By Alex Frazier
Bears are Golden – “If you don’t know, now you know.”
The quote on the back of Upper Moreland’s T-shirts this year says it all.
The smallest team in the SOL finally got the respect it deserves by winning its first District One Class AA championship with a 1-0 overtime victory over traditional powerhouse Holy Ghost Prep.
The Firebirds were the No. 1 seed in the tournament and had blown out Octorara, 6-0, in the semifinals.
“It was such a great team effort,” said coach Jack Knauss. “That’s what we preached from day one. We always say, ‘You have to cover for your brother.’
“The team we were playing is a very nice team. We knew they had some bigger players, but it doesn’t seem to faze us anymore. Our guys are getting used to winning.”
The game winner was a mirror image of the game-winning goal against Harriton in the semifinals.
Left half Tim DeCarolis crossed the ball to Manvekeh Daramay, who headed it in.
“We went over that same play in Monday’s practice,” said Knauss. “You couldn’t have drawn it out any better.”
Against Ghost, it took until the first overtime to duplicate it.
Before the overtime Knauss told the team, “Guys, you’ve been here before. To a man they said, ‘We’re here to win.’ I was proud of them when they said that.”
Although the Firebirds dominated in shots, Upper Moreland had better quality ones.
Knauss praised the defense in the shutout. Tim Uvegas and Kyle Walder took turns standing in the goal and playing outside back. Uvegas started the game and the overtime.
“Playing a good game like that, you have to be perfect, and both keepers were,” said Knauss.
He also noted defenders Kyle Lynch (captain and “great leader on the field”), Nate Roberts and Carl Wambold for their play.
“The defense was stellar,” said Knauss. “They gave up very few clear shots.”
And with Daramay and Johnny Baez in the center of the field, Knauss said he felt “so much comfort.”
Up top, Tommy Hays and Tyler Foerst kept pressure on the Ghost defense.
“It’s a great tandem,” said Knauss. “They seem to smell each other when they know where they’re going to be. It’s uncanny how they’re able to help each other out. They protect each other.”
The Golden Bears started the season with a goal to win 10 games. Last year they won nine and didn’t make the playoffs. But this year, with quality wins over Upper Dublin, Cheltenham, Plymouth Whitemarsh and Springfield Delco, they made the post-season, even though Knauss believed they didn’t get the respect they deserved with the third seed.
When the teams started the season, 6-1, Knauss believed they were destined for good things.
“I knew we had something special, but I wouldn’t allude to that to the boys,” he said. “I knew because of the camaraderie, because we took care of each other’s back.”
Tuesday, Upper Moreland will play the District 12 champion at a site and time to be determined.
Meet…Mike Robinson
As North Penn coach Paul Duddy explained it, Mike Robinson was the guy “that gets us where we’re going.”
And he did that with his arms, his feet, and most importantly with his head.
Robinson led the team in both goals (5) and assists (12). While the goals came off his feet, many of the assists were the product of his arms.
“He’s pretty lethal,” said Duddy. “He was probably involved in at least half of our goals this year.”
Last year at practice, Robinson tried throwing in a ball and discovered he could launch it in front of the goal.
“I can chuck it into the middle,” he said. “It’s like an extra corner. I never tried to throw it in far. It just happened.”
He doesn’t even work on it much.
“I work more on my corner kicks, set pieces and overall play,” he said.
Naturally, Duddy was pleased to have this weapon.
One of Robinson’s favorite targets was Chris Davidson.
“I throw it around the PK spot,” he said. “I try to find out where Chris is because he’s the tallest kid on the team.”
He’s had four or five assists from throw-ins, including one in the playoff game against Conestoga. He barely missed another in overtime that could have won the game for North Penn.
“It went across then box; what a bummer,” he said.
Duddy also used Robinson on corners, especially from the right side because he is left-footed.
Although Robinson usually plays outside midfield or defense for his Penn Fusion club team, Duddy used him at center midfield.
“I like to play anywhere,” said Robinson. “It’s all kind of fun. You see the ball a lot more (at center midfield) and get to help your team out more.”
In addition to his technical skills, Robinson is a smart player.
“We give him the ball at central midfield and he decides if we’re going left, right or who’s open,” said Duddy. “On top of that he knows what we need defensively and he gets back. He just works, he works. He covers more ground in a game than almost any other player. He understands game situations and the score.”
Robinson was one of North Penn’s captains this year.
