Springfield advanced to the PIAA 3A semifinals with its win over Selinsgrove. In Class 4A, Pennridge saw its season come to an end. Pennridge/Lower Merion photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos. https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f131331739
PIAA 3A quarterfinal
#1-1 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 3, #4-1 SELINSGOVE 0
The Spartans are newcomers to the state tournament, but they’re looking a whole lot more like seasoned veterans. Behind the two-goal, one-assist effort of Riley Martin, the Spartans erupted for three second-half goals on the way to their 20th win of the season – this one vaulted them into the PIAA state semifinals.
“I said after the game, ‘I don’t think it’s really registered where we are at this point,” coach Dan Meder said. “We just keep focusing on the next game, trying to get the right result. I guess when it ends, I’ll digest where we are.”
Julian Casabon-Aznar, who notched the shutout in goal, is not all that surprised by the Spartans’ success.
“I knew that once we made it to the finals of district we were going to go this far,” the senior captain said. “We have our goals set, we want to go as far as we can. We’ve just kept going and going.
“We just stay focused on winning. We know we have the potential and ability to win every game or most games we play, and that’s just how we go at it.”
Neither team scored in the opening half.
“We were a little sluggish to start,” Meder said. “Obviously, you’re playing good teams, so it was a stalemate in the first half. We did have good scoring chances in the first half and just missed it.
“We hit the crossbar, we hit the post. We had some rebounds from the keeper that we didn’t get on. We had our chances. We just didn’t capitalize. They generated some chances too. We made some changes and used our depth to our advantage. We just needed a spark.”
Martin gave the Spartans the spark they needed when – just three minutes and 35 seconds into the second half – he scored with an assist from Nick Hanushchak.
“That goal came from a pass from my midfield,” Meder said. “Riley had those opportunities in the first half, but we were just missing. He needed that, he needed to break the ice.”
Nine minutes later, Martin connected on his second goal, this one with a Jack McKittrick assist, and with 17 minutes remaining, Shaun Bleeker scored with an assist from Martin for a 3-0 lead that all but sealed the Seals’ fate and held until the final whistle.
“We did a really good job in the second half controlling the ball,” Meder said. “Selinsgrove still had some opportunities to score, but we had a lot of the ball in the second half and did a good job of moving it and trying to control the pace of the game.”
For the Spartans, it was their second shutout in as many state playoff games.
“It was good defense,” Meder said. “They did have a couple of dangerous players. Number 14 (captain Nick Ritter) got by us a few times, and Julian Casabon, our goalkeeper, did what he always does, keeping us in it. He makes big plays when we need him to.”
Casabon was quick to share the credit with his defense.
“Our defense has been amazing – our three center backs do everything they need to do and more,” Casabon said of Jack Sharpe, Dan Fitzpatrick and Chase Rubincam. “They’ve been making my job easy almost. It’s been really great. They’ve all been playing so well – perfect these past games.”
Both teams entered Saturday’s game with 19 wins. Several of the Spartans’ wins were against high level Class 4A squads in SOL play.
“That really prepares us,” Casabon said. “There’s not going to be something that we’re going to see now that we haven’t already played against because we’ve played those big teams. It’s good because we’ve beaten the big teams this year playing our soccer, so we know that if we go against a really tough opponent in states, we know that we can beat them.”
The Spartans find themselves in new territory yet again, one of four Class 4A team still standing.
“We haven’t celebrated yet,” Meder said. “We get excited postgame – we’re going to the semifinals, and then the next day at practice, it’s – ‘Hey, here’s what we’re not doing well.’”
Springfield Township (20-3, 13-3 SOL) will face district runner-up Phoenixville in a rematch of the District 1 3A title game.
Selinsgrove 0-0. 0
Springfield Twp 0-3. 3
PIAA 4A quarterfinal
#1-1 LOWER MERION 2, 1-4 PENNRIDGE 0
Pete Valimont – arms folded across his chest – took in the entire scene from the sidelines as the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock. When the final horn sounded, the Rams’ coach was in
full coaching mode, applauding briefly and then checking on his players, several still on the field coming to grips with the reality that a special season had ended.
And then it began to hit home – not just for a large senior class that had been part of quite a journey but also for Valimont, who had just coached his final game for the Rams.
“I don’t think it actually set in until we shook hands – the guys came over, and you’re sitting there trying to figure out the words to say, kind of realizing it’s the last time that kind of environment and that kind of setting is going to occur,” the Rams’ coach said. “It’s been a heck of a ride. I wouldn’t take anything back. I’ve learned a lot as a coach.
