After enduring a rough season last year with only 14 players, no seniors, and no wins, the Tyrone boys soccer team is back this season with 19 players, five seniors, and their first win in over two seasons: 3-2 pre-season victory over Windber.

Tyrone junior Rocky Romani led all scorers with three goals, including two on penalty kicks.

The game started out rough for the Golden Eagles as the defense let Windber get past them in the first five minutes of the game.

But Tyrone, persistent as ever, cleaned up their act on defense and retaliated with a goal of their own thanks to right-wing Conner Bardell.

Bardell made an attacking play down the right side of the field toward Windber’s half. As he took it past the Windber defense, Bardell crossed it into the box where attacking players Rocky Romani and Landon Berry were waiting.

The ball hit one of Windber’s defensive player’s hands, and Tyrone was awarded a penalty kick.

Romani took the PK, faked to the left, the keeper jumped, and Romani buried the ball on the right side of the goal for Tyrone’s first score of the 2022 season.

With the score tied, the young Tyrone squad stole the momentum from Windber and played hard.

As time went on, both teams maintained the ball, with most of the action occurring in the midfield.  But before halftime Windber scored another goal was scored against Tyrone, making the score 2-1 in Windber’s favor.

Going into the second half, Tyrone knew that they were still in the game but it was going to take all they had to tie the score, let alone win the game. The Golden Eagles came out with a vengeance, maintained possession of the ball, and controlled the second half.

A second penalty kick was awarded to Tyrone due to another foul inside the 18-yard box. Romani was chosen to take the kick, and yet again, he buried the ball in the net for the tying goal.

Finally, with about ten minutes left on the clock, Romani played the ball short to outside winger Jake Baker on a corner kick. Baker played it back out to Romani, who ripped a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to complete the hat trick.

Tyrone held the 3-2 score. The win was Tyrone’s first in over two years.

Last season the team had a rough year, but one positive takeaway was perseverance and persistence. Over the offseason, the boys put in the work and were finally rewarded with a win.