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BOYS SOCCER: Germantown Academy Gets Win in Rematch Over Episcopal, Springside Chestnut Hill Stays Undefeated

By Cole Nowak Photos/Videos: Cole Nowak & James Quinn, 10/26/21, 3:45PM EDT

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Inter-Ac heats up as we enter final two weeks of league play.

By: Cole Nowak

PHILADELPHIA- Germantown Academy (10-2 overall, 4-2 league) is clicking on all cylinders right now. After two tough 1-0 losses against Episcopal Academy (10-5-1 overall, 3-3 league) and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (10-6 overall, 6-0 league) to kick off league competition, the Patriots have now strung together four straight victories looking as if they have successfully found their form.

This past week, the Patriots were able to secure a 3-2 victory against Penn Charter and a 2-0 victory against Episcopal.

Game of the Week:

Germantown Academy 2, Episcopal Academy 0

This was not their first match-up this season. On October 5th, Germantown Academy traveled to Episcopal Academy for their Inter-Ac League opener. On that day, the Patriots were handed a 1-0 loss by the Churchmen.

At that point in the season, GA came into league play with an undefeated record and felt as if they came in too overconfident in that initial contest. Entering last week’s rematch vs. the Churchmen, the Patriots believed that they embodied the stronger club and needed to come out and prove it, in order to avoid losing the season series and slip down Inter-Ac standings.

“Obviously, it was difficult to start the season out with a loss. Today, it was our senior day and we had even more to be motivated for. We just came out and played our game. We showed them that they didn’t deserve that first game and that we were the better team,” said GA junior midfielder/defender Tyler Weiss.

The Patriots set the tone throughout the first half, generating multiple scoring opportunities while restricting EA from pursuing their own offensive breaks. Weiss decided to take matters into his own hands and break the scoreless tie on a gorgeous goal that struck pure from 20 yards out in the upper corner leaving EA’s keeper helpless. The Patriots would take the 1-0 lead into halftime.

“I give a ton of credit to my midfielder, Colin (Leon), he drove and found me on the wing. We have been working on it at practice. I took one touch inside and beat the defender, I said, “why not” and had one, sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you are good,” said Weiss when recapping his goal.

GA's Tyler Weiss scores the Patriots initial goal vs. EA - Video by Cole Nowak


GA's Tyler Weiss was awarded PSD's Player of the Game after supplying the Patriots with their momentum shifting first goal - Photo by Cole Nowak

GA did not slow down coming out of halftime, keeping the pressure up. Their offensive attack ran the crossbar before crashing the net hard and converting on the rebound to put GA up 2-0. The Patriots did not look back, as their intensity stayed high making a statement to EA that it was not going to be their day. GA’s goalkeeper Joe Joe Cava did a great job throughout the contest taking away all chances from EA, as well as really controlling the pace from the back line on his way to recording a clean sheet.

“I think their intensity level was through the roof this game, they were on us from the start. They were really pressuring our defense and I believe their back line played really well. We were not able to get a lot of balls through, so kudos to them,” said EA’s Tristan Whitaker on what makes GA so tough to play against.

GA's Tyler Weiss talks about getting the win vs. EA on senior day - video by Cole Nowak

EA's Tristan Whitaker talks about ending the season on a positive note - video by Cole Nowak

GA Tops Penn Charter:

Germantown Academy 3, Penn Charter 2

Coming into this contest, GA needed to defend their home field and keep the positive momentum moving in the right direction. They were able to accomplish both those tasks. Penn Charter’s (1-9-1 overall, 1-5 league) record is deceiving. Even though the Quakers have only been able to squeak out one win this season, all five of their league losses have been by a singular goal. Germantown Academy would grab a hold on the lead in the first half by finding the back of the net on two separate occasions to lead the Quakers 2-0 at the half.

“We excepted them to sit in, we knew it was going to be a tough game. They surprised us, they came out strong, they came out fast, and they pressed us. We had to work around that, it took a lot of adaptation from the beginning. But it came down to work rate and we really had to step it up,” said GA junior midfielder Eli Torrey.

