Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP– Soccer is a great sport to watch but it can be frustrating in a way as it’s the one sport that you can completely dominate your opponent and have nothing to show for it.
That was certainly the case last night at Tony Dorsett Stadium as the Hopewell HS Boys soccer team took on West Mifflin in their 2025 season opener.
Hopewell dominated West Mifflin in every single category such as zone time, scoring chances, shots on net, ball possession, EVERYTHING but one, the final score.
I don’t have an official time of play in their opposing territory but here’s an unofficial guess. Of the 80 minutes of the match yesterday, I’d say that 60+ minutes were spent in the West Mifflin end and 10+ in the neutral zone.
Unfortunately for Hopewell, they had one defensive breakdown, and it resulted in the only goal of the game as West Mifflin came away with a 1-0 win. I’m not 100% positive but that goal might have been West Mifflin’s only shot on goal, and it was a mini breakaway. That’s how dominating Hopewell was but they were not able to put away any of the great opportunities they produced.
Is it a frustrating loss? Yes. But looking at things with the glass half full mentality, if they continue to play like that this season, they’re going to be just fine.
Vikings Sports Now was at the game and here were some of the highlights of the match. As you’ll see, Hopewell senior Bryce Ray was outstanding as his speed allowed him to generate plenty of scoring opportunities.
Hopewell senior Bryce Ray
Offensively, Nykyeron Leonora, Rocco Marcantonio and Tommy Armour Jr. also had strong games.
HOPEWELL VS. WEST MIFFLIN 1ST HALF:
36:34- The field was completely tilted in the first 5 minutes as Hopewell had multiple chances, headlined by a header from Ray right in front of the net. WM goalie with the save.
35:13- Ray with another chance from the 10-yard line but his shot just misses the opposite corner of the net.
33:53- Ronald Bushnell with a great lead pass up the middle of the field that Ray runs down, as he was about to fire at the net, the WM defender caught up and prevented a clean shot.
31:28- Hopewell puts pressure on the WM net and eventually John Sakson gets a chance, but his shot ticketed for the top corner, sails just high.
28:48- Sakson with another chance from the hash but once again it goes high.
24:26- Marcantonio with a great lead pass to Ray that Bryce tracks down, he has a great opportunity and gets shot away with it goes over the net. Hopewell had a number of good looks and were trying to place the ball in the top corners of the net but were just missing.
23:13- Corner Kick, Marcantonio with a nice pass in front that Leonara headed to the net, but it was stopped by the WM goalie.
21:15- Because of his speed, Ray takes a lead pass up the right side and just misses the top right corner of the net.
**The next 5-6 minutes was played in the neutral zone with neither team getting many opportunities.
10:37- WM looked to have an opportunity deep in the Hopewell zone but a great defensive play by Alex Alvarado prevents it.
8:44- Marcantonio with another nice feed to Ray, who makes a nice 1-on-1 move to get past his defender, he gets a nice shot off from the left hash, but it’s stopped by the WM goalie.
7:32- WM with their second-best chance of the half but once again, Alvarado breaks up an attempted pass across the crease.
5:37- WM scores as they got a pass across the field to the left hash and on a mini-break, the WM player with no one around him puts it away. WM 1-0.
2:52- Armour with a tremendous chance in the middle of the field, he runs in, and his shot had the WM goalie beat but it banged off the middle of the goal, right above the goalie.
HALFTIME: WEST MIFFLIN 1 HOPEWELL 0
**Hopewell once again spent plenty of time in the West Mifflin end, but they didn’t generate nearly as many opportunities as they did in the 1st half.
35:41- Leonora with a mini breakaway from the slot but his shot sails over the net.
31:48- Hopewell with the corner kick, Ray with a nice header but it’s stopped by the WM goalie.
28:42- Armour with a nice throw in, the ball was loose in the middle, Leonora with the shot but it goes just wide on the short side.
23:38- Ray carries the ball up the left side, passes in front to Marcantonio, who gets a shot away from the 10-yard line and it goes high over the net.
FINAL SCORE: WEST MIFFLIN 1 HOPEWELL 0
Next Up: Hopewell will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Ellwood City for their first section game of the season. The Vikings will next play at home on September 9th against Beaver in a huge section game.
