CUYAHOGA FALLS — A 2014 study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa measured cougars’ hearts ticking at an average of 122 beats per minute. For the Lake Catholic boys side Sept. 28 in a Greater Cleveland headliner at Walsh Jesuit, the hearts of these Cougars at the full-time whistle were rightfully beating out of their chests. End-product fortuity? Sure. End-result fortuity? Not quite. Because as far as workrate, particularly in the defensive third, and putting themselves in position for a positive result, Lake Catholic earned that right on this evening in spades and with unwavering pride. Harley Forkins and Alex Miljanovic netted strikes in the opening 40, providing the margin in a signature road victory, 2-0, over an outstanding Warriors’ side. Lake Catholic goes to 10-1-1 on the fall. Cougars coach Kevin Pitorak made no bones about it postmatch: This one felt like a little more than the standard Saturday-in-late-September result. “It’s a big win obviously because of who they are, and that’s absolutely a fantastic team,” Pitorak said, tilting his head in the direction of Walsh on the opposite touchline. “They made it very difficult for us throughout the night. Coming in, I think we had this kind of circled on our schedule, just knowing that it might be the toughest game — with all due respect to everybody we play — but it might be the toughest game we play all year. “The boys were ready. Came ready to play. We’ve been playing very good soccer the last couple of weeks, and that’s showing. So I’m very happy with the result.” The opening 40 was contested in miserable conditions amid a sheeting rain. But the visitors found opportunities where available. Lake Catholic’s Harley Forkins passes out as Walsh Jesuit’s Chase Merrill, left, and Evan Litras defend Sept. 28. (Chris Lillstrung – The News-Herald) In the 25th minute, ever the poacher up top as part of his complete skill set as a striker, Forkins sensed an opening to capitalize on the first touch off a defensive-third back pass, added a few yards to his run and made it worthwhile with a touch and dribbler to make it 1-0. It was his 29th goal of the fall. Lake Catholic 1-0Harley Forkins 25th min pic.twitter.com/cGrTr9yQZj — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 Then in the 38th, Miljanovic lined up a free kick, drove it low against the wall, so low in fact that it made the touch a sneaky knuckler to push the advantage to 2-0. It was the senior’s 13th goal of the season. Lake Catholic 2-0Alex Miljanovic 38th min pic.twitter.com/qPicr8ylSb — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 28, 2024 Again, two goals with fortuity attached? Yes, but it was complemented by a yeoman’s effort in the defensive third to make it stand, however the end product may have materialized. Lake Catholic junior defender Will Brown discusses his side's 2-0 win at Walsh Jesuit to get to 10-1-1Cougars put in a SHIFT in the defensive third, especially in the 2nd 40, 1 for which they should be very proud amid a signature result pic.twitter.com/Z9yJrEScUb — Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) September 29, 2024 Lake Catholic defended admirably with shape and heart paced by center backs Owen Pesek and Will Brown, limiting Walsh (8-3-2) to four shots on target despite spending much of the second 40 in the back. “We were just talking to each other, just making sure that everyone was marked up,” Pesek said. “Because we were watching video of them, and they’re just always open. If we close them down, then they can’t really do anything. We just needed to do that. “We came in here knowing it was going to be a tough game. We knew that we had to play great. We came out here and did what we needed to do.” Forkins had a near-post strike turned away by Warriors goalkeeper Quinn Anderson in the 51st. Anderson also had two top-drawer stops on Forkins initially than a Brandon Rangel follow in the 20th, along with denying Miljanovic well in the 59th. It marked just the second time in 2024 and fourth in 35 matches over the last two seasons during which the prolific Warriors were on the receiving end of a clean sheet. These Cougars’ heart rate may not have been measured in Cuyahoga Falls. But the strength of their heart assuredly was. “Just defending with heart,” Pitorak said. “Just fighting for every single second of it. They had (five corners and several free kicks) in the second half and had the long throws, too. To just go in there and battle and try to win the ball, I think we were very organized defensively today, more so than we’ve been in the past. Teams, they’re throwing guys forward. “The communication is getting better between defenders, passing guys along. We’re sorting all that stuff out when teams are throwing three guys up top and a couple guys in the middle. You can get very confused with that, but I thought today, our marking and everything was excellent.” Added Pesek: “(The season) is going by quick. But I feel confident, and my team feels confident.”