Owen J. Roberts tops Boyertown on Murray’s goal in PAC-10 final rematch
The roster reads wrong.
And the Owen J. Roberts boys soccer team doesn’t mind at all.
With the Wildcats in need of a replacement for All-Area first team goalkeeper Matt Serbin, junior Devin Murray was in contention for the position even though his position the year before – when he had double-digit goals – was at striker.
Keeping the status quo already proved to be a great idea Wednesday night in a rematch of last season’s Pioneer Athletic Conference boys soccer final against Boyertown.
Murray’s second-half score provided the difference as Owen J. Roberts opened its PAC-10 season with a 1-0 victory over the Bears at Wildcat Stadium.
“I was going to play goalkeeper this year. I had a lot of goals last year and after playing a tournament I got a little bit of time on the field and it was decided I was what we needed on the attacking side so I stepped up,” Murray said.
The Wildcats’ attacking depth was crucial in a result that gave them an early boost in the standings over Boyertown, another anticipated frontrunner in the PAC-10.
“We knew that they were out for revenge and they came in hunting on our home surface,” OJR midfielder Bruce Dowlin said. “We had to make sure we came out strong and match their intensity throughout the match.”
“Even it’s just pride, it sends a message to all the other teams that we haven’t gone away. We’re still strong and looking to go at it,” Murray said.
He did so in the 58th minute when Austin Koury’s long throw-in from deep in the Boyertown end went through the first pack of players and fell to Murray on the right side of the penalty area. Murray took a half-turn and deposited a left-footed strike into the right side of the Boyertown goal.
It was the only time OJR would beat Boyertown keeper Fred Agliano, who was excellent in making 11 saves including a pair of sure-fire goals in the second half on a Graham Pugh cross to Dowlin and a Dowlin through ball to Jason Long for a breakaway.
A first half befitting of the first full week of the season improved in the second half. The game came to life in the 56th minute when Boyertown’s Erik Recke hit a laser beam volley from the edge of the penalty area that blasted to OJR crossbar.
“With it being the first week against the league you have to get used to everything again, get used to the competition again. It’s another team and they want to win as badly as you do. When you have a shot ringing off your own crossbar at nil-nil it puts that spark in you, ‘This is a game. And they’re ready for us,” Dowlin said.
The Wildcats answered the wake-up call less than three minutes later with Murray’s strike.
The Bears possessed better and challenged the new-look OJR defense that graduated All-Area first teamers Serbin and Ben Huzzard. But the new crew of goalie Steven Brady (seven saves) and defenders Koury, Sevion McLean, Doug Sbei and Nolan Smith stood tall down the stretch in earning the shutout.
“We graduated some outstanding players, all-league players, and they’ve come up from JV and stepped up and earned their spot,” Dowlin said. “They certainly showed well tonight posting a shutout against the second (place) team in the PAC-10 last year.”
Wednesday’s result may have been a setback, but Boyertown has reason for optimism, especially with a featuring a less senior-dominated lineup than most Bear teams.
“I think we have a lot of talented players. We’re going to match up well,” Boyertown coach Scott Didyoung. “It’s probably the youngest team I’ve put out on the field in the last 10 years but right now I feel they’re on par with each of those teams. I think if we work hard at practice and continue to grow I’m hoping for big things.”
