Fratangelo’s Hat Trick Leads Mars to First Win, 4-0 Over Knoch

ADAMS TWP —Sebastian Fratangelo and Luca Martorelli scored early for Mars. The Planets’ defense—and another pair of goals by Fratangelo—did the rest in a

4-0 boys soccer win over Knoch at home on Tuesday night.

Through four matchups early in the season, first-year coach Joe Haefner’s team has allowed just two goals, one against Hopewell and another against Deer Lakes — both draws. The Knights couldn’t produce much of an attack with a stifling Mars resistance in front of them.

“Being the center back, you can see everything, and also just having all four players talking at once, and having our keeper also be chirping as well, it just keeps everyone connected,” senior defender and captain Jackson Zirnsak said.

Fratangelo, a sophomore striker, didn’t find out that he was starting his first varsity game until he arrived at his team’s locker room at Mars Athletic Complex. He opened the scoring in the 6th minute after Knoch couldn’t sweep Matthew Myers’ corner kick out of the box, then the Planets did damage again from the other corner nearly five minutes later. A Knoch handball on Liam Duerrung’s offering gave way to senior midfielder Luca Martorelli’s score on a penalty kick.

Fratangelo added a second tally on the night on a cross from senior defender Mason Rocke in the 45th minute. Fratangelo polished off a hat trick 10 minutes later, depositing a rebound off of senior defender Jackson Zirnsak’s free kick.

“The angle was too sharp to try and shoot near post,” Zirnsak said. “The keeper had a great wall, so I had to go far post. … The keeper read it well. It didn’t have enough height.

“Once he dropped that ball and spilled it, that’s when Seb came in and scored.”

On the pass from Rocke, Fratangelo leaped up to direct it in with his foot. It looked like a play a seasoned standout would make.

“It doesn’t take necessarily skill to finish that close, but it takes a little bit of hunger and desire,” Haefner said. “That’s what he found.”

Of the three draws to start the Planets’ slate, Zirnsak was most encouraged by the knot with Deer Lakes. Through four games, Haefner has learned a lot about his bunch.

“We’ve played some really good, quality opponents at the beginning of this year, so I think we found out that we could beat anybody that we play on any given night,” Haefner said. “It’s just, ‘Can we match that intensity every night?’”

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