By Neil Geoghegan
ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com
TREDYFFRIN – Conestoga officially began defense of its 2023 boys’ soccer state title Tuesday afternoon at Teamer Field, and a couple hours later the season was over.
The Central League champs and District 1 4A runner-up was ousted from the first round of the PIAA Playoffs by visiting Warwick, the two-seed from District 3. The final score: 3-2.
“It’s just one of those things,” said Pioneers’ head coach Dave Zimmerman. “This was one of the worst games we’ve played. I can’t take anything away from (Warwick). They had a lot to do with how we played.”
The Warriors (18-3 overall) are moving on to the state quarterfinals this weekend by doing all of the things that can make an underdog dangerous, including a fast start to put the favorites on their heels, and then building momentum as the pressure becomes intensified while the clock ticks down.
“When you win the state title two times in three years, you know (Conestoga) is an excellent program,” said Warwick head coach Matt Wagner. “So this is a huge win for us. It validates all of the hard work in the offseason that these guys put in.
“We’ve lost to (Conestoga) twice in the state tournament. The first was four years ago and then again the next season. We kind of knew what we had to do. It was a gritty, hard-fought battle.”
The Pioneers (18-3 overall) dominated the stat sheet, including a big edge in corner kicks (7-1) and shots on goal (15-6), but it didn’t really translate to the scoreboard.
“From the start I think we all recognized that (Warwick) obviously wanted it more than we did,” said ’Stoga’s senior midfielder Cole Frederick. “I thought we started out way too flat. Honestly, I don’t think we were up for this game enough.”
The slow start was an issue, but the contest turned midway through the second half when Pioneers’ senior goaltender, Mason Levine, knocked over a Warriors’ player and was assessed a yellow card. Warwick’s Eli Yerger subsequently connected on the ensuing penalty kick against backup keeper Nico Garcia to make it 3-1 with 23:27 on the clock.
“You can’t have your keeper commit a foul like that. It’s just inexcusable, really,” Zimmerman said.
“The PK really helped us out,” Wagner added. “I don’t know what was going on in (Levine’s) mind, but it was in the box and he got a card for it. It was the correct call.
“It wound up giving us a little bit of breathing room.”
And the Warriors needed it because less than a minute later, Frederick was awarded a penalty kick and he made it 3-2.
“Our keeper made an unfortunate mistake and that put us down 3-1,” said Frederick, who has committed to play college soccer at Delaware. “We were lucky enough to get it back, but overall it was a struggle.
“We couldn’t seem to get into rhythm. We were too frantic and didn’t really calm down and play our style.”
Neither side scored again, even though Conestoga had the better of the chances. Afterwards, Frederick acknowledged that Warwick wound up winning way too many 50-50 balls.
“I don’t know what to say,” Zimmerman said. “We didn’t have school today, so maybe that was a factor. We just did not play like we normally play.”
Conestoga’s (23) Zuwa Abhulimen is tripped up by Warwick’s (13) Ben Knouse in the first half as the Pioneers lost in the opening round of State playoffs Tuesday at Teamer Field. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY LOCAL NEWS)
There may have also been a hangover from a tough to swallow double overtime loss to West Chester Henderson in the district final three days earlier that was decided on a penalty shootout. The Pioneers registered 11 shutouts this season and allowed just seven goals during the regular season. But in the playoffs, ’Stoga surrendered six goals in five postseason clashes.
“It was tough to get back from a tough game against (West Chester) Henderson,” Frederick said. “I don’t necessarily know if we prepared well enough before this game. And it was the little things, like properly hydrating.”
The defense certainly took a step back from the first month of the regular season. And on Tuesday, the Pioneers were anything but composed in its own end.
The Warriors had just three shots on goal in the first 40 minutes, and yet led 2-1 at the half. Warwick junior Riley Bills opened the scoring less than nine minutes in, and it came on the Warriors’ first foray into the offensive zone.
Less than two minutes later, the Pioneers responded when sophomore Daniel Poltarus delivered a pass that senior Colin Clark deposited into the back of the net to make it 1-1. But Warwick came right back to convert its second shot on goal, this time on the first goal from Eli Yerger with 22:14 on the clock.
“We kept scrapping and got a goal. That gave us momentum, and we built on that to get the second goal,” Wagner said.
Conestoga had a 7-3 edge in shots in the first half, and that doesn’t include a shot that was saved by Warriors’ defender Ben Knouse in the final minute of the half.
“It’s easier to play from ahead,” Zimmerman said. “Warwick gave us a lot of trouble. They were playing four up and our four backs were struggling to deal with them.”
Another factor is that the Pioneers have had so much success statewide (winning a total of six state crowns and five in the previous 13 seasons), they tend to get everybody’s best shot.
“That’s always the case, so it’s nothing new for us. We just didn’t have it today,” Zimmerman said.
“I’m sure our guys are a little stunned. I am still proud of the effort from this team. If we step back, overall I think we will feel good about what we did this season, but this was not a good way to end.
“There is no way to sugarcoat it.”
Warwick 3, Conestoga 2
Warwick 2 1 — 3
Conestoga 1 1 — 2
Warwick goals: E. Yerger 2, Bills.
Conestoga goals: Clark, Frederick.
Goalie saves: I. Yerger (W) 13; Levine (C) 1; Garcia (C) 2.
