Springfield assured itself a spot in the record books, earning the program’s first ever trip to the district final with a win over top-seeded Radnor. Pennridge fell in the District One 4A semifinals, and CB East defeated CB South to capture a coveted state berth.
District 1 3A semifinal
#4 SPRINGFIELD TWP 1, #1 RADNOR 0 (OT)
With 3:40 remaining in the first overtime, Nick Hanushchak set off a jubilant celebration, finding the net with a golden goal that vaulted the Spartans past the top-seeded Raiders. Ben Hubley served a corner in to assist on the game-winner.
“They were so excited,” Springfield Township coach Dan Meder said. “We’ve had terrific traveling support from our fans.
“We’re a tiny school, and the kids from Springfield all have to do things otherwise we wouldn’t have programs, so if we’re going to have fans, that means some other team came. The fact that we’ve had tremendous support on the road from our fans has been awesome.”
In what has been a season of firsts, the Spartans added two more to their rapidly growing list. After five trips to the district semifinals, the Spartans will be playing in the program’s first ever district title game when they face Phoenixville Thursday at Norristown High School in the District 1 3A title game. The win also clinched a berth in the state tournament – another first for the Spartans.
“Trying to win the district was on our radar,” Meder said. “We were in this game last year in the semifinal, and we brought a lot of those guys back, so we were hoping to be back in this game and find a different result, and it happened.
“It’s incredible. The school’s never been in this position. I, as a coach, have been to the semifinal five times now, and this is the first time we’ve won it. It’s awesome.”
As for the game, Radnor had its opportunities.
“It was a little chaotic actually,” Meder said. “It didn’t seem to have much of a flow for most of the game. I think it was just two good teams going at it, and that’s why.
“Radnor had some good chances, and they missed the frame a few times. Julian Casabon made at least one big save for us as he’s done all year to keep us in it. We generated some chances, but none of the chances were as clear as they’ve been all season long for us and I assume for them as well. I think it was just two good teams going at it. We had an opportunity, and we took advantage of it.”
The win, according to Meder, once again represented a team effort.
“It’s been everybody, it’s been a team,” the Spartans’ coach said. “We have guys we rotate in off the bench, and they’ve been as supportive as the starting 11. To beat a team like that, everybody has to play well, and that’s what happened.”
Springfield Township (17-3, 13-3 SOL) will face Phoenixville in the District 1 3A title game at Norristown High School at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Springfield Township 0-0-1 1
Radnor 0-0-0 0
District 1 4A semifinal
#2 CONESTOGA 1, #11 PENNRIDGE 0 (OT)
The Rams came up just short but extended second-seeded Conestoga to overtime before falling in the first OT period.
“What can I say?” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said. “It was just an all-around tough game. They were number three in the state the last rankings that came out for high school, and for Prep Soccer, they were number 38 in the country, so we just took them to overtime, and we had our chances. I feel good about our guys. It was a great effort all the way around.”
The game was relatively even for 80 minutes.
“A couple chances for them, a couple chances for us,” Valimont said. “It was pretty even for the most part in the terms of run of play possession-wise.
“In the second half, a couple of closer chances for them. We got lucky – a couple of balls went just wide. CJ (Dimmick) made a couple of big saves.”
Late in regulation, the Rams had their best opportunity to get on the scoreboard.
“With about three minutes left, we had a restart that we put in the box and made pretty dangerous,” Valimont said. “Their goalie punched it, but it went backwards. Fortunately for them, they were able to bicycle kick it off the goal line. If they don’t do that, it’s in, and we have a lead with three minutes left. We just park the bus – it’s over, ballgame, but they were able to clear it and see it through.”
Regulation ended with the two teams deadlocked, and five minutes into the first overtime, the Pioneers connected for the golden goal.
