga’s last home game of the 2012 regular season.
Frisina scored the first goal of the game midway through the first quarter. As the clock was winding down to end the quarter, Brooke scored with just one second left on a feed from senior Bradlee Lord.
La Salle senior Adam Stefanowicz tallied the Explorers’ only goal of the half, on a pass from junior Matthew Rambo, with 1:30 left in the second quarter.
Frisina earned his second goal of the game halfway through the third quarter, assisted by senior midfielder Jordan Klunder. Just over a minute later, Rambo scored for La Salle, cutting Conestoga’s lead to one point.
On a goal by junior Adam Schaal, the Explorers tied the score, 3-3. With 5:38 left in the game, Frisina scored again, this time clinching his 100th career goal as a Pioneer. There was little time to celebrate though, as the Explorers tied the game a second time on a Rambo goal just 13 seconds later, with 5:25 left to play.
With just fewer than four minutes in the game, Jake Scott scored after picking up a loose ball right in front of La Salle’s goal, putting the Pioneers ahead, 5-4.
In their lowest offensive output of the season, Conestoga held on to win by one, beating the team they have played for the Pa. state title two out of the last three years. The Pioneers’ overall record improves to 14-3.
Goalkeeping duties for Conestoga were shared by senior Brody Shea and junior Robbie Zonino. Shea started the game and held La Salle to a single goal in the first half. Both recorded critical saves to hold off the powerful offense of La Salle, which averages more than ten goals per game.
Conestoga is scheduled to play their last game of the regular season this Tuesday, on the road at Garnet Valley.
Tracy Cook can be reached at tcook@stoganews.com.