“He’s not the most vocal, but he says what needs to be said,” said Duddy. “When something changes during the game, I just get his ear and tell him what to do, and he gets the word around to the rest of the team. He gets it. He’s been very instrumental in our success this year.”
“It was nice to be named captain,” said Robinson. “I try to lead the team. Trying to be a leader out there comes easier being a captain. You get responsibility and I try to show as much leadership as I can. It was something I enjoyed being.”
Besides soccer, Robinson has also wrestled for North Penn for the past three years, the most recent at the 145-pound weight class.
His father, who had played professionally for the Philadelphia Fury, had coached him in soccer, baseball and track growing up, so when some of his friends started wrestling in elementary school, he tagged along, content that it was a sport his father knew nothing about.
“I liked doing it,” he said. “It gets you in extremely good shape.”
Robinson credits wrestling with his ability to make long throws in soccer.
“Wrestling helped strength-wise,” he said.
He’s still deciding if he will wrestle his last year at North Penn.
“I want to play soccer in college and want to keep my grades up too,” he said. “It’s been a fun time.”
He especially liked going from a team sport to an individual one.
“There’s no room to blame anybody else,” he said. “It’s your loss; it’s your fault. You win, you achieved it. It’s fun knowing where you are. I turned out to be not too bad at it either.”
Last year he made all-league.
His intelligence on the soccer field is a mirror of his academic ability.
Right now he falls in the top 15 to 17 percent of his class, but he’s aiming to make the top 10 this year. His GPA is a 5.15 out of 6 on a weighted scale.
Robinson’s accomplishments aren’t just limited to the classroom or athletic arena. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, the Ski and Board Club and the Ping Pong Club.
He also helps with Special Olympics and with a haunted house in his neighborhood.
“It’s fun to give back to the community,” he said. “I’ve been doing the haunted house with my friends since about seventh grade. When I grew up, it was fun to go to haunted houses. You don’t see them around the community much anymore. I do it for the neighborhood.”
Robinson wants to continue playing soccer in college, but he has yet to determine at what level. He’s looking at schools like Delaware, Penn State Altoona, Pitt Johnstown, Wilkes and possibly Lehigh where his father played soccer.
“I have a few showcases with Penn Fusion,” he said.
He plans to major in mechanical engineering and possibly get a graduate degree in finance.
“Throughout my childhood, I liked building the Connects and Legos,” he said. “I have taken some engineering courses at our high school and I enjoy doing it, but I also like the business background. It’s a solid foundation to have.”
Titanic surge – After a slow start to the season, Central Bucks South surged at the end, winning six of its last eight games to finish fourth in the Continental Conference and qualify for districts.
Seeded 23rd, the Titans knocked off No.10 Downingtown West 4-0 and No. 26 Souderton 2-0 before being beaten by No. 2 Conestoga, 6-5 in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
Wow, that was some run.
“Our learning curve was huge,” said coach Don Brady, “ but I knew this group was very technical.”
In September, the Titans lost six matches 2-1 and were in every one.
“We were just having tough luck,” said Brady. “We weren’t doing a good job of clearing balls out of the back, and we were turning the ball over.”
A meeting with individual players, emphasizing taking one game at a time and playing for a full 80 minutes, seemed to pay off.
“They bought in big time,” said Brady. “Suddenly it all started to click in terms of possession and taking care of the ball and scoring goals.”
In the last three league matches, the Titans scored nine goals, and added another seven in three playoff games.
“I thought that was impressive,” said Brady.
Starting only four seniors, the Titans were a young team at the beginning of the season.
Especially young was the defense with freshman Patrick Berneski, sophomore Matt Zarro and junior Adam Remick. Senior co-captain Rick Pieri was the glue that stuck the defense together.
On top of that, senior Drew Sutliffe was playing his first varsity campaign in goal after two years on the jayvee.
“He came on really strong in the last month,” said Brady. “He worked extremely hard in the off season, came in fit, traveled to Germany with his club team. He was definitely ready for this season.”
At the other end of the field, it took the Titans a while to start scoring.
Senior co-captain Keith Crews finished with a school-record 22 goals, shattering the previous mark of 17. He recorded hat tricks against North Penn and C.B. West and notched four goals against Quakertown. Besides Crews the Titans had 12 other players score.
Pieri was also a key. His tireless effort sparked the Titans.
