BOYS SOCCER: Inter-Ac Action Did Not Disappoint in Week One of League Play

By Jerome Taylor, 10/12/22, 9:00PM EDT

(Photos and videos by Krystal Williams, Ryan Nix & Mike Nance)

BY JEROME TAYLOR

PHILADELPHIA – After the first week of league play, two teams, The Episcopal Academy and The Haverford School, have jumped out to undefeated starts. The former was victorious in our game of the week under the lights on Thursday night. You can read all about it and the rest of the Inter-Ac’s action below.

Game of the Week

Episcopal Academy 2, Malvern Prep 1

You don’t need to be an astrophysicist to know that stars shine brighter at night, which was undoubtedly the case for Episcopal Academy’s Eddie Jones.

The senior captain handled the scoring responsibilities for his squad in their second league win of the season. Both of his goals came off a penalty kick. The first came around the 19’ mark after Episcopal’s pressure forced a penalty, and the second came off a handball at the 50’ mark.

“I’ve been practicing [penalty kicks] since I was little, so it’s something I’m used to at this point,” Jones said. “One of my coaches when I was younger told me to go to the same spot until I miss, but with two tonight, I had to switch it up, so I wasn’t really sure what to do on the second one, but I got it in there somehow.”

EA played in their opposition's zone for most of the evening because of strong defense on the back end and an effective high press.

“Our three backs stay together as a unit, making teams get silly turnovers in the middle of the field,” Jones said. “We try to stuff it down their throat and try to score it quickly on the counter.”

“We have three really talented center backs who work so well together, and with that outside cover, they can do their job,” head coach David Knox added. “We thought about switching to 4 in the second half, but we didn’t really see the need. They had everything covered, read the game well, and worked so well with each other.”

The back trio of senior Cole Kline (right), junior Ryan Sewell (left), and sophomore Evan MacFarland (center) played a massive role in holding Malvern Prep scoreless. But at the 75’ mark, Cole Watts found the back of the net to put the Friars on the board.

But that would be the only goal of the evening for the Friars, as the Churchmen stretched their winning streak to six games and found themselves atop the Inter-Ac standings. But Knox knows this league is challenging, and their focus should solely be on what’s in front of them.

One of two goals by EA senior captain Eddie Jones (video/ Krystal Williams for PSD)

Episcopal Academy vs. Malvern Prep. (Photo gallery by Krystal Williams for PSD)

“The message is the same as it is always, to be humble and take one game at a time,” Knox said. “We know that the teams that we have to face again and have yet to face are planning and are ready for us. We think we can hopefully play with anybody in this league and are up for the challenge.

GA Bounces Back

Germantown Academy 2 Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 1

The defending champs opened inter-ac play with a loss to Episcopal Academy last week. But they were able to get back on track against SCH.

After Colin Leon earned a penalty kick for GA at 25’ in the first half, senior Tyler Weiss finished to give the Patriots a 1-0 advantage. Later in the half the Devils responded with a goal of their own, when senior Daniel Heep scored at 34’ off of a free kick.

At 14’ in the second half, senior Jake Kafriseen put the Patriots ahead once again and this time for good. The Devils would spend the rest of the game trying to even the score, including an unlucky effort from Peter Shea who’s shot ricocheted off the post.

The Patriots moved to 1-1 in league play with their next matchup coming up against Malvern Prep. Meanwhile SCH will be looking to get their first win in league play when they take on The Haverford School, both games will be on Tuesday, October 11th.

Germantown Academy vs. Springside Chestnut Hill. (Photo gallery by Ryan Nix for PSD

SCH vs. GA - PSD Video Highlights by Ryan Nix

Haverford Hangs On

The Haverford School 1, William Penn Charter 0

The Fords came out on top in a tightly contested matchup thanks to clutch play from their midfielder Andrew Kirwan.

Last week, first-year Haverford head coach Keith Cappo said when the ‘Fords need a goal Kirwan can go get it.

In Friday’s matchup the senior made his coach look prophetic.

In a game that went into the second overtime period, Kirwan made the play of the game, scoring off of an Anthony Costa cross in the 88th minute to lift Haverford to its second win in league play.

After a tough loss, Penn Charter bounced back yesterday with their first Inter-Ac win of the season defeating Episcopal Academy 2-1.