In an All-SOL District 1 4A final on Saturday, Central Bucks West captured the program’s first district crown with a 2-1 win over Abington.
#1-6 Central Bucks West 2, #1-4 Abington
After reaching the PIAA semifinals last season and returning all but two starters from that roster, the expectations were high for CB West's boys' soccer team this fall.
The Bucks got through the regular season sharing the SOL Continental title with North Penn. Then, they won three straight one-goal games to reach the District I 4A final, a game they did not play in last year. Appropriately, they won a fourth one-goal game to capture the program's first district title.
So, senior goalkeeper Dylan Smith, what does all that say about your team?
"It means we show up in big games," Smith said. "The conference and this, it wasn't what we had looked at in the beginning of the season, the goal was states and every game in states is going to be a big game. We've been able to show up and hope that continues."
Smith turned in another glittering performance in net, denying Abington early and late and keeping the level head needed in a game that did not lack for intensity or physicality.
“They came at us, and they had the tools to do it,” the Bucks’ senior goalkeeper said. “Sean Touey is a fantastic player and so is Nevin (Baer), and those two along with several others are just so dangerous.
“It was completely what we expected. That’s when we call on our experience, both playoff and playing teams of this caliber. We were able to deal with them fantastically as a back line. All the guys in front of me killed it. Even though we were scored on, we were able to stay composed and stay in it.”
The popular refrain from all involved parties was that both teams weren't so different in terms of what they wanted to do on the field. Both the Ghosts and the Bucks are best when they're direct, often bypassing a prolonged build up in the middle for a big ball up the field.
"They're a really good team and they kind of play a lot like us, they punch it down and press a lot," Bucks midfielder Jimi Leder said. "We had to play our game the whole time."
From his perspective, Smith felt there were advantages to playing a team that attacks in a manner similar to his own.
"It's like looking in a mirror," Smith confessed after the game. "They have some great weapons up top and we were able to deal with them, but playing the way we do definitely helped us today."
The first half ended 0-0 but not for a lack of trying on both sides. Smith was called into action early, making a tremendous diving stop on Nevin Baer, denying Sean Touey at the mouth of the goal and sprawling off his line to smother a Bryce Lexow cross before Touey could get to it.
It made sense, Abington has feasted all year on scoring first while the Bucks have been fortress-like when they score first.
“They were able to send numbers forward on us, and when we made an adjustment, they made a great counter-adjustment and vice versa,” West coach Stefan Szygiel said. “They're so good and so eager to pounce on a second ball, they do such a great job of that and we had to be on point with that.
“It was a little bit of a war physically, but I think both teams did well with that. This was going to be a one-goal game, and it was going to go one way or the other. I don’t think there’s much separating us at all.”
On the other end, Abington's back line – Reese Gibbs, Nate Rose, Liam Campbell and Vince Carosella – had its hands full with Bailey Moyer, Alan Zlotin, Jack Galt and especially Leder.
"They're a very good team, well-coached and their team speed is unbelievable," Abington coach Randy Garber said. "They scored a good goal on the first one, we tied it up, and for as much as we worked on the restarts and making sure we got to the ball before they do, they scored a good goal on the restart to go ahead."
Leder, who's put together a very impressive postseason resume, finally got one to go early in the second half. Colin Burn, who managed to maintain possession through a tackle attempt, was able to play a ball to a wide-open Leder in the middle of the box and the junior buried it just under the bar.
"We all had to be bought in at the end," Leder said. "I feel like I'm finding the right spaces and just being in the right spot, but I'd give a hand to our midfield for playing those balls."
Touey, who dueled two defenders almost every time he touched the ball, made the most of his best look with about 18 minutes left. A few minutes earlier, Liam Friel had hit the crossbar on a header, so the Ghosts were getting close when sophomore Bryce Lexow looped a ball into the box.
Lexow and Touey's sisters, Camryn and Casey, connected plenty for the Ghosts girls' team this fall, and although Bryce Lexow's cross was partially deflected, it went right into Sean Touey's path for the tying goal.
"We're used to scoring the first goal, in 90 percent of our games or better, we'd scored first," Garber said. "To not score first was different but we eventually got the equalizer but it wasn't enough. We knew they were going to press."
The time right after a goal is usually the best time for a team to strike back and Leder once again influenced the game when he drew a double-team and then a foul on the left flank. He stayed put for the free kick, serving the ball in where Zlotin knocked it home for the eventual winner not even three minutes after Abington tied it.
"I was looking for the front-post run," Leder said. "I knew Alan was going to be at the front post. We work on it 100 times a day in practice and it paid off."
Szygiel said Leder's play has grown as the season has gone on and he felt the junior did well to put himself in position to be the hero for West on Saturday night.
The last 10 minutes turned into a frantic flurry of physical clashes, challenges and players flying up and down the pitch. Both sides played with plenty of emotion but also did well to maintain their composure in doing so, keeping things within reason.
Even in the chaos, Smith kept his backs in line to cover what he couldn't.
"We talk about him a lot, he does a great job but I think what he does the best job of is organizing," Szygiel said. "They're sending bodies forward, we had to get bodies back. He's getting players in the right positions to get the ball off the line."
Abington got a last-gasp chance in the final minute when Baer sent a free kick off the left flank into the box. Three players, including Smith and Gibbs, went up for it, with the ball falling to Gibbs' feet.
The Abington defender kicked it into what looked like an open net, only for Smith to get just enough to send the effort off the bar.
"That last restart with less than a minute, I don't know how it didn't go in," Garber said.
Szygiel was pleased to see his team play a full 80 minutes. Anything less would not have been enough against a talented Ghost squad.
“I think we grinded, we worked hard, and I think Abington did the exact same thing,” the Bucks’ coach said. “I think we threw a lot at them, and I think they threw a low at us.
“Frankly, I think both teams after playing this game are now – let’s get focused on Tuesday’s state game. Hopefully, we both came out of it unscathed, and I want to see both teams do well.”
While the Bucks' goalkeeper is eyeing something bigger in two weeks' time, Smith did recognize the payoff for the four years of work he and his class put in to help the West program rise to prominence.
“It’s awesome,” Smith said. “We were talking about it a little bit. I think the last team to go to the district final was in ’82 maybe. I don’t know that anybody’s won it before. If that’s true, we made history.
"It feels good. I think a state championship might be a little bit better.”
Abington will face District 11 runner-up Emmaus in the first round of states on Tuesday while the Bucks will clash with District 3 third place side Central Dauphin.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 2 – 2
ABINGTON 0 1 – 1
Goals: CBW – Jimi Leder, Alan Zlotin; A – Sean Touey
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