“We didn’t take him off the field for anything,” said Brady.
Even with a hamstring/groin injury.
C.B. South finished its season 11-10 overall and 7-7 in the Continental Conference.
The Titans hope to use the momentum right at the start next year.
There are some questions, though.
“Who’s going to take over with the speed of Ricky? Who’s going to score 22 goals or how are we going to replace those 22 goals?” said Brady. “We have a very good freshman goalkeeper (Matt Weigner) who will be ready as well.”
Continental rules – Many people consider the large-school National Conference the elite of the Suburban One League.
But in recent years, it has been the Continental that has achieved greater post-season success.
“The last two years no one from our league has gotten a bye,” said C.B. East coach Mike Gorni. “We haven’t been one of the top four or five seeds.”
But that hasn’t gotten in the way of success.
Three years ago, three National and two Continental teams made the quarterfinals. In two-head-to-head games, Abington defeated Hatboro-Horsham and C.B. East downed Neshaminy.
Abington eventually placed second and C.B. East, fourth. Both teams lost in the state quarterfinals.
In 2008, three National Conference and one Continental team made it to the district quarters. Neshaminy finished second, while C.B. East came in fourth. Both teams got as far as the state semifinals.
In 2009, three Continental teams and one National made it to the quarterfinals. C.B. East beat William Tennent. Souderton beat Pennridge. East played Souderton for third with the Patriots taking that honor. The Indians lost in the first round of states, while East made it to the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual co-champ Father Judge, 1-0.
For the past two years in district playoffs, the Continental has a perfect 6-0 mark against the National.
This year in head-to-head matchups, Pennridge eliminated Council Rock South and Souderton stunned Council Rock North with C.B. East and Pennsbury yet to play for third.
“Very quietly we’ve done very well,” said Gorni. “I know the National Conference is a terrific league and the Catholic League North and the Southern Chester County and the Central League. We know they’re all good leagues, but the Continental is as good as any of them.”
SOL Top Five
1. Central Bucks East
2. Pennsbury
3. Wissahickon
4. Pennridge
5. Council Rock North
Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Poll
(Through Sunday)
1. Conestoga 17-1-1
2. St. Joe’s Prep 16-2-2
3. Lower Merion 16-1-3
4. Central Bucks East 14-4-3
5. Pennsbury 16-5-0
6. LaSalle 15-2-2
7. Wissahickon 18-1-1
8. Holy Ghost Prep 14-3-2
9. Spring-Ford 17-1-3
10. Archbishop Wood 13-6-1
11. Pennridge 13-6-2
12. Council Rock North 13-4-2
13. Father Judge 15-5-0
14. Council Rock South 13-3-1
15. Unionville 13-6-1
16. West Chester Rustin 12-4-3
17. Archbishop Ryan 13-5-1
18. Strath Haven 12-6-3
19. Shipley 17-1-1
20. Neshaminy 12-7-1
20. Penn Charter 10-6-0
Others receiving votes: Downingtown West, North Penn, Octorara, Washington, Franklin Towne Charter, Marple Newtown, Radnor, Abington, Haverford
Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Poll
(Nov. 1)
1. LaSalle (District 12)
2. Conestoga (1)
3. Cumberland Valley (3)
4. Hempfield (3)
5. Lower Merion (1)
6. Emmaus (11)
7. Peters Township (7)
8. Council Rock South (1)
9. Mechanicsburg (3)
10. Wissahickon (1)
Honorable mention: Abington Heights (2), Central Dauphin (3), Conestoga valley (3), Council Rock South (1), Dallastown 93), Mt. Lebanon (7), Spring-Ford (1), State College (6), Unionville (1), Upper St. Clair (7), Warwick (3)
National Soccer Coaches Association Region III Poll
(Nov. 2)
1. Conestoga 18-1-1
2. Pingry (NJ) 15-0-0)
3. St. Benedict’s (NJ) 16-2-0
4. Seton Hall (NJ) 16-0-2
5. Hempfield 17-3-0
6. Lower Merion 16-1-3
7. West Orange (NJ) 17-2-1
8. Emmaus 18-3-0
9. Clifton (NJ) 18-1-1
10. Peters Township 16-2-2
11. Princeton (NJ) 15-1-1
12. Dallastown 19-1-0
13. LaSalle (Providence, RI) 15-2-2
14. Montville (NJ) 20-1-0
15. St. Joe’s Prep 17-2-1
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