PIAA Boys 2A Final
QUAKER VALLEY 3, LANCASTER MENNONITE 2
Quaker Valley boys soccer captured its seventh PIAA state soccer title with a 3-2 win against a pesky opponent Lancaster Mennonite on Friday afternoon at Hershey Park Stadium.
Landon Grant scored the first two goals for the Quakers (23-2), while Ian Rodgers provided the game-winner in the 70th minute.
The Quakers ran off four straight wins in the PIAA tournament — capping off an impressive bounce-back run after losing the WPIAL title to Shady Side Academy on November 4 at Highmark Stadium.
This is the first state title for the Quakers under the guidance of former Pittsburgh Riverhounds defender Andrew Marshall., and its first PIAA win since 2000.
FOLLOW GAME UPDATES HERE:
3:45 p.m. – QV — synonomous with PIAA titles — and first under head coach Andrew Marshall.
Boys Soccer: Quaker Valley tops Lancaster Mennonite, 3-2, for the PIAA Class 2A title. pic.twitter.com/ataTpx1JfZ
— Tim Gross (@TimGrossLNP) November 17, 2017
3:30 p.m. – FINAL – Quaker Valley 3, Lancaster Mennonite 2
Congratulations to Quaker Valley — winning its seventh PIAA championship!
3:15 p.m. – QV — takes 3-2 lead over Lancaster Mennonite with just over 10 minutes to play in #PIAA Boys 2-A Soccer Championship — Ian Rodgers with the goal.
2:45 p.m. – Unfortunately for the Quakers, it lasts only 1:22 as Matthew Lynch ties it again at 2-2 for the Blazers.
2:40 p.m. – QV is back on top again, 2-1, Landon Grant with his second! The senior converts a second Ian Rodgers cross at 11:31 of the second half.
2:05 p.m. – Lancaster Mennonite strikes back!
Blazers even it up in 10th’ on Shota Totani‘s strike. 1-1
1:53 p.m. — well, that was fast… Quakers grab an early lead.
Landon Grant strikes early for QV! Quaker Valley 1, Lancaster Mennonite 0. 34:00 left in 1st half of #PIAA Boys’ Soccer Class 2A Championship Game.
— Quaker Valley Hoops (@QVBasketball) November 17, 2017
PREGAME NOTES
The Quakers fell short of winning its ninth WPIAL title a few weeks ago at Highmark Stadium, losing in improbable fashion to Shady Side Academy, 3-2, after holding a 2-1 lead very late in regulation. Instead, they were denied a second consecutive district title on a pair of goals set up by long throws and ending in bicycle kicks.
After that game Andrew Marshall‘s focus quickly shifted to the PIAA playoffs — and his club has bounced back nicely — and for the second straight year have made it to the state final. The Quakers Landon Grant (36 goals this season) and Franky Fernandez have been key players in the attack — with second half goals to defeat Beaver, 2-1, in the quarterfinals, and again vs Oley Valley in the semifinals.
Last year, they came up short, losing 1-0 to Lewisburg. The Quakers have a storied history –winning six state championships, the latest in 2000, when they were crowned co-champions after a four-overtime draw with Fleetwood in the title game. Their last outright championship came in 1996, when they beat Wyomissing, 1-0. Quaker Valley has also finished as runner-up five times, including last year.
Lancaster Mennonite ran undefeated through a regular season that included their fifth consecutive L-L League Section Three title. After advancing to the league-championship game, and suffering its only loss of the season to Elizabethtown, Lancaster Mennonite captured the District Three Class 2A crown and captured state-tournament wins over Lansdale Catholic, Notre Dame Green Pond and defending-champion Lewisburg.Team-leading goal scores Matt Lynch (38 goals) and Ben Lefever (20 goals) scored in the Blazers’ semifinal victory over Lewisburg.