11th-seeded Franklin Regional wins again, shocking Moon in OT in WPIAL quarterfinals
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Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 10:33 PM
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon is mobbed by teammates after scoring in double overtime to defeat Moon, 2-1, in their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon celebrates after scoring in double overtime to defeat Moon, 2-1, in their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Dominic Kaforey battles Moon’s Aedan Costa for a header during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Joey Bayne connects on a header next to Moon’s Cooper Nickles during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Dominic Kaforey battles Moon’s Aedan Costa along sideline during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker makes a save against Moon during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker celebrates with teammates after defeating Moon in double overtime of their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon celebrates after scoring his first goal against Moon during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Moon goalkeeper Zach Shutak makes a save on Franklin Regional’s Joey Bayne during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Moon’s Davi Jansson celebrates with the student section after scoring against Franklin Regional during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Moon’s Davi Jansson celebrates after scoring against Franklin Regional during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon fires a shot to score in double overtime against Moon during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon celebrates after scoring in double overtime to defeat Moon, 2-1, in their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Keaton Sheetz battles Moon’s Michael Walenchok for possession during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Benjamin Poole heads the ball against Moon during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Thomas Bridges battles Moon’s Noah Masry for possession during their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon celebrates after scoring in double overtime to defeat Moon, 2-1, in their WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at Moon.
Franklin Regional junior midfielder Tyler Pipon scored both goals for the Panthers, including the golden goal about four minutes into the second overtime Wednesday night, to propel the Panthers to a 2-1 win over Moon and into the next round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
“Very surreal. It didn’t feel real at all,” Pipon said. “The crosser from Danny (Christafano) was what made that play.”
Coming down on the right side, Christafano dribbled past two defenders and fed Pipon, who was open in the middle for the winning goal.
“It was a gutsy effort,” said Franklin Regional coach Lukas Petersen. “Moon is a top-quality program. You could tell we were frustrating them.”
No. 11 Franklin Regional will face No. 2 Hampton in the semifinals Monday.
“I’m at a loss of words,” said Moon coach Tyler Blake. “Credit to them. They played well defensively. I was very impressed with their keeper. They were very good on the back end.”
The Panthers (12-7) defense stymied No. 3 Moon’s (15-4-1) offense, shutting down junior Aedan Costa.
“We had about five different guys that understood the system and played their hearts out,” Petersen said. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but you have to put your head down and grind out a win.”
In the second minute, Costa made a move around Franklin Regional junior defender Tim Wagner and looked to have a yawning net, but goalkeeper Noah Walker slid over to make the save.
“Their backs came out better than they were on tape,” said Blake. “They did a good job at keeping our attackers at bay tonight.”
The Panthers were still looking for their first real opportunity of the match when junior all-WPIAL forward Joey Bayne flew by the Moon defenders and tried to sneak one in. But senior goalkeeper Zachary Shutak made a diving save to keep the score 0-0.
The Tigers kept feeding Costa along the left side, looking to create offense, but every attempted pass or shot by Costa was met and returned by Wagner.
Moon’s next solid opportunity came on a give-and-go with Evan Thomas and Costa, who then found Michael Walenchok streaking down the middle.
Walenchok chipped the ball over Walker’s head, and it looked like it would break the scoreless tie, but Panthers senior defender Benjamin Poole slid over and cleared the ball back to midfield.
Franklin Regional got on the board first when Pipon emerged from a crowd and scored with 2:53 left in the first half.
“Throughout the season, we were getting goals like that off of free kicks,” Pipon said. “They’ve been working when we crash the net, and, when we do, we’re just hoping the goalie messes up. And it worked just like that.”
In the 12th minute of the second half, Bayne had a point-blank chance in front of the net, but Shutak stuffed the shot, leaving Bayne to gaze up at the heavens, wondering how he missed a chance to put the Panthers up two.
“They’ve got two outstanding strikers in Bayne and Christafano,” said Blake. “We wanted to have Evan Thomas follow Bayne around. He’s a tremendous talent, and Christafano got in at the end for them.”
The Tigers finally got on the board with 56 seconds left in regulation, as Walenchok came down the right side and found himself open for a shot. He sent off a missile into the chest of goalkeeper Walker, who could not control the rebound and senior forward Davi Jansson tapped it in to tie the game 1-1.
“Took us a while to find ourselves during the season,” said Petersen. “We play in a tough section, and, if there ever was a time for us to find our identity, it’s now. We’re starting to find it.”
Tags: Franklin Regional, Moon
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