Westtown boys and girls soccer teams posing with championship plaques after FSL title sweep - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
By: Josh Abrams
Photos: Lennie Malmgren
West Chester, PA – Any time we reach the championship stage of a season, in any sport, there is history bound to be made.
The Westtown School took “making history” to an entirely new level on Saturday. Those involved with the girls and boys soccer programs will remember the date, October 28, 2023, for an eternity.
For the first time in the school’s storied existence, both teams secured the FSL Championship in the same season. It is the icing on the cake for two teams who have been beyond dominant this season, particularly against league opponents; the girls only conceded one goal versus FSL teams while the boys recorded a clean slate.
The Lady Moose began the day with a 2-0 victory over a tough-nosed and battle-tested MFS squad, while the boys followed with a tight and narrow 1-0 win over a very familiar Shipley team, who was looking to take home their third consecutive FSL title.
The girls received goals from freshman Noelle Clabaugh and senior captain Olivia Bley, and the boys’ lone goal came off the foot of junior Antonio Ubiera.
A battle of the top-two teams in the conference, MFS traveled to Westtown yet again to try and avenge their 3-0 loss to the Lady Moose earlier in the season.
And even though they were not able to flip the switch in the second clash, senior goalkeeper Chelsea Mohammed continued her display of outstanding effort in attempting to keep her team in it as much as possible.
“I tell everyone on the team that everything they do is special,” the captain said. “The way they treat their bodies, they watch the game and they understand that it’s beautiful… I told them they can do anything, and you know how it feels to walk away after a performance like this when it feels better than winning, in my opinion.”
Westtown defeats Moorestown Friends 1-0 to win the 2023 FSL Championship - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
First half scoring opportunity for Clabaugh saved by MFS goalie Chelsea Mohammed (Video/Josh Abrams)
MFS senior goalie and captain Chelsea Mohammed reflects on her individual and team's performance against Westtown (Video/Josh Abrams)
There is no doubt Mohammed left everything on the field in what could be her final game against a FSL opponent, and who knows where MFS would be at this point in the season without her stellar play in goal?
First half shot attempt from Olivia Bley hits the top crossbar against MFS (Video/Josh Abrams)
Late second half goal from Bley doubles WT's lead over MFS (Video/Josh Abrams)
Westtown broke open the scoring midway through the first half when Clabaugh sped her way past the defense of the Foxes and grounded her shot to the back of the net.
Though just a freshman, Noelle was very understanding of what was at stake and knew there was a crowd on-hand she did not want to disappoint.
“I think the environment had a lot to do with how we were playing,” she said. “And we knew we had to come out strong; last time we played this team we didn’t start out with as much energy, so we had to just perform (to our standards).”
Westtown freshman Noelle Clabaugh postgame interview after 2-0 win in FSL title game vs MFS (Video/Josh Abrams)
Westtown senior Olivia Bley reflects on this season as she closes out her high school career (Video/Josh Abrams)
Helping diffuse any sort of tension or uneasy feeling for the Westtown faithful was a player who is well-acclimated to the environment.
It took a while; over 70 minutes to be exact, but senior phenom Olivia Bley put the finishing touches on the victory for the Lady Moose. She used her quickness, agility and skill set to get past the MFS backline and fired the ball past Mohammed.
Anyone on-hand at Balderston Track & Field had to figure she would make her presence felt in the game sooner or later, and just like last year when she led Westtown to this same achievement, Bley was able to find the scoring column in potentially her final game against FSL competition.
She took time afterwards to reflect on what this win meant to her after quite the rollercoaster of a career; started playing varsity in eighth grade, missed her freshman season due to COVID-19, sat out her entire sophomore season via torn ACL, and STILL finds a way to surpass 100 career goals thanks to fantastic junior and senior seasons.
“(During) my time here, I’ve been through everything,” said Bley. “When I was in eighth grade we had a really strong team (won 2019 FSL’s over Shipley), and then COVID threw us off, we didn’t have internationals, and we kind of had to rebuild. So I feel really happy because we’re young, but I feel like I had a role in leading this team to where we are now. And it’s almost like I’ve brought us back to maybe even better than where we were when I was in eighth grade.”
Bley also made sure to give her first-year head coach, Scott Bissett, much-deserved credit and praise for keeping the standards high for a program that has such a deep championship pedigree.
