PHILADELPHIA – Dressed in imposing black with a red face on Saturday night, the stoic scoreboard inside South Philadelphia’s Super Site Complex rudely bellowed the final score: La Salle 2, Roman Catholic 1.
One of the most riveting boys’ soccer season in the Catholic League’s rich history had concluded with the regular-season champ Explorers winning their eighth Catholic League title and first since 2012 while simultaneously eliminating the defending champion Cahillites.
Minutes, then hours, and then a few days later, the vignettes remained fresh, all of them special. Where to begin?
Brett Werner makes a great save, and La Salle erupts as the final whistle blows
The Final Moments
Of course it would come down to this.
With 14 minutes left in regulation, La Salle’s lead over Roman Catholic was trimmed to 2-1 when Roman senior captain Matt Flanagan scored from in close. The crowd – the majority of which supported the Roman Cahillites – was emotionally spent and few, if any, fans were sitting in their seats.
As precious time dwindled, Roman appeared poised to send the contest into overtime. Considering that neither the Cahillites nor the Explorers had lost a single league game this fall, such a setting seemed quite appropriate.
Roman junior Jared Fielding, whose playoff heroics had included a game-winning goal in the quarterfinals and an assist on a similar tally in the semifinals, sent a shot just wide from 15 yards out. The Cahillites, on fumes but still chugging with gusto, had one last final gasp. In the closing seconds, a dangerous corner and subsequent leaping snare by La Salle junior goalie Brett Werner amounted to the game’s final play.
The game and championship now official, the Explorers players and fans went ballistic, covering a bed of green turf with white uniforms while an ecstatic La Salle student raced around the field waving a blue-gold school flag.
La Salle Goalie Brett Werner
Possessing a 6-foot, 4-inch frame that stands as tall as an oak tree, Werner harvested zero regrets as the pressure-packed final minutes oh-so-slowly wound down to the melodic cadence of a referee’s whistle.
Understanding his responsibility, and admitting that maintaining a one-goal lead for 14 minutes in a championship contest was “a little nerve-wracking,” Werner didn’t flinch.
“That’s why I signed up for it,” he said. “It’s all part of my job.”
Having already made two outstanding saves early in the second half and a tremendous stop off a blast from Fielding with five minutes left, Werner’s ultimate save – rising to the heavens to snatch the aforementioned corner kick and then landing hard on the ground with the ball snugged firmly in his chest with two massive paws – necessitated out-reaching numerous shark-like Cahillites sniffing a dramatic comeback.
La Salle players officially accept the championship plaque
Coach McCaffery takes a bath and players celebrate with fans
“Getting laid out at the end holding the ball in my arms is basically like holding the (championship plaque),” said Werner. “That’s all I wanted.”
Werner Family Celebration
One of the most poignant scenes from scores of others was Werner being hugged by his mother, Kay May (nee Lynch), a former basketball standout at both St. Hubert and Iona College.
There are few, if any, more anxiety-producing positions in high school sports than a soccer goaltender. Since most parents will attest to being more on edge than their sons or daughters who are doing the actual playing, one wondered what it was like for Momma Werner to watch those final frantic frenzies.
“To be honest, he has been through so many experiences that have helped him have a great head on his shoulders,” she said. “He’s been playing for so long that anything that can happen in the net has already happened. He’s very confident in his ability no matter what the level of play.”
Kay May Werner said she was “most proud” of her son’s humility, which was evident during post-game interviews.
“Since second grade that has been taught to him,” she said. “He has a lot of friends on Roman. He respects them, and it’s mutual. Great friendships and great competition and then shaking hands afterwards is what it’s all about.”
With that, Kay May Werner was joined by her newly crowned son Brett (holding the championship plaque), her husband Buddy, and 14-year-old son Brendan for a family picture. The family’s other young athlete, Bryce, 10, had a football game and couldn’t attend.
“Brett is one of those kids motivated by not letting his teammates down,” said Buddy. “When (one of his teammates against Wood in the semifinals) missed the first penalty shot, he came over to him and said, ‘Don’t worry about this. I got this.’”
Werner then proceeded to not allow a single goal despite three Wood attempts. It turned out to be a preview of things to come a few nights later.
Goalie Brett Werner talks about the final seconds
La Salle coach Tom McCaffery couldn't be prouder of his team
Opposing Coach and Player Heated Exchange and Forgiveness
As he exited the field for a brief substitution late in the second half with a visible scowl, La Salle senior Mike D’Angelo had some words with Roman Catholic coach Ray DeStephanis for something the coach had said to the referee. Undaunted, DeStephanis asked D’Angelo to quickly discuss the matter, but D’Angelo elected to walk away.
After the game, guess which two people were hugging in the traditional post-game handshake?
“Emotions were running,” said a fatigued D’Angelo, sitting down on the team bench while the rest of La Salle’s community continued to celebrate and eat soft pretzels 30 yards away. “I’m friends with him. I respect him. It’s just about competition until the whistle blows.”
Roman Coach Extols the Victors
DeStephanis was a class act at the conclusion of what had to be a bitter, emotionally difficult experience.
Participating in their third consecutive league final, the Cahillites were playing arguably their best soccer of the season at the perfect time. But when La Salle jumped ahead by 2-0 inside the first 10 minutes of the first half, the game plan had to be adjusted accordingly.
“We were down to William Tennent, 2-0, in regulation and came back to win, 3-2, in regulation,” said DeStephanis. “We had plenty of time.”
Try as they might, however, the Cahillites could only muster Flanagan’s goal with 14 minutes remaining.
There was a major reason for that.
“Brett Werner is the the best keeper in the league, and he played like it tonight,” said DeStephanis. “When we got the one goal, it was big-time. Once you get that first one, you start to believe that it’s only a matter of time before you get the next one.”
The equalizer never materialized.
“La Salle played great,” said DeStephanis. “They played like champions.”
The Somewhat Unheralded Contribution of Jim Natale
D’Angelo gave La Salle a 1-0 lead 6:06 into the game when he flicked a long free kick by senior Jim Natale behind Roman freshman goalie Kevin Tobin, who later would make some excellent stops to keep the Cahillites close. Two minutes later, senior Zach Hogan doubled La Salle’s lead.
Although Roman Catholic dominated several stretches of both halves, Natale often served as the Cahillites’ nemesis. In addition to assisting on the game’s first goal, Natale broke up several potential Roman scoring chances.
“We had to play together,” said Natale. “When we went up 2-0, as weird as this sounds, it’s actually the worst goal you can score when you go up 2-0. If a team scores the next goal, momentum shifts.”
Natale said he did not focus on La Salle’s surprising early advantage against a Roman team that had not allowed a single goal in the playoffs against Lansdale Catholic and Father Judge.
“We didn’t get cocky, and we didn’t get comfortable,” said Natale. “We knew there was a whole lot of time left. We lost to Roman in the semis the last two years, so we weren’t about to relax at all.”
Reflections from Roman Catholic Players
Senior midfielder Matt Flanagan: “It was a tough game for us. La Salle came out early and put two in and the quality of their team made it tough to come back. We never gave up. We fought to the last minute. It was a great season with a great team, and I know the younger guys coming back will do big things . . . I thought we had another goal in us. Brett Werner did have a great game.”
Senior defenseman Aidan Meissler: “We had a great season and had to work really hard to get where we were. In the end, it was really tough not getting the result we all wanted, but I wouldn’t have wanted to go through the season with anyone else. I’m proud of what we accomplished as a team.”
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or by Twitter @johnknebels.)