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PIAA Soccer Championship Friday: Quaker Valley boys and Moon girls capture state titles

Photo courtesy Matt Ralph (Brotherly Game)

PIAA Soccer Championship Friday

Friday, November 19, 2021 – HersheyPark Stadium, Hershey, PA

Stream/Broadcast: PCN-TV / PCN.com

Girls 2A

FINAL: Allentown Central Catholic 2, Avonworth 1

Boys 2A

FINAL: Quaker Valley 0, Lewisburg 0, (Quaker Valley wins PK shootout)

Girls 4A

FINAL: Moon 2, Conestoga 0

Boys 4A

FINAL: Conestoga 1 – Seneca Valley 0

PIAA Soccer Past Champions List

Match Day Updates

Conestoga’s (26-0-0) path to winning the PIAA 4A boys soccer state final:

District 1 playoffs – Central Bucks East 5-0/ Pennridge 4-0/ Abington 3-0/ Lower Merion 1-0(PK’s)

PIAA playoffs – Warwick 3-0/ Dallastown 1-0/ LaSalle 3-0/ Seneca Valley 1-0

Have now won 5 state titles (1988, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2021).

Have won 39 games in a row. Weren’t able to compete in the State finals last year due to covid. Only allowed five goals all season. Jayce Tharnish scores his ninth goal and Brady Costin got his ninth assist in their 1-0 win. The Head Coach, David Zimmerman now has 4 state titles under his leadership.

All-Central 1st Team players in 2021:

Sebastian Tis – 1st Team/MVP

Charlie Smith – 1st Team

Colin Wurth – 1st Team

Simeon Dorsey – 1st Team

AJ Nordone – 2nd Team

Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke – 2nd Team

Brady Costin – Honorable Mention

Jayce Tharnish – Honorable Mention

 

Seneca Valley’s (21-1-1) path to Runner-Up in the PIAA 4A boys soccer state final:

WPIAL playoffs – Taylor Allderdice 1-0/ Fox Chapel 1-0 (OT) / Peters Township 3-1

PIAA playoffs – Hempfield 3-0/ Lower Meroin 3-0/ Peters Township 2-1/ Losing 1-0 to Conestoga

Have won WPIAL’s in 2018, 2020 and 2021. PIAA titles in 2020 and now a runner-up in 2015 and 2021. Upper St. Clair remains the only WPIAL teams to win back-to-back state finals back in 2012 and 2013. The Raiders only allowed 9 goals all season and All-State standout Nathan Prex scored 37 goals with 11 assists. George Williams was named WPIAL Coach of the Year.

All-WPIAL players in 2021:

Nathan Prex – All-State/ All-WPIAL/ 4A Player of the Year/ All-Section

Beaux Lizewski – All-State/ All-WPIAL/ All-Section

Ryan Krumenacker – All-WPIAL/ All-Section

Caiden Oros – All-WPIAL/ All-Section

Connor Morrisard – All-WPIAL/ All-Section

Luke Simpson – All-WPIAL/ All-Section Honorable Mention

72′ – Nathan Prex gets a warning with just a bit of time left. Thought the ref was going to give him a yellow card but he didn’t.

57′ – Connor Oros gets a yellow card for a foul on Conestoga while on the counter attack

50′ – Prex with some slicing n dicing in the corner. Crosses it in but no one home to finish it.

39′ – Another chance for Conestoga’s Sebastian Tis. Krumenacker coming off his line to make the save

38′ – Krumenacker the goalie for SV, can really punt the ball well. Does a drop kick and punts it well over the 50 every time.

33′ – Colin Wurth on Conestoga gets a yellow card. He went up for a challenge with Connor Oros and injured him.

29′ – Wow, Sebastian Tis almost scores for Conestoga. Beats two guys with speed but Krumenacker makes the save. Tis maybe could’ve passed there but I don’t blame him for shooting.

25′ – Nathan Prex called offsides but when looking at the replay I don’t believe he was 🤦🏻🤦🏻

22′ – Nathan Prex stepping back into the midfield more to get his touches. Probably annoyed with being man marked and just trying to create something for his team.

16′ – Both teams already subbing in and out forwards early on. Trying to stay fresh and keep attacking quick.

9′ – Looks like Seneca Valley is still in a 4-3-3. Conestoga playing a 4-2-3-1 with a man mark on Nathan Prex.
 
Seneca playing more tiki-taka style soccer and Conestoga playing more direct.

 

Follow along below as we plan to provide updates and throughout the day along with postmatch reaction from WPIAL coaches and players.

63′ -Moon 2, Conestoga 0

Contestoga defender Olivia Mazza lost control of a ball near the Pioneers’ goal and tapped it toward Moon’s Kayla Leseck.

