By: Ryan Noecker
PHILADELPHIA –A breakaway goal by forward Jude Shorr-Parks in the 65thminute was all Penn Charter needed to take down Episcopal Academy,1-0, on Friday, Oct. 26. Episcopal entered the match with an undefeated record of 13-0-3, but Penn Charter coach Bob DiBenedetto didn’t shy away from the challenge.
Post Game Interview with Penn Charter Head Coach Bob DiBenedetto:
“You’re in for a game every day in this league. Coming in against a team like this, we know we can play with them, it’s just a matter of putting it away,” DiBenedetto said.
Put it away is exactly what they did, as Shorr-Parks got behind Episcopal’s defense and tapped it past junior goalkeeper Trevor Manion for the lone goal of the match. Once the Quakers got the goal, their defense did their part and kept Episcopal from equalizing.
Penn Charter dictated the pace of play from the opening stages of the match with a flurry of early chances that included three corner kicks. Episcopal had their opportunities as well, but with senior forward Sam Wilson out with an injury, the offense failed to produce a goal.
“He’s scored a bunch of goals this year, he’s a big target player for us and we really missed him today. He brings something a little bit special there,” Episcopal coach David Knox said.
His team did get key contributions from fellow seniors Harrison Malone and Luca DiLeonardo, but DiLeonardo blazed a sitter in front of goal over the crossbar midway through the first half. Knox was visibly upset with his offense and midfield’s inability to produce throughout the match.
“Once we took away the middle of the field, they just started playing long balls and we were able to chase them down,” said Penn Charter defender Anthony Ciarrocchi.
Penn Charter lost two weeks earlier to Episcopal Academy by the score of 2-1 but made several changes in those two weeks. Those changes proved to make all the difference for a highly motivated Penn Charter side.
WPC vs. EA Highlight Video:
“We finished our opportunities. We brought three kids up from JV, and we have one starting in the back. A little bit of shifting around and holding them off was all it took,” said DiBenedetto.