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BOYS’ SOCCER: PCL Round-up, Two Perennial Powerhouses Clash In Mid-Season Match

By John Knebels, 09/28/17, 8:15PM EDT

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Roman Catholic (6-0 PCL) - PSD File Photo


La Salle (6-0 PCL) - PSD File Photo

PHILADELPHIA CATHOLIC LEAGUE:

   It’s a little past halftime in Catholic League boys’ soccer. Each team has played six games and has five still on the calendar.

   Although a league title is not captured during the regular season, this Friday will provide a glimpse of the championship favorite. At Lighthouse Field in Northeast Philly, the only two remaining undefeated teams in the CL will clash at 7 PM when defending champion La Salle meets Roman Catholic.

   The Explorers and Cahillites are both 6-0. La Salle has outscored its opposition by 21-2; Roman has yet to allow a goal while scoring 17. La Salle has faced a tougher schedule as suggested by the collective record of its remaining opponents (7-16-1) compared with Roman’s (11-11-2).

   Come playoff time, however, the level of competition will balance out. And since many an upset has dotted the historical landscape of Catholic League boys’ soccer, the postseason promises to be a pre-Halloween treat.

   “Although we try to treat every game the same way, Friday definitely has a lot of importance to us,” said La Salle junior Chris Metzler. “We know that the winner of the game will be able to emerge as the first-place team in the PCL currently, and we would like to go out and play our best.”

   La Salle coach Tom McCaffery acknowledged that the Cahillites figure to be the Explorers’ toughest challenge to date.

   “Every game with Roman has a huge amount of anticipation for the last five or six years because of how good they have been,” said McCaffery. “They had our number for the last few years until we broke through in the final last year, and I am expecting that type of atmosphere at the game Friday night.

   “It will be a good showcase for the PCL because of how we both have started the season in league and out of the league. I am expecting a high level of competition.” 


La Salle Goalie, Brett Werner - 2016 PSD File Photo

   La Salle senior goalie Brett Werner discards the important of the teams’ records.

   “I feel like it does have a bigger feel, but being undefeated doesn't have anything to do with it,” said Werner. “It's about the history, the rivalry, and first place.”

   Roman Catholic senior Joe Tarducci acknowledged that Friday is not a typical regular-season battle.

“It’s going to be a tough matchup, especially with them being only other undefeated team in the league,” said Tarducci. “It is going to be a bigger game than normal because we're at home against a team who beat us last year in the finals, so we're definitely looking to come with energy but play our game at the same time.”

   Roman senior Jared Fielding was a man of few words, referring to the meeting as “being the number-one seed and a revenge game from the championship last year.” Coach Ray DeStephanis was also succinct when asked if he thinks playing La Salle generates more emotion than normal.

   “I do, especially since it's a rival,” said DeStephanis. “Plus, it's a rematch of last years final.”

*****

   La Salle is coming off a 5-1 victory over Conwell-Egan on Tuesday. Sophomore James Crawford supplied most of the offense with two goals.

   “The first goal came from a low driven ball from (senior) Christopher Lenge,” said Crawford. “I was able to get a touch on the outside of my right foot, which led to hitting the post and deflecting in. The second goal came off of a corner from Chris Metzler, and I was able to connect a header into the net.”

*****

Roman Catholic had a tougher time in its 1-0 triumph over Bonner-Prendergast. With less than 10 minutes remaining, junior Jared Dillon scored from about 20 yards out, and the Cahillites held on.

   “We will take the three points and move on,” said DeStephanis. “It was far from our best effort but obviously enough for the win. Credit Bonner on a well-played game. We had to match their intensity throughout 80 minutes of exciting soccer, and their keeper (senior Tony Harper) stood tall several times to keep it a tight contest.”

*****

Archbishop Wood never trailed in its 5-2 win over Archbishop Carroll. With the scored tied 1-1, junior Bob Hennessey gave the Vikings the lead for good late in the first half. He later added an insurance goal late in the second half.

   Hennessey opened the scoring with a boot inside the right corner. He took a feed from senior Jake Nubbs, took a shot, and “with some luck, it found the back of the net.”

   Also scoring twice for the Vikings was junior Dakota Taylor, who did likewise against Bishop McDevitt earlier this season.

“My first goal was thanks to hard work from everyone on the team,” said Taylor. “We were putting pressure everywhere. The last defender played the ball back to the goalie. I got to the ball before the goalie and tapped it around him and finished it. My second goal was a penalty kick. It was hard work from (junior) Zach Wheatley, who was fouled in the box and all I had to do was put it in the back of the net.”


Wood defeated Carroll 5-2 on Tuesday, Sept. 26th - Photo Courtesy of @ArchbishopWood

Wood senior captain Shawn Clark said he was “very happy to see our team put a decent number” on the scoreboard.

   “It was an important win for our team,” said Clark. “We have some big games coming up, so we have to stay focused, train hard at practice, and take it one game at a time.

    Wood coach Hugh Kelly summarized the win.

   “It was a tough, hard- fought game,” said Kelly. “We were fortunate we finished some chances and were able to come away with the win on the road.
 

 (John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)

 

Catholic League Standings (through September 28): LaSalle 6-0; Roman Catholic, 6-0; Archbishop Wood 5-1; Father Judge 4-2; Archbishop Ryan 3-2-1; St. Joseph’s Prep, 2-2-2; Bonner-Prendergast 2-3-1; Cardinal O’Hara 2-3-1; Lansdale Catholic 1-4-1; Bishop McDevitt 1-5; Archbishop Carroll 1-5; Conwell-Egan 0-6.