The junior took advantage — firing a wide-open shot into the top right corner of the net.

19′ — Moon 1, Conestoga 0

The Tigers just found the back of the net — sophomore Sydney Felton tapped it in from close range.

4:35 pm – Schedule running a bit behind now. Moon Conestoga have kicked off

FINAL: Quaker Valley 0, Lewisburg 0 (QUAKER VALLEY WINS IT IN PK SHOOTOUT)

Photos courtesy Matt Ralph (Brotherly Game)

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END OF 2nd OT — QUAKER VALLEY 0, LEWISBURG 0

110 minutes of soccer won’t decide it in PIAA Boys Class 2A Final.

Quaker Valley and Lewisburg end run of play in scoreless draw — it’s going to PK’s!

Some highlights from QV-Lewisburg…

3:10 p.m. — END OF REGULATION – QV 0, LB 0

They’re going to Extra Time in the Boys 2A Final!

We’re hearing that weather conditions have been a factor in the early games so far…

2:15 — HALF — QUAKER VALLEY 0, LEWISBURG 0


Final: Allentown CC 2, Avonworth 1

Its a heartbreaker for the ‘Lopes and another miraculous finish for Allentown CC, who scored twice in the final moments.

Allentown Central Catholic scored two goals in the closing three minutes of Friday’s PIAA Class 2A girls soccer final as the Vikettes finished off a wild 2-1 win over District 7 champion Avonworth at a cold, windy Hersheypark Stadium.

Central Catholic’s 2-1 victory was its third straight PIAA playoff win by the exact same score. Coach Robert Spatzer’s Vikettes rallied to top Wyomissing 2-1 in the quarterfinals, then knocked off previously unbeaten Central Columbia 2-1 in penalty kicks in Tuesday’s state semifinals.

Avonworth senior Ava Wert scored the game’s lone first-half goal 3:09 into play. Vikettes goalkeeper Armani Brickhouse deflected an initial shot off the crossbar and Wert was there to immediately redirect a rebound into the open net.

The wind was a major factor Friday. Avonworth played the first 40 minutes with a strong wind that reached 35 mph. Central Catholic enjoyed the wind advantage in the second half.

Coach JC Mahan’s Anetoples finished their season with a 19-4-1 overall record. They lost their first three contests of the year.

HALF — Avonworth 1, Allentown CC 0

11 a.m. — they’ve kicked off in the Girls 2A match between Avonworth and ACC.


Previews / Game Capusles / PSN Coverage

Girls 2A

11 a.m. – Avonworth (District 7 – WPIAL – Champion) vs Allentown Central Catholic (District 11 Champion)

For the first time in program history, the Avonworth girls soccer team has made it to Hershey as they’ve continued to get better and better with each match.

In fact, this will be a match that will feature two schools making their first-ever appearances in a PIAA girls soccer championship game.

It’s not often a team that starts the season 0-3 makes their way to the State Championship game, but the ‘Lopes are riding a 20-game win streak which culminated with its third win of the season against section rival North Catholic, last year’s PIAA runner-up.

Fourth Time’s a Charm: Avonworth pulls away from North Catholic, 3-0, to advance to first-ever state final

The ‘Lopes feature a group of attackers that have grown together through the season.

Mia Burens and Ava Wert scored in the semifinal win against North Catholic, while freshman Fiona Mahan, the daughter of Head Coach JC Mahan, delivered the game-winning goal in the WPIAL Final.

Carrying a few lucky charm rocks and crystals, Goalkeeper Maggie Pappas has been rock solid in goal throughout the season for the ‘Lopes, including coming up with some big saves on Tuesday, including turning away North Catholic’s Jayden Sharpless free kick attempts twice.

“Our front five attackers have been flowing well together and putting the ball on the net,” the elder Mahan said, referring to Wert, Burens, Giana Babusci, Mina Syam and his daughter.

“They have been clicking now that we’re healthy.”

Scouting Allentown Central Catholic

Avonworth will have to play a full 80 minute match to beat the Vikettes, as this appears to be a squad that won’t stop playing until the final whistle.

Trailing 1-0 late in the semifinal round, Josslin Muto struck long distance in the 80th minute to tie the PIAA Class 2A semifinal 1-1 at North Schuylkill High School.

The District 11 champion Vikettes carried the momentum into the extra sessions and senior forward Hanna Hoeing made it 6-5 in penalty kicks to clinch Central Catholic’s first state championship appearance in program history.


Boys 2A

1:30 p.m. – Quaker Valley (22-2-0; District 7 – WPIAL – Champion) vs Lewisburg (20-1-1; District 4 Champion)

This will be a match up of the last two PIAA Boys Class 2A Champions.

