Boys high school soccer: Young Buckeye team pleased with tie against Rocky River

YORK TWP. — Buckeye boys soccer coach Andrew Coccia said he wasn't going to duck despite having a young team, and the Bucks proved that Wednesday. With the Great Lakes Conference splitting into divisions, there was no need to play Rocky River, which sits in the West. The third-year coach did so anyway and walked out with a 0-0 non-league tie. Coccia also stepped off his home field knowing the Bucks (0-0-2) got a heckuva lot better. "They've been challenged to start the season," Coccia said of his players. "We've had two tough opponents (tied Canfield 2-2). Our schedule doesn't get easier. "I scheduled these teams because I wanted us to push ourselves. These guys have a goal. These seniors have come close to winning a district final. I think in order to get to that level, we have to keep testing ourselves. They showed some things today." Buckeye proved it could hang with one of the better teams in the area. After taking the Pirates' best shots, the Bucks played a second half worthy of praise. While Buckeye was outshot 5-2, it had the better chances in a wild 40 closing minutes. Jackson Powell finally put the first shot on the board for the Bucks with 17:59 left as Buckeye dominated most of the final 20 minutes. Powell and Spencer Dreibelbis had shots tick over the crossbar, and Roman Pshonyak was stoned at point-blank range by keeper Will DeClerck with 15:46 left. "I think we showed that we have a lot more heart than a lot of teams think we have," center back Nino Brunst said. "Being a younger team, based on that second half, we had the ball the whole entire time. Other than a couple shots they had, we showed that we don't fall under pressure. We build up in the second half with games like that. "We used the last game as our motivation, too. We use every single chance, every single thing we have to get better. This is a hard-working team. As young as they are, I think this is the hardest-working team I've been on." After scoring two goals in the final 36 seconds of the season opener, the Bucks took what Rocky River (1-0-2) gave them. When the Pirates pressed, keeper Chase Miller (5 saves) and Co. were up to the task. Rocky River had a breakaway two minutes into the second half, but Miller came off his line to snuff Nathyn Marius at the top of the box. "We're putting in the work at practice and getting our younger guys grinding just like we are," Miller said. "We're showing guys the ways. Guys are playing in completely different positions and they're stepping up and making it a competitive game. "Our defense was locking it down. They were keeping it pretty easy for me." Brunst had help from Connor Greer, Nolan Martin and Jese Nkemayang in back and holding midfielders Lucas Miller and Garrett Erne in front. "They were organized and poised," Coccia said. "It's easy to have a breakdown in a game like this and lose your focus. They executed their game plan and got forward when they could, but they locked down and kept good shape when we were in transition and defending in our final third." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com. Buckeye 0, Rocky River 0 BUCKEYE 0 0 — 0 ROCKY RIVER 0 0 — 0 Shots on goal — Rocky River 5, Buckeye 2. Corner kicks — Rocky River 1, Buckeye 2. Saves — Will DeClerck (R) 2, Chase Miller (B) 5. Records — Rocky River (1-0-2), Buckeye (0-0-2). Junior varsity — Buckeye 5, Rocky River 0 (B: Jaiden Davenport 3 goals, Jack Kichurchak, Logan Lowe).