“I was very green in the beginning. I thought winning was going to be easy and then had dark ages when we struggled a lot. Tons of years, I thought I was going to get fired, but at the end of the day, this senior class and the past four years have been super special.”
Shane Velez, a four-year varsity starter, was a member of that special senior class.
“It’s a lot of emotions,” the Rams’ senior captain said. “I feel like it hasn’t all hit me yet. I’m still in the shock of playing and stuff. I played under (Valimont) the last four years.
“It’s been a great experience. It’s been nothing but good thoughts and happiness, but I know it will hit me when I get home tonight.”
The Rams season ended at the hands of the defending District 1 4A champion Aces, who scored a pair of goals in an eight-minute span – the first with 28 minutes remaining in the first half – to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead, a score that stood until the final whistle.
“We had a corner kick the first five minutes that if we put that in – it’s a totally different game,” Valimont said. “Their two goals were fantastic goals. They were absolutely rockets.
“The last 40 we threw everything at them. They’re just a good team. Certain teams just know how to finish a game in a tough situation with everything on the line. Lower Merion did a fantastic job, so I’m just proud of my guys. I’m not upset with anything for a lack of effort. They did everything they could.”
“The two goals were unfortunate against us, but we knew we had a chance,” Velez said. “When we get to the playoffs, I feel it’s just another team against another team. I really try to ignore records and everything.
“It’s 80 minutes whoever goes out, plays the hardest, finds and put the ball in the back in the net more is going to come out with a win. We weren’t scared of them, we wanted to face them, but they came out in the end.”
The Rams had several golden opportunities in the second half and junior Troy Thanel appeared to score a goal after a corner kick only to see it waved off for an off-sides violation.
“The second half we just wanted to turn it on,” Velez said. “We were battling against them the entire time. We just came out – we had 40 minutes. It was do or die, so we came out with everything we had.”
There were no regrets on the Pennridge sidelines, just a whole lot of respect for the Rams’ opponent.
“Hats off to Lower Merion and coach Nico (Severini) – I’ve known him for years,” Valimont said. “It’s a fantastic program. If we’re going to lose to anybody, I’ve got no shame in losing to Lower Merion. That was a heck of a game.”
The postgame scene included a lot of hugs as a special senior class said its farewells.
“We’ve been through everything – ups and downs, and I think it’s really brought us closer together,” Velez said. “Going to the district final (in 2020), losing that, making it first time to states. It really brought us closer together as a group of friends more than even just playing on the field, so those bonds will last a lifetime with us.”
Valimont’s ties with this year’s senior class ran deep.
“I’ve had a handful of those guys in the middle school,” the Rams’ coach said. “I taught at two of the three middle schools for my first 10 years. I’ve had Shane, Jared Hess, Tommy (McKinney) and CJ (Dimmick), my four captains, since sixth, seventh, eighth grade, so I’ve known them the past seven years.
“I started a team for the Future Player Academy Club during COVID. I cold called kids and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come play with me?’ All of these seniors just about said yes. I had 10 out of our 14-15 players, so I was with them for 10 out of 12 months of the
year. For me with the connection I had from the club scene to the high school scene, I was super connected with them, and I felt this was the right time to (step down). I know the cupboard’s not bare. We have a ton of talent coming back. I know they’re going to do well, but I think the time is right.”
The team not only occupied a special place in Valimont’s heart but also in the lives of his four sons, who were at Saturday’s games and have been a part of the Rams’ postseason run. One of his triplets even bought a stuffed ram – affectionately named Rappy after Pennridge assistant Aaron Rapsinski – that became the team’s mascot in the postseason.
“My triplets went to Cabela’s, and they had 30 bucks each to spend, and Oliver spent 30 bucks on the ram for the playoff run,” Valimont said. “My boys are here, they’ve been on this ride, they’ve been in the pictures. The first state game they’re picking up my youngest.
“It’s been a fantastic experience for them. I didn’t have that growing up, so for my kids to experience that, for my athletic director let me have that and everything it’s been pretty special.”
The annual conversation with his wife at the end of the past four seasons won’t take place this year. Valimont’s decision was made before the season began and will allow him to spend more time with his wife and four sons.
“I think it will set in the next couple of days and at the banquet,” Valimont said. “I think it will set in next August around August 15 or 16. I told my wife – make sure we’re going somewhere on a trip, so I don’t try to sneak down or anything. It’s been a heck of a run.”
Pennridge (11-5 SOL) closed out its season with a 17-8 record.
Pennridge 0-0. 0
Lower Merion 2-0. 2
About the Author
