All-Delco Boys Soccer: Radnor’s Regan, Congleton lead way in the back

In addition to Player of the Year Matt Freese, the rest of the All-Delco team includes:

Cal Congleton, Radnor: The senior center back rotated defensive partners but remained a constant backstop for the District 1 Class 3A champs, who surrendered 23 goals in 23 games, including just three in five playoff outings en route to the PIAA quarterfinals. Radnor posted eight shutouts and encountered tight games with regularity, posting a 4-4-1 record in OT contests. Congleton’s presence in the air and big-ball delivery on set pieces contributed offensively with three goals and one assist. He netted twice in a 4-0 win over Penn Wood, scored in a 3-2 overtime loss to Penncrest and set up Ryan Peter’s opening goal in the PIAA first-round win over Fleetwood, 2-0.

Frankie Knuckles, Penn Wood: The senior defender was the last line for the Patriots, providing a magnificent performance in the District 1 Class 4A win over Downingtown East, the Patriots first playoff win in a decade. Knuckles kept the Cougars within 1-1 over 110 minutes, then deposited the clinching PK in the shootout. Knuckles, a four-year starter, was at the heart of a defense that posted seven shutouts on the season and allowed just six league goals in eight Del Val games en route to a league title.

Phil Regan, Radnor: Regan was everywhere for the District 1 Class 3A champs. The senior starred in central defense, central midfield and provided an extra offensive option late in games. Regan scored six times, and though they were rarely pretty, they were often immense. His goal in the final minute of the District 1 quarterfinal against Phoenixville helped the Raiders push the game to PKs. He also scored a late equalizer against Holy Ghost Prep in the district final. Regan’s four regular-season goals came in a five-game span, including against district qualifiers Penn Wood, Harriton, and Strath Haven, all Radnor wins. Regan will play lacrosse at Dickinson.

Ramon Gallegos, Episcopal Academy: The senior midfielder was a potent creative force in EA’s second-place Inter-Ac finish, earning all-league honors. He scored six goals, second-most on a team hampered by injuries to its forward contingent, and five assists, tied with All-Delco Quinn Dudek for the team lead. Gallegos netted twice in wins over Hun School and Germantown Academy, and he contributed a goal and an assist in the first round of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament against Westtown. Gallegos provided assists in both wins over Springside Chestnut Hill. Gallegos is fielding local Division I interest to continue his career.

READ: The full list of All-Delco honorees

Matt Moore, Garnet Valley: The three-time lacrosse All-Delco proved he’s not bad on the soccer field, using his blend of speed and strength to lead the Jags with seven goals. The attacking midfielder compiled a three-game scoring streak in late September, yielding league wins over Harriton, Springfield and Ridley. He also scored in a win over Marple Newtown. The All-Central pick, regarded as one of the top lacrosse players nationally in the class of 2017, will continue his career at the University of Virginia,.

Quinn Dudek, Episcopal Academy: The senior midfielder helped the Churchmen finish second in the Inter-Ac. He scored a team-best 10 goals to go with five assists, earning Inter-Ac MVP. Five of the Davidson commit’s goals came in the Inter-Ac, including the only marker in a 1-0 win over Haverford School Oct. 18, a draw-earning tally against Malvern Prep Oct. 21 and both goals in a 2-1 defeat of Springside Chestnut Hill Oct. 28. Dudek collected two goals and an assist in a win over Hun School and assisted twice in a 4-0 win over Germantown Academy Nov. 1.

Sean Cannon, Haverford: The All-Central pick played a huge part in the Fords’ turnaround under first-year head coach David Cassanelli, netting a place in the District 1 Class 4A tournament. Cannon finished tied for second on the Fords with three goals but notched 11 assists, all in the Central League. He set up both goals in the Fords’ 2-1 overtime win over Radnor and the only marker in a 1-0 toppling of Upper Darby. Cannon added two assists in blowout defeats of Strath Haven and Springfield and three against Ridley. Cannon scored in a 1-0 dispatching of Avon Grove Oct. 8.

Diego Lopez, Interboro: Still just a junior, Lopez gets his second All-Delco nod courtesy of 20 goals for the District 1 Class 3A playoff qualifier. Lopez has 68 career goals, having surpassed the Bucs program record (53) early this season. Lopez added three assists. He scored five times against Chichester and all three goals in the 3-1 win over Radnor as well as both markers in a 3-2 OT loss to Haverford. Lopez scored once and set up another goal in a 2-1 win over Chichester and scored twice in a 3-2 win over Academy Park, plus assisted on the overtime game-winner in the first win over AP.

Sam Brown, Penncrest: The forward/midfielder was the prime creative force behind Penncrest’s appearance in the District 1 Class 4A tournament. Brown led the team with 11 goals and 10 assists despite drawing relentless attention from defenses. Brown scored in each of his first six games, including a hat trick against Interboro. The Loyola Maryland commit turned provider later in the season, setting up goals in 2-1 league wins over Haverford, Upper Darby and Marple Newtown (in OT) and scoring to earn a draw against Strath Haven. Brown, the Central League player of the year as voted by coaches, assisted on all three goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to Harriton.

Andrew Nmah, Penn Wood: The junior midfielder was the powerhouse at the heart of the Patriots’ success. He finished with 18 goals, the same total as younger brother James, but the elder Nmah’s blend of speed and strength in creating space for others shone above the goal total. He tallied 10 goals in Del Val play, including a hat trick against Chichester. He and James scored in a 2-1 overtime win over Interboro Sept. 20. Andrew notched the game-winner against Academy Park in OT, an audacious effort from midfield on the opening tap of the extra session, as well as the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Franklin Towne Charter and all three goals in a 3-2 overtime win over Bensalem.

Jack Miller, Radnor: The senior forward was the straw that stirred the Raiders’ drink on the way to the state quarterfinals. Miller was second on the team with seven goals and led with seven assists. His season highlight was unquestionably the interception and lung-busting counter-attack run that set up Andrew Boujoukos’s overtime game-winner in the District 1 final. Miller tallied the game-winning goal in the extra session against Upper Darby Sept. 8 and scored Radnor’s only goal in the states ouster to Gettysburg in PKs. The All-Central selection registered a goal and an assist in a midseason loss to Penncrest and in wins over Ridley and Harriton.