Franklin Regional holds off Penn-Trafford in section opener
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Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 10:19 PM
Franklin Regional’s Thomas Bridges celebrates with teammates after scoring against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Cruise Lamanna battles Penn-Trafford’s Brennen Neubauer for a header during their game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Cruise Lamanna celebrates after scoring against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Keaton Sheetz heads the ball against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Emerson Bush makes a save against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Emerson Bush makes a save Penn-Trafford’s Noah Haslam during their game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Emerson Bush celebrates after defeating Penn-Trafford, 3-2, on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Aiden Alexander battles Penn-Trafford’s Brennen Neubauer for possession during their game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Penn-Trafford’s Cameron King heads the ball next to Franklin Regional’s Fabrizzio Costa during their game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Cruise Lamanna celebrates with teammates after scoring against Penn-Trafford on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional was as opportunistic as it was technical in its first Section 3-3A boys soccer game of the season.
It also had no choice but to be composed with Penn-Trafford hot on its bumper.
The visiting Panthers had to overcome hard-charging Penn-Trafford’s late surge to hold on for a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night at Warrior Stadium.
“We knew we had to come out strong,” said Panthers junior defender Thomas Bridges, who was active on the back line for most of the match, helping the Panthers set the tone early. “We had to be in the right spots. We’re a different team, and our game plan has changed a little but we have been in big games before.
“We feel like we can play with anybody any time.”
Franklin Regional (2-0, 1-0) took a 3-0 lead into halftime before the Warriors (1-1, 0-1) made a second-half push.
While graduation took a bite out of the WPIAL runners-up, a number of under-the-radar returning players, like Bridges, have been around a winning program.
“We have a young group, and they are still learning to see games through,” Franklin Regional coach Nick White said. “We did what we needed to do to win. We earned what we got. Penn-Trafford is a really good team.”
White said his team’s play was far from perfect, but he was pleased with the result nonetheless.
“When it was 3-2, our guys gave a total, gutsy effort,” White said. “It wasn’t pretty. If there were five more minutes (to play), I think this makes it to overtime.”
Down three, Penn-Trafford played a long-ball style — like Franklin Regional did early — and it nearly allowed it to pull even.
It also made the Panthers work as the visitors tried to wear down the clock.
The first-half hole was too much to overcome in the end.
“Their dinky balls went in, and ours didn’t,” Penn-Trafford coach Ryan Hankey said. “They like to play the long ball. We had to match that. You can’t give up bad goals, and I thought we did tonight.”
The Panthers struck first when senior Cruise Lamanna tapped in a loose ball in front of the cage for a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. Freshman Luca Aguilera had the assist.
The Panthers, who defeated 4A Norwin, 2-1, over the weekend, sustained run-ups in open space and found several quality scoring chances, connecting on another one to go up 2-0.
Lamanna sent a header to the doorstep for sophomore Aiden Alexander, who volleyed it into the net in the 18th minute.
The Warriors (1-1, 0-1) had limited offensive chances in the first half, and they fell behind.
With eight minutes to play in the first half, Bridges fielded a corner kick and blasted a header that was saved by senior goalkeeper Jose Chaves. The ball deflected back to Bridges, and he buried the second effort with his left foot for a three-goal lead, which it took into intermission.
The helper went to senior Febrizzio Costa.
Penn-Trafford got on the board in the 56th minute when senior midfielder Cooper Geyer scored on a breakaway.
Lamanna left the game because of a yellow card with 15:24 remaining. With the forward out for five minutes, the Warriors cut the lead to one.
Junior speedster Noah Haslem made a move around Bridges, juking right and going left before finishing to make it 3-2 with 10:27 to play.
“It’s good to know we can come back in that fashion,” Hankey said. “Against a team like that.”
The Warriors nearly tied it with two minutes left as Haslem had three tries in close. But senior defender Dominic Mascara made a goal-line stop, knocking the ball away to help preserve the win.
“Huge moment for Dom,” White said. “Thomas was a beast tonight.”
Senior Keaton Sheetz of Franklin Regional was injured around four minutes into the game and did not return.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford
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