Boys Soccer - Franklin Regional vs Plum

September 28, 2020

Plum Boys Snap Franklin Regional Win Streak with 2-1 Road Victory

Plum came into Franklin Regional only one week removed from a 4-1 loss to the Panthers at home. With the Mustangs looking up at the Panthers sitting in the top spot in the Class 3A Section 4 standings, a win was vital to stay in the playoff race. When the night was over, Plum had accomplished what nobody else had in the regular season since 2017, as they handed the Panthers a loss in a 2-1 battle at Panther Stadium in Murrysville on Monday, September 28.

An evenly played first half found the teams scoreless after 40 minutes. Soon after play resumed for the second half, Plum broke the ice with a Luke Kolankowski goal less than four minutes into the half.

Franklin Regional got on the board two minutes later when Anthony DiFalco fed Zachary Johnston in front of the net, who booted it past Plum keeper Gabe Kuhn to even the game at 1-1.

The game winner came from the foot of DD Flowers, who rolled one past Franklin Regional's Gianni Diacopoulos with 23 minutes left to play. The Panthers had an opportunity with a corner kick just inside of two minutes left in the game, but the Plum defense held for the win to even the season series between the two teams.

The loss snapped a Franklin Regional home winning streak that went back to a 2-1 defeat by Penn-Trafford on September 26,2017. The two-time defending WPIAL champion Panthers only loss in the 2018 and 2019 seasons had come in the PIAA semifinal round.

Both teams will continue conference play with games on Wednesday 9/30. Franklin Regional (7-1-0) travels to Obama Academy while Plum will host Kiski Area.

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.

Keywords: boys, franklin regional, high school, plum, soccer, westmoreland county