Central Bucks West earned a huge 1-0 win over District 12 power La Salle in Wednesday’s PIAA 4A opening round game. (Photo provided courtesy of Marge Bullock Photography)
#1-4 Central Bucks West 1, #12-1 La Salle College High School 0
The Bucks have a number of players they feel comfortable taking their free kicks.
But when CB West earned a free kick a little outside the right corner of the penalty box late in the second half Wednesday night, Bucks coach Stefan Szygiel figured one guy was going to demand the ball. After all, it was the thing Tarin Morris had been waiting four years to do.
Morris would score on the kick, an expertly-hit and well-driven low ball that curled around La Salle's wall of defenders and off the far post into the net.
"It's up to whoever is feeling it and if he's feeling it, then he should take it," Szygiel said. "He's a senior captain, a four-year starter. He'd better step up and take it."
The match featured two high-caliber teams and Szygiel felt it easily could have gone the other way had La Salle gotten a few bounces to go its way.
"That's arguably the best team we've played all year," the Bucks’ coach said. "They move the ball so well. You can see what they're trying to do. It just maybe didn't bounce their way. We hit a set piece, it's a great goal by Tarin, who just all season long has shown up on both sides of the ball for us."
Morris was the hero, but it was the only other senior in the starting lineup who had the performance of the night. Senior center back CJ Lang led a determined defensive effort and Lang was, in his coach's eyes, the best player on the field.
West's style invites a lot of pressure so the defenders are asked to do a little more and Lang did all that was asked of him and more. Whether it was heading balls, putting a foot in the way of a pass or battling La Salle forwards for position, Lang and center back partner Bailey Moyer continued to win their battles.
"That's who he is," Szygiel said. "The way we play, they're under a lot of pressure. We invite a lot of balls in the air and we trust them and trust Dylan (Smith, the goalkeeper). I'd agree, I thought he (Lang) was the best player on the field."
"Dylan and I played last year together and Bailey coming in has been a great addition," Lang said. "We became great friends immediately and we've all been clicking great. We had to get bodies in front of them and that was all we needed. We cleared the balls we needed to."
Neither side created many chances, not surprising considering how robust both are defensively.
Morris was surprised to hear that La Salle had conceded just 12 goals all season prior to his tally, then took a few seconds to register the fact. He knew beating Explorers keeper Brett Werner, a former teammate in club soccer, was an extremely difficult task.
"He's like 6-4, 6-5 and saves everything," Morris said. "I knew I had to hit it low and I was hoping that the shot would just hit off someone else in go in. I was fortunate to have it just go in."
West forward Alan Zlotin also played well despite not registering a shot. His size and presence kept La Salle's back line occupied and he and Morris were able to combine a couple times for near-chances.
Morris scored with about 16:30 left in the game, his strike bookended by a couple of pivotal defensive plays. Three-and-a-half minutes before, Smith made his biggest save of the night by rushing off his line to stuff a hit by La Salle's Sean McCallum.
With about eight minutes left, Kyle Holt saved West when he went to ground on the goal line and blocked an attempt by Explorers senior Christian Calabretta, saving a goal.
"They were absolutely astounding," Morris said. "The win 100 percent is credited to our defense and Kyle Holt, who saved our butts there.
"CJ doesn't get enough credit. We're like brothers, he's the other senior who starts, and at the beginning of the second half I said 'CJ this could be our last half together, let's leave it on the field,' and look what he did. They gave up zero goals to a phenomenal team."
The Bucks may be stacked with underclassmen, but they believed this group was capable of still playing this late in the season. After a few years of coming close to states, CB West is one of the last eight teams standing.
Morris credited the team's breakthrough season to the bond the players share. The Bucks carry a large roster, but the guys are all close and that unity is what carried them through the ups and downs of the regular season and district tournament.
"It's incredible, the thought in the back of my mind before tonight was this could be my last game," Morris said. "I don't know if I'm playing in college yet, so I want to leave it all out on the field and luckily, we get another one."
The Bucks will face District 3 runner-up Cumberland Valley on Saturday at Tulpehocken High School in a 4 p.m. start.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 1 – 1
LA SALLE 0 0 – 0
Goals: Tarin Morris
About the Author