“Winning this (game), it goes to show how much work Scott has put into this team, how much work Westtown has put into getting good players, and how much work we’ve put in to come together from different places and win FSL’s.”
With just the PAISAA tournament left on the schedule for Westtown, Bley is doing all she can to soak in every last moment, both big and little.
Westtown vs. Moorestown Friends - 2023 FSL Championship - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren
It is truly heartwarming coming from someone who’s so outstanding on the field but seemingly an even better person off it.
“We’re celebrating every little thing right now… it’s hard because, as a soccer player, you want to think forward; you want to look at the next game and the game after that but we’re trying our best to live in the moment. Just take it one step at a time, and I’m enjoying that. I’m just celebrating every second because I know it’s coming to an end. Not necessarily my soccer career, but the community, the boarding school, everything at Westtown that makes this team, this team,” said Bley.
The Lady Moose hold the second seed in the upcoming PAISAA tournament and will await their quarterfinal opponent, 7-seed Germantown Academy or 10-seed Hill School, on their home turf on November 7th. They finish a perfect 9-0 in the conference and look to improve on their 16-1 overall record.
Westtown boys soccer team celebrates after taking home 2023 FSL Title over Shipley
Ubiera Elevates Westtown over Shipley in Classic Thriller
Westtown’s boys squad followed in the girls’ footsteps and completed an all-Moose sweep of the FSL championship with a nail-biting 1-0 victory over visiting Shipley School. The Gators were seeking a coveted three-peat of the league title, taking to the road this time (they had hosted the last two championship games). Westtown won the regular season meeting back on October 6th, 2-0.
The Moose got their revenge and scored the lone goal of the game in the later stages of the first half when junior defensive center midfielder Antonio Ubiera rebounded an Alfonso Montas shot off the side post into the back of Shipley’s net. The former finished the play, but says without the latter, there is no scoring opportunity in the first place.
Shipley's Max Hiatt with first half scoring chance against Westtown in the 2023 FSL Championship (Video/Josh Abrams)
Westtown duo of Antonio Ubiera and Alfonso Montas detail what led to their game-winning connection (Video/Josh Abrams)
“He just dribbled through four people and then shot. It hit the post and I was just there and I tapped it in,” Ubiera said as Montas joined in to embrace his teammate. He gave Alfonso two comforting pats on the back and followed with “But it’s all him!”
The sophomore outside back praised his fellow teammate for being there and doing his job, a simple phrase and concept yet deemed effective when all 11 players follow through.
“That was a good finish, it was a good way to be there,” Montas said of Ubiera. “That’s a striker’s job; be there for second balls. I just did my job and tried to do my best as the left back to get all the way through the first half (of the defense)."
Shipley hung tough from start to finish and did not let the decisive goal phase them.
The Gators generated a substantial amount of chances on offense, particularly in the second half, and this contest easily could have been worse than a 1-0 deficit if not for the excellent goaltending of junior Dylan Stoltz.
But like they have done all season long, the Moose were successful in not allowing any shots to get past their goalie, junior Francisco Benbow.
Obviously, winning the game outright is the most important priority. But when you are able to simultaneously sweep the league as well as shutout every opponent in the process, there is something that needs to be said about the mastery this Westtown team has displayed.
“I’ve been here all throughout high school, it was a dream of mine to win FSL’s,” said senior captain Leo Salvucci. “We failed to do it my sophomore year, and this was a big year so we finally did it. And to do it with zero goals conceded, it feels really good.”
Even more impressive than the teams’ play on the field is how they support one another.
Westtown vs. Shipley - 2023 FSL Championship - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren
Shipley goalkeeper Dylan Stoltz was instrumental in keeping the Gators in the game (Video/Josh Abrams)
Westtown captains Hayato Ishii, Santiago Caballero & Leo Salvucci give their thoughts on 1-0 victory over Shipley (Video/Josh Abrams)
“We were down there watching (the girls), when they scored it was pure celebration,” Ubiera said while pumping his fists. “I’m really happy that we did it.”
Westtown caps their unprecedented and monumental season in league play with an 11-0 record, 48 goals scored and zero goals against.
Westtown boys & girls players holding championship plaques - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Westtown senior captains Hayato Ishii, Santiago Caballero & Leo Salvucci with championship plaque - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
The Moose were awarded the four-seed and the last bye in this year’s PAISAA tourney, and they will await the winner of Hill School/Friends Central, the 5/12 matchup.