There's something about the Upper Moreland boys soccer team these past two seasons ... they're not brash, they're not cocky, they're not braggarts. They just quietly go about their business and continue to defy all expectations.
When they entered the District One Class AA tournament last season as the third seed, they weren't expected to get past second-seeded Harriton. They did. Then the Golden Bears downed top seed Holy Ghost Prep to claim the district title.
As one of two Class AA schools in the seven-team American Conference, Upper Moreland wasn't supposed to make too much noise. All the Bears did was win their last 10 games of the season, in the process posting a 9-3 league record for second place in the conference ... exactly as they had done last season.
So as the Golden Bears prepare for their first district playoff game ... a semifinal matchup identical to last year's, you'd think the Golden Bears would be somewhat irked to be constantly overlooked and undervalued.
You'd be wrong.
"I like to be the underdog, I'm comfortable with that," said Upper Moreland coach Jack Knauss. "The guys are, too.
"We beat Harriton in the semis last year. We were not supposed to do it then. We're not supposed to do it again. We're OK with that. We'll have our guys prepared."
It's difficult to imagine that the regular season hasn't fully prepared the Golden Bears for what lies ahead. In addition to the team's American Conference schedule, playing high-quality Class AAA squads like Upper Dublin, Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh twice each, the Bears also scheduled non-league games against the likes of Interboro, Pope John Paul II High School and Lower Moreland, all eager to notch a win against the defending Class AA District Champs.
"From the beginning, we knew what was going to happen," Knauss said. "Even if it was a scrimmage, the other teams are going to get up for it when they're playing the defending district champions. The kids had to work hard to get up for that. They've matured. They know you can't just walk in and have the game handed to you, you have to work for it.
"That's why I believe the strength of our schedule is one of our greatest assets. We have some great non-league competition, and I like playing larger schools like Upper Dublin, Wissahickon. We impress it upon them, don't take it further than the next game. Focus only on the next game, whether it's a league game or not. Because there are no easy games on our schedule."
Knauss and his coaching staff have been preaching the same mantra as they prepare for Tuesday's game. The team hasn't played in close to two weeks. The Bears will have, at most, two games to be played in the district tournament. And as sports fans know (particularly fans of the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies), a short series is unforgiving. You can post the best season in your team history ... but one mistake in the playoffs and you're out.
Knauss is confident his players will be prepared for what lies ahead.
"They understand, they don't take anything for granted," Knauss said. "And they're not worried about anything beyond Tuesday. They're focused on the immediate task at hand."
As the second season gets underway for the Bears, Knauss knows exactly what will determine the team's playoff success ... putting the ball in the other team's net.
"The bottom line is, the way Tommy Hays goes is the way we go," Knauss said. "If he's on, we're on. Him and Tyler Foerst, they've been working together the last two-and-a-half years, they're working so well as a tandem. If they can get it going, I think we'll be OK.
"We have Nate Roberts and Carl Wambold controlling the center. I never worry about defense with them, (sweeper) Kyle Lynch or (goalkeeper) Kyle Walder."
The Golden Bears, seeded third in the Class AA tournament, will play second-seeded Harriton at 8 p.m. Tuesday at West Chester East High School. The game will follow the 5:45 p.m. game that pits top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep against fourth-seeded Octorara. Both games are rematches of last season's semifinal matchups. The Class AA championship game will be placed at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 3 at a site to be determined.
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