By Alex Frazier
It was a typical Neshaminy strategy.
Lull the other team into over-confidence in the first half and then come out smokin’ in the second.
Four minutes and 23 seconds into the second half of Tuesday’s first round PIAA state championship game against District 12 champion North Catholic, Neshaminy’s Dan Foley scored the first goal of the game, and the Redskins went on to defeat North Catholic 2-0, advancing to the quarterfinals Saturday against Lower Merion, a 3-0 winner over Parkland, at a time and place to be determined.
“The first 15 minutes or so we always come out slow,” said Neshaminy outsider defender Greg Korhonen, “but we always seem to pick it up. Once we get to know the other team, we pick it up as a team and put some pressure on everybody.
“When we were in sophomore year, we did the same thing. We had a slow start in the season and then in playoffs we turned on our game because we knew it was one and done.”
Play in the first half was pretty much between the 18s as neither team could generate any good scoring chances. The Vikings, however, were the more aggressive team, especially in the first 20 minutes of play.
“It wasn’t our best effort,” said coach Rich Reice. “In the back of my mind, I was thinking it might be an emotional letdown (after losing to Downingtown West in the district final). Thankfully North Catholic didn’t capitalize on anything in the first half.”
Redskin’s keeper Alex Smith cut off a dangerous cross by North’s Mike Gredzik in the first minute of play, and Korhonen blocked a shot by Christian Hall with less than a minute in the half to preserve a 0-0 tie. In between, not a lot happened.
As has been their modus operandi, the Redskins came out fast in the second half. Neshaminy was awarded a direct kick near midfield. Dan Kennedy sent the ball forward to Zach Turchi, who crossed it to Foley to the left of the goal.
“It was like a bike,” explained Foley. “I was like eight yards out from the six and Turchi went up for the flick and flicked on to me. It just happened to bounce. My back was to the net, and I just happened to get my foot on it and swung my feet to the far post and it curled and hit the post and bounced in. I got the lucky bounce.
“We got the first goal, and that gave us the momentum we needed.”
After three near North Catholic misses, one of which hit the crossbar, Neshaminy’s Rick Domico scored the insurance goal.
Dominic Tucci got things started with a heads-up play when he crossed the ball from the left side of the field to Kyle Soroka on the right. Soroka banged a shot off the crossbar that deflected to Domico, who finished it with 8:42 remaining, for his ninth goal of the year.
“I was at the right place at the right time,” said Domico. “It was right off the crossbar from Sorok. I just kind of chested it in.”
The goal seemed to take the breath from the Vikings, like someone that had been sucker punched.
“Thank God we came out with a ‘W’ because it was a very sloppy first half for us,” said Domico.
Meanwhile, the Neshaminy defense did its part by limiting the Falcons to just four shots for the entire game.
“Every time we come out and say to each other, ‘No goals against,”” said Korhonen, who had his hands full keeping North’s Carl Essenthier at bay along the left sideline. He seemed to be the target of a lot of offensive attacks.
“He was playing pretty well out there. I couldn’t push up, I had to stay back, but I was doing it for the team. So I’m not worried about it.”
The Redskins will definitely have to come out faster against a Lower Merion squad that will be seeking some revenge after losing to Neshaminy 3-1 on penalty kicks in the district semifinals.
“It will be a physical game with a lot of intensity,” said Foley, who also scored the tying goal to send the Lower Merion game into overtime. “If we come out and play the way we played in the first half, it’s going to be rough for us.”
It’s going to be a great game,” said Domico. “I can’t wait for it.”
•••
In other state action, Central Bucks East blew out District Three champion Exeter, 3-0, at Hersheypark Stadium.
“We played brilliantly,” said coach Mike Gorni.
East dominated the first half, outshooting Exeter, 8-0 and getting nine corner kicks. Sean Peckham’s goal turned out to be the game winner.
Alex Shubert added a pair of insurance goals in the second half, the first seven minutes in and the second with 20 minutes left on an assist from Peckham.
East outshot Exeter, 16-3, and keeper Jake Pickering tipped Exeter’s only dangerous shot over the crossbar for his lone save of the game.
East has given up just one goal in the post-season so far.
“The great big wide field helped us with our speed,” said Gorni, “and obviously the defense played real well.”
East will play Lampeter-Strasburg, the District Three third place team, Saturday at a time and place to be determined.
Neshaminy 2, North Catholic 0
Goals: Dan Foley (N), Rick Domico (N)
Assists: Zach Turchi (N), Kyle Soroka (N)
Shots: Neshaminy 11, North Catholic 4
Saves: Alex Smith (N) 1, John McCarthy (NC) 6
Corners: Neshaminy 5, North Catholic 1
Fouls: Neshaminy 17, North Catholic 17
Yellow cards: Mark Pugliese (NC)
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