CB East defeated Cumberland Valley 4-1 to advance to the PIAA Class AAA semifinals.
#1-1 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, #3-3 CUMBERLAND VALLEY 1
Hamburg High School didn’t exactly evoke fond memories when the Patriots received word that Saturday’s PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game had been moved from Exeter Township High School to Hamburg instead.
“Last year, in the quarterfinals, the same stage we are now – we lost,” senior Evan Vare said of East’s state quarterfinal 1-0 loss to Mechanicsburg. “We thought the game was going to be at Exeter Township, but then we found out it was here.
"We weren’t worried, but we knew we lost here last year, and we just knew we had to come out and fight hard. We knew if we played like ourselves we'd get the win, and that's what we did.”
Early in Saturday’s contest, the Patriots saw back-to-back shots turned away by freshman keeper Matt Zambetti, and when Zach Morrill turned a Stephen Thompson pass into a goal, the Eagles had an early 1-0 lead.
The Patriots didn’t panic. There were no signs of alarm. Only the quiet confidence that has been a trademark of an East squad that this week cracked the top 10 – at number 10 – in USA Today/NSCAA Super 25 after residing in the top 20 of the nation for the five preceding weeks.
“We’re just doing our job,” senior Brian Gilligan said.
Three minutes after the Eagles took the lead, the two teams were deadlocked, thanks to a textbook goal on Justin Chomik’s corner kick that J.R. Eisold headed into the net.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, Andrew Walters connected on a goal that proved to be a game changer when his cross from the right flank hit the opposite post and ricocheted into the net.
“Andrew Walters played the best game he’s ever played,” coach Mike Gorni said. “I don’t care if he was crossing or shooting – it was just a great shot, and it ends up being the game winner.”
The Patriots, who took that 2-1 lead into halftime, dominated play in the second half. In the 44th minute, Gilligan turned a perfect pass from Vare into a goal, and when Vare (Andrew Zach assist) scored from the top of the box 10 minutes later, the Patriots led 4-1, a score that stood until the final horn.
“I was probably most pleased that we came out in the second half – I don’t think they had a shot,” Gorni said. “We completely dominated the game.
“Our speed and our work rate were the difference. I don’t know what other people think objectively – I thought we played a complete second half.”
Lost in the shuffle of the big win was the standout performance of the Patriots’ defense after allowing an early goal against an Eagle squad that scored six goals in their opening round win over Wyoming Valley West.
“We just have to go game by game and have complete focus,” said Stephen Sheehan, who helps anchor the Patriots’ defense. “Never let a second go because that one second could change everything.”
With the win, the Patriots improved to 24-0 (14-0 SOL).
“We’re not really worried about our record,” Vare said. “We just come in here and focus on the mission and that’s to get the ‘W,’ come out here and keep fighting for our lives.
“We let it all go. We don’t get too high after our wins. We celebrate that night, and the next morning we forget about it and focus on the next one.”
It’s a philosophy that has paid dividends.
“They’re seasoned – they’re a seasoned group,” Groni said. “They don’t get too high when we’re up or winning, and they don’t get down or low or play the blame game if we give up a goal – which we have.
“We’ve been behind a few times this year, and we get back into it, we stay the course, and I think it has a lot to do with experience, and I think it has a lot to do with them playing for each other.”
On Tuesday night, the Patriots will face a challenge when they take on district runner-up Conestoga in a state semifinal game. East handed the Pioneers their only loss (2-1) in the district title game.
“After the game, they said, ‘We’ll see you in the semis,’ and we knew if we both kept winning we’d see each other,” Vare said.
“It’s a rematch,” Sheehan said. “It was a huge game the last time, very intense, so it’s going to be another gigantic game – the winner goes to Hershey.”
“We can’t wait to play Conestoga,” Gilligan said. “I think it motivates us.
“It’s definitely awesome (to be here) since last year we lost in the quarters. We’re in new territory right now. It feels great.”
Cumberland Valley 1-0 1
Central Bucks East 2-2 4
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