The second half yielded a bit of a different story. GA was able to push across their third goal on a counterattack that was pursued heavily by PC’s goalkeeper but it would trickle past. 

PC vs. GA Highlights by Cole Nowak:

PC fired back with a vengeance and created premium scoring chances that would force GA to foul them, which would produce not one, but two penalty kicks. Both were converted by the Quakers to shrink the deficit to 3-2. But it was ultimately a little too late to get going on the afternoon and they would fall short at the hands of the Patriots.

“Generating chances, especially in Inter-Ac games is extremely difficult. So, the opportunities we created were wonderful. We could have done better, obviously finishing is something we are currently working on in soccer. You are in the heat of battle, you got guys on top of you, guys on your shoulder. You are flicking the ball at the net, trying to curl the ball at the net. That last goal was just pushing towards the nets and it trickled to the net because we just kept pushing,” said GA head coach Kurt Wetzel.

“The one big positive about this team is that we never give up, we are going to keep fighting,” said PC senior James Fitzgerald. “We worked on organizing our press and prioritized pressing their midfield and worked on cutting that off,” added Fitzgerald when touching on second half adjustments.

This Penn Charter team consistently competes, game in and game out. As the season heads to the finish line, they will be a tough match-up on the pitch.

GA's Eli Torrey talks about early takeaways in victory vs. Penn Charter:

GA Head Coach Kurt Wetzel was impressed with his team's ball movement:

WPC's James Fitzgerald talks about the Quaker's second half adjustments:

Top Team in Inter-Ac:

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

After a tough non-league schedule, Springside Chestnut Hill has yet to drop a contest in league play. The Blue Devils have been anchored by their stellar back line play that is truly finding their form due to the fact of key players returning from Injury in combination with the rapid development of their underclassman. On the attacking third, the Blue Devils have honed in on using their pace and creativity to wreak havoc on opposing teams. The piece that ties it all together is the team culture, as SCH finds it essential to stay positive while staying in the moment.

I think we can stand to be more consistent in the attacking third when capitalizing on our chances and half-chances that we create going forward. Additionally, we could improve our success rate on set pieces, such as corner kicks, throw-ins, and restarts, around the box,” said SCH head coach Brain Zalasky on where his team can still make some adjustments moving towards states. 

Over the last stretch of games, there has been a plethora of guys who have been contributing to the success of this SCH team. Junior Daniel Heep has scored three goals over the last three games, one coming as a game winner against Malvern Prep. On the backline, senior Mojé Badejoko has come back from injury and has been nothing but steady.

Lastly, the Blue Devils have great depth at the midfielder position. The midfield has been highlighted by: seniors Sean Stackhouse and Casey Baker, junior Colin Woehlcke, sophomore Zayd DeVeaux and freshman Michael Glennon.

Unbelievably proud. To find consistency in our play, attitude, and line-up with all that is swirling around suggests to me that not only have our boys heeded the advice but we've done our best to communicate to them about remaining present and focusing on "controllables," but also that we've been (relatively) really, really lucky. You talk to any coach of any team playing this fall, soccer or otherwise, it has not been easy. So, we feel really fortunate to find any success we can this season, whether big or small,” said Zalasky when touching on his team’s success after an unprecedented season in 2020.

 

Scores Around the League:

Tuesday, Oct 19th

Episcopal Academy 2, Haverford 1

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 2, Malvern Prep 1

Friday, Oct 22nd

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 3, Penn Charter 2 OT

Haverford 1, Malvern Prep 0

Upcoming Fixtures (all games start @ 4:00pm):

Tuesday, Oct 26th

Episcopal Academy @ Malvern Prep

Germantown Academy @ Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Penn Charter @ Haverford

Friday, Oct 29th

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy @ Haverford

Germantown Academy @ Malvern Prep

Episcopal Academy @ Penn Charter