“A restart came in, got bounced around a little bit, a couple of our guys paused for a second – thought it was a handball, and they had a guy on the back end who redirected it towards goal, found the net, and that was it,” Valimont said. “A little bit of shock when it happened. We all just stood there like – wait a second, that’s not what’s supposed to happen here. At the very least, it’s either us doing that or it’s going to PK’s, not a goal off a kind of fluke restart.”
The Rams’ coach lauded the efforts of several players.
“CJ (Dimmick) played fantastic in net,” Valimont said. “Jared Hess had a really good game up top. Shane Velez was getting banged up but playing through everything with the amount of attention that he got.
“Troy Thanel did a really nice job for us and also Andrew Parlee and Jhoa Hernandez, and our back line with Tommy McKinney did a really nice job against a good team. They had a lot of guys that were a chore to deal with, and we did a nice job. We took them to overtime – 85 minutes of scoreless soccer against the defending state champions. Last year, we went there, and the game was over with 20 minutes left – we were down 4-0, so that’s an improvement, for sure.”
Pennridge (16-6, 11-5 SOL) will travel to #5 West Chester Henderson for Friday’s third place game.
“The big thing we were pushing for was to get top two so you’d get a home game the first round (of states), so we’ll be on the road as three or four, but that’s okay,” Valimont said. “We’ll scout, we’ll refocus and we’ll be good.”
Pennridge 0-0-0 0
Conestoga 0-0-1 1
District 1 4A Playback
#13 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1, #8 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Three times East and South did battle on the soccer field this season. Not a whole lot separated the two teams.
In the initial meeting on Aug. 31, the Patriots edged South 2-1 in double overtime. In the rematch on Oct. 11, overtime could not determine a winner, and the two teams settled for a scoreless draw.
Tuesday’s high stakes playback game was every bit as close – the only difference in this one was a Michael Frye goal with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
With the win, the Patriots clinched one of the two remaining coveted state berths.
“(We’re) just over the moon – we’re going to states, and I’m totally thrilled,” East coach Josh Isaacsohn said. “I just told the boys tonight – in mid-July, I put a giant post-it note on my desk at home that said, ‘Make it to Halloween.’
“It wasn’t just this year. I feel like it’s been a 3-4 year buildup of what was coming in. I did think we had a chance. I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent confident in it, but in July, I was looking forward to playing in November.”
Tuesday’s win was the fourth straight 1-0 game in district play for the Patriots – three of them were wins.
“We played a great defensive game,” Isaacsohn said. “Obviously, hats off to South. (South coach) Kyle (Pettican) and their coaching staff did a tremendous job this year winning the division, and we knew it was very evenly matched game, we knew it was going to be a massive battle, and it was back and forth.
“I’m just tremendously proud and honored to be a part of this program. It’s great.”
Jared Needles assisted on Frye’s game-winner that spotted the Patriots a 1-0 lead.
“It was through the run of play,” Isaacoshn said. “Jared had subbed in, and we knew Jared, for some reason, has played tremendously well against South.
“We had a little bit of a different game plan for him to keep the ball a little bit wider and get in on them more, and he did. He put a beautiful ball across, and Michael Frye just is very smooth and silky and weaves his way in and shows up at places at times. We really challenged him tonight to be more offensive, and obviously, he finished, so it was great.”
The Patriots saw the 1-0 lead into halftime.
“They came out roaring in the second half,” Isaacsohn said. “I would say the first 15 minutes of the second half – they had the better of the ball.
“We had a few opportunities on goal. They definitely had more than we did. Especially in the last 10 minutes, they missed a couple that were a little bit more open.”
The Patriots’ defense was once again on top of its game.
“Our defenders, in particular, Dylan Walker, Luke Christmas and Josh Daniels and Michael Frye in the midfield just were tremendous,” Isaacsohn said.
Central Bucks East (14-6-2, 10-4-2 SOL) will travel to #10 Spring-Ford for Friday’s fifth place game.
Central Bucks East 1-0 1
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
About the Author