Quaker Valley’s boys soccer team will be looking to write another chapter in its program’s storied history, as they aim to win its 9th PIAA crown. The Quakers have only lost twice this year, both times to teams in higher classifications, but against Class 2A competition, they’ve been perfect.

The Quakers feature a number of talented scorers, namely Rowan Kriebel and Keller Chamovitz, the hero from the WPIAL championship game, who scored four times and added an assist as the Quakers won its 10th district title.

Taking nothing for granted, Quaker Valley head back to Hershey in quest for 9th PIAA boys soccer crown

PIAA Boys Soccer: Seneca Valley, Hampton, Quaker Valley and Winchester Thurston advance to State Finals

Scouting Lewisburg

While Quaker Valley were challenged by a pesky North Catholic, only to show its quick scoring capability with two goals in less than a minute that proved to be the difference to advance to the Final, Lewisburg had to go the distance in a thrilling match to defeat Midd-West in penalty kicks.

Tuesday’s tilt was a rematch of the District 4 Final, when Lewisburg won 3-0, showing a bit more firepower.

The Green Dragons return numerous players from last year’s squad that defeated another WPIAL school, Deer Lakes, in the PIAA final. Simon Stumbris and Philip Permyashkin each had a goal and an assist to lead Lewisburg to the District 4 title.


Girls 4A

4 p.m. – Moon (19-1-1; District 7 – WPIAL – Champion) vs Conestoga (18-4-2); District 1 champion)

The Tigers have been challenged and had to take the road to survive and advance in the PIAA playoffs, but Bill Pfeifer’s squad continues to find different ways to win.

Pfeifer, the all-time wins leader in PIAA girls soccer history, returned to coach the Tigers since winning back-to-back state titles in 2016 and ‘17, and knew that he had a good squad that was capable of going far this year, but they really turned things up a notch after some confidence building wins during the regular season.

Those wins came against its next closest rival in Section 2, Peters Township, including on October 4, when Hailey Longwell converted her chance late in the first half, then goalkeeper Serayah Leech came up with some big saves in a match that could have went either way.

The two sides met in the WPIAL semifinal, when Moon goalkeeper Serayah Leech, a sophomore, stopped two of the five shots she faced against Peters, as the Tigers escaped, 4-3, in penalty kicks.

From that point, the Tigers turned things up another notch with an impressive, where did this come from scoring outburst in the WPIAL final against Seneca Valley, as they rolled to dominate 4-0 win at Highmark Stadium.

Relentless Moon attack throttles Seneca Valley, 4-0, to capture WPIAL Girls 4A title

In the PIAA playoffs, Moon had to pull out consecutive 1-0 wins against Ephrata and Owen J. Roberts before beating Central Dauphin in the semifinal, 2-1.

Scouting the Conestoga PIoneers

Pioneers have reached the finals for the second time in three years.

Abagail Klebe scored in the first half and the defense made it stand up as Conestoga edged Downingtown East, 1-0 to reach the final. ‘Stoga has been a strong defensive unit in front of keeper Catherine Steege, as this should be a match against Moon with neither side giving in much.


Boys 4A

6:30 p.m. – Seneca Valley (20-0-1; District 7 – WPIAL – Champion) vs Conestoga (20-0-0; District 1 champion)

Last season Seneca Valley won its first-ever PIAA title.

Now, they’re back in Hershey, looking to be the first WPIAL school to win back-to-back state championships at the highest classification since Upper St. Clair did it in 2012 and 2013.

Despite having to reload its roster, the Raiders have blazed through the WPIAL season and playoffs, beating Peters Township, 3-1, in the District Final.

They continued on in the PIAA playoffs not slowing down one bit, eventually facing WPIAL foe, Peters again in the semifinal, winning again, 2-1.

Nathan Prex has been the Raiders’ go-to scorer with 35 goals, but make no mistake, George Williams’ squad has a balanced attack and carry a deep roster.

Scouting the Conestoga Pioneers

Conestoga didn’t get the chance last year to compete in the PIAA playoffs, as its league not taking part in the COVID-19 altered district and state set-up. The Pioneers, who finished a perfect 13-0 in in the Central League, have plenty of size, physicality and speed, which they used to blitz LaSalle in the semifinal, winning 3-0.

The Raiders will also have to be prepared to defend against a dangerous long-throws from senior defender Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke, who has set up numerous goals with that added skill set.

The two schools have one common opponent, Conestoga’s District 1 rival, Lower Merion.

The Pioneers topped LM in the regular season, 3-0, but the teams met again in the District 1 Championship game, with the match going to penalty kicks, with Conestoga prevailing.

PSN’s Seneca Valley boys archives

Double-Prex: Seneca Valley tops Peters again, 3-1, to capture back-to-back WPIAL titles

Seneca Valley boys capture first-ever PIAA title

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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