Brian Hagberg
RUSSELL, Pa. – Three goals in three minutes helped turn a 1-goal lead into a 4-goal lead, and Warren tacked on four more in an 8-0 win at Eisenhower on Thursday.
The Dragons (5-3 overall, 5-1 Region 4) led 1-0 at halftime. Just under six minutes into the second half, Warren scored three goals in a span of three minutes, two within 35 seconds of each other, to break the game open. It was the Dragons’ fourth straight victory.
Gavin Rex had three of Warren’s goals and added an assist. Will Nebinski got the shutout.
“Once we get into a rhythm, we’re good to go, honestly,” Rex said.
See Rex’s full postgame interview:
Eisenhower (2-5, 2-4) controlled possession in the first minutes of the match, but the Knights were unable to cash in on any of their chances.
Rex got behind the defense at 11:18 and put the ball in the back of the net for his first goal of the match. Though both teams had chances through the remainder of the half, neither could capitalize and the score was 1-0 at the half.
“Always enjoy playing against the Eisenhower squad, we play as teammates during travel with a bunch of the boys and we developed some nice friendships,” Warren coach Denny Flatt said. “The boys respond well to each other and it’s always a good competitive match.”
It took a little less than six minutes in the second half for the Dragons to strike again.
Rex found Parks Ordiway in front of the net and Ordiway used a header to give Warren a 2-0 lead. The Dragons, and Rex, needed only 32 seconds to put the ball in the back of the net again and push the lead to 3-0.
Jack Darling got in on the action 1:40 later when he buried a rebound to make it 4-0.
“Coach Flatt made some nice adjustments at halftime and we came out really moving the ball nicely and winning all 50/50 balls,” Warren assistant coach Chris Darling said.
Ordiway won a footrace to collect his second goal of the match 14 minutes into the second half. Seven minutes later, a loose ball in front of the net bounced off an Eisenhower player and into the goal to extend Warren’s lead to 6-0.
Rex completed the hat trick with 7:23 to play off a crossing pass from Jack Chapman. Chapman scored Warren’s final goal of the match with just under six minutes left.
Parks Ordiway had an assist, and Finn Ordiway tallied a helper as well.
The Dragons outshot the Knights 29-9.
Both teams will be back on the pitch on Monday as Warren travels to Titusville and Eisenhower hosts Conneaut (OH).
