Wissahickon earned the program’s first ever trip to the PIAA 3A Tournament with its win over Perkiomen Valley. Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#7 WISSAHICKON 11, #3 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 2
They made it look easy.
The Trojans – playing with a confidence that belied their number seven seed – dominated play from the opening face-off until the final horn in Tuesday night’s playback game. If there was pressure attached to playing in a win-or-go-home game for a coveted state berth – the program’s first ever, the Trojans didn’t let it show.
“We were pretty confident coming in,” senior captain Brody Myers said. “We knew everything was on the line, so we weren’t leaving anything out there on the field.”
Wissahickon was coming off an 8-7 loss to second-ranked Radnor in a quarterfinal game on Saturday, and while the loss was disappointing, it also was definitive proof that the Trojans belong among the district’s elite.
“With Radnor, they have a lot more guys than we do,” senior captain EJ Schreiner said. “It was like 95 degrees on the field, so the fact that we have four solid middies who were able to go up and down the field for that long and still be able to lose by one to a really good team like that – that shows something about the hard work and dedication we have on the team.”
The Trojans, according to senior captain Matt Fritz, are using that loss as motivation.
“This kind of put a chip on our shoulder in states – we don’t think we’re the fifth or sixth best team in the district,” said Fritz, who won 11 of 14 face-offs.. “If anything, it’s going to help us.”
The Trojans might well have brought that chip on their collective shoulders into Tuesday’s game. From the outset, they looked like a team on a mission. Dean Wolfe – after picking up a loose ball – scored an early goal, and then it was Fritz winning the ensuing face-off and setting up a picture-perfect sequence that saw Jake Licata find Kyle Lehman for the score.
A Viking turnover was recovered by EJ Schreiner, who set up a another textbook scoring sequence with Jackson Intrieri finding Wolfe for the score. A second Intrieri to Wolfe connection for a goal with eight seconds remaining in the period gave the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
“It was high energy and playing fast,” Wolfe said of his team’s quick start. “We’re a fast team, so whenever we can get into transition, we’ve got to finish, and we definitely finished today.
“We were pounding the shots, we were taking a lot of shots, and we can attack from everywhere so we’re very dangerous. If our shots are falling, we’re going to win every game.”
The Trojans took that 4-0 lead into halftime. Not to be overlooked was the suffocating defense the Trojans threw at the Vikings. Comprising the stingy defensive unit were Jake Licata, Quinn Fonash, Ethan Glass, Joey Connolly and defensive midfielders EJ Schreiner and Alex Solomon with Scott Pfeiffer – who had 11 saves in Tuesday’s win – a rock in goal.
“We have a younger defense this year led by Jake Licata, Quinn Fonash and Ethan Glass, who’s our senior down there, but he just started using a pole this year,” Schreiner said. “It’s just really cool to see all these guys stepping up big time.
“We just know everyone has each other’s back on defense, and it’s really comforting if someone gets by you, you know someone’s going to be right there to pick them back up, force a turnover and run up the field and score a goal.”
Goals by Intrieri and Fritz to open the third quarter put the Trojans on top 6-0 before the Vikings got on the scoreboard four minutes into the period. Wolfe answered with back-to-back goals, and then it was Andrew Slackman scoring as time was about to expire, giving the Trojans a 9-1 lead heading into the final period.
A goal by Lehman made it a 10-1 game before the Vikings scored their second goal. An Intrieri goal closed out the scoring and put an exclamation point on the win.
Wolf’s glittering five-goal effort led the Trojans.
“Dean was huge tonight,” Wissahickon coach Matt Conway said. “He played like he’s played all year. He gets underlooked, for sure, with Jackson (Intrieri) and Kyle (Lehman) back there, but he’s just as good at attack. We feel super confident with him in general, especially if he draws the other team’s third pole. It’s a really big advantage for us.”
Intrieri had a hand in six goals, scoring twice and assisting on four others in a win with historic implications.
“This is the first time in program history we’re going to the state playoffs,” Intrieri said. “Obviously, it means a lot. Us four (captains) – we’ve been through it all together. Since third grade, we’ve been playing together, and it’s good to see all the hard work and dedication come to fruition.”
“It’s very, very exciting,” Wolfe said. “We have a very good team this year, and we have to show that to the rest of PA.
“We definitely want to make a footprint in the PA area, and this is the year to do it. We’re really excited to get out there Thursday, hopefully beat ‘Stoga, and we’ll see next Tuesday who we play and hopefully get a ‘W’ and move on.”
Wissahickon (16-5, 9-0 SOL) will host #8 Conestoga in a playback game for fifth place on Thursday. Conestoga defeated #4 Downingtown West 11-8 in the other playback game.
Wissahickon 4-0-5-2 11
Perkiomen Valley 0-0-1-1 2
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