Central Bucks South came up just short against top-ranked Conestoga in double overtime. Andrew Robinson recaps the action. (Photo courtesy of Andrew Robinson)
PIAA 4A State Tournament final
(1-1) Conestoga 2, (1-6) Central Bucks South 1 (2 OT)
It took an all-world goal to finally stop the Titans.
Conestoga’s Ryan Zellefrow struck an unsavable ball on a free kick with 9:33 left in the second rainy overtime Friday night to beat CB South in the PIAA 4A title match. Although, for ‘Stoga to even be playing in extra time, it took another all-world goal, so really, it took an extraordinary effort to end a postseason run that had been all kinds of extraordinary on its own.
South’s remarkable run ended a goal short of the program’s first state title, but considering where it started and where it went, it’s not one that will be quickly forgotten.
“I’m very, very proud – we didn’t let a goal up in open play, they had to get two fantastic set pieces in order to make it work,” CB South coach Kyle Pettican said. “This is a program (Conestoga) that is competing for state titles every single year. I took over this program two years ago, they’d only been to the state tournament once in the history of the school and had never won a state game.
“If you would have asked me at the start of the season if we could make the state final against possibly the best program in the state, I would have chewed your arm off to take it.”
Conestoga had only trailed in a match once all season – against Abington early in the District 1 title match – and not at all in the second half at any point this fall. So, when the match went to halftime tied 0-0, history did not favor South.
History is only repeated by those who don’t learn from it. The Titans had learned plenty this season, adopting a new play style, going on the road for most of the postseason and embracing a “David-vs-Goliath” view of the final.
If ever there were a time to be bold, the last game of the season was sure it.
“I knew going into this game this group was going to give their all and we did that,” keeper Pat VanLuvanee said.
Josh Dozier made some history of his own on Friday. The sophomore was the author of the first CB South goal ever scored in a state title game, heading in a corner from Olexsander Sokol with 34:39 left in regulation.
Not only did the goal seem to stun the Pioneers and their raucous fans, it also put them behind in the second half.
“It was a great moment, probably one of the best in my life playing soccer,” Dozier said. “It wasn’t enough to hold on, but in the moment, it felt amazing. I thought we could have had the game in our hands, but we almost got there.”
The match never gets to a second overtime without VanLuvanee’s efforts in the first overtime. As he’s done all postseason, the junior keeper was remarkable between the posts, making two unbelievable stops in the first extra OT session from close range and a rain-slicked ball.
“It’s the personalities of all the guys that bring this group alive,” VanLuvanee said. “That really made this run amazing.”
Conestoga tied the game midway through the second half on the first of its two spectacular goals. Brady Costin bent a corner kick from the left side in at the far post for an Olimpico, the ball just barely eluding the fingertips of VanLuvanee.
The Titans had to weather plenty of storms from Conestoga in regulation and again in the overtimes but nearly every time, there was someone in a South kit ready to block a shot, disrupt a pass, get in the way of the ball, anything to deny an opportunity.
“This means a great deal to us, we made history this year,” Dozier said. “It’s the furthest South has ever been. It’s a great season from a great team.”
After the match’s conclusion, Pettican stopped over at the line of parents, South students and supporters and thanked them for the season. Once he rejoined his team back across the field, he addressed his team as a group, then took the seniors aside for a final chat.
As two players set to return, both Dozier and VanLuvanee said the senior class played an instrumental part of the season’s success.
“It starts with their personality and taking an underclassman under your wing and showing them the way,” VanLuvanee said. “That’s what that group of seniors did for me. I’m going to pass that on to next year.”
Conestoga has phenomenal players every year, it’s part of the reason the Pioneers are a premier program in District 1 and the state level. Pettican would know, he played there during his high school days, so there were no illusions about what his group was up against.
South had plenty of good high school players, but no transcendent talent or that core of two or three personalities that could win a game on their own. They didn’t end up needing them, the collective group becoming the team’s standout performer.
“A team like ‘Stoga is spoiled with talent, I’m not saying this as anything bad about my boys, but we don’t have a superstar or two superstars who drag the game for us,” Pettican said. “My big saying is ‘no superstars equals all superstars,’ as long as everyone buys into their role and responsibility and they all did.”
The Titans will return a good amount of players next season. Dozier said he was already eager to get back to work and the feeling at the end of Friday’s game should serve as strong motivation for all the returners.
“We set such a high bar for ourselves that right now, we see ourselves back here,” VanLuvanee said. “It was a great run, but the really special part of it was the memories we made together. When we look at this medal, that’s what we’re going to remember.”
Going from the 14th seed in the District 1 playoffs, to the sixth seed coming out of the district and winding their way halfway across the state several times, it was quite a ride the Titans took over the past month. It also certainly exceeded their expectations and ended in a place they hadn’t anticipated.
“To be honest, no, I did not but we got here,” Dozier said. “We did our job. We had goals in the beginning of the season, this was one of them and while we didn’t think we were going to make it, we did.”
The books will show Conestoga won a state title on Friday. Anyone who was there will know it took an all-world goal to stop the Titans.
“We gave them a good shot,” Pettican said.
CONESTOGA 0 1 0 1 – 2
CB SOUTH 0 1 0 0 – 1
About the Author
