PITSBURG – Franklin Monroe was fired up taking on the Division III No. 10 state ranked Troy Christian boys in soccer action Monday in what was a very competitive game that saw the Jets shock the Eagles with a 4-1 upset.
In the early part of the contest Troy Christian seemed to control the tempo and play most of it inside of the FM goal area. The Jets turned away a number of opportunities by the Eagles.
The big play early took place when Troy Christian received a free goal kick and FM goalie Kaleb Poe faced him down and made a diving play, punching the ball out to save a goal that seemed to motivate and energize the home team.
That turn of events turned into a score from Brydon Diceanu at the 16:41 mark in the first half.
“I have to give a lot credit to those guys in the back,” Franklin Monroe Boys soccer coach Danny Diceanu said. “Kaleb came up with a really big save early on. You never know what could have happened had he not got that. Then we scored after that, which really turned the momentum in our favor.”
In the second half Bryce Robison on a free kick faked a shot then delivered a perfect short pass to a sprinting Brydon Diceanu, who curled a kick around two defenders and past the goalkeeper for his second goal at the 28-minute mark of the second half to give FM a 2-0 lead.
The Jets got a bonus goal when Robison got a free kick from midfield that he boomed over everyone. It bounced in front of the goalkeeper and through his hands for the Jets’ third score on the night with 18 minutes left to play.
The Eagles finally struck gold with 13 minutes to play to cut the margin to 3-1.
It didn’t take Brydon Diceanu long to get it back as he pulled off the hat trick when his goal kick easily found the mark to put the Jets up 4-1.
With just over six minutes left to play and lightning in the picture the game was called and Franklin Monroe registered a 4-1 upset.
“After the season and start we’ve had … plus the lack of punch on the offensive end, what can I say, tonight it seemed like we put it together a little bit,” Coach Diceanu with a slight smile on his face after pulling off the upset.
“We have a pretty good forward (Brydon Diceanu) who’s been playing very well. He’s creating chances, causing trouble for the other team, and tonight it showed. He was busy and on his game. I believe it was his second hat trick of the season, and he’s emerging as a goal scorer, and that’s nice to see being that he’s only a sophomore,” Coach Diceanu said.
“This was a very competitive game and in the end a very enjoyable game for us … but we need to get ready for Thursday night for a big Cross County Conference game with Miami East,” Coach Diceanu concluded.
Franklin Monroe improved to 2-3-1 on the year.
