Henderson tops Kennett, is team to beat in Ches-Mont
KENNETT SQUARE >> It was, admittedly, a slow start. But for West Chester Henderson coach Dom Popolizio, it was more important to see his boys’ soccer squad face some adversity and respond forcefully.
Trailing early at Kennett, the Warriors quickly regrouped and proceeded to score the next half dozen goals to put the finishing touches on a rather routine 6-1 road win over the Blue Demons Thursday.
“I am really proud of the boys,” Popolizio said. “Once we eased into the game, our guys played really well.
“It showed the character of these guys. They did not get down on each other.”
Now 6-0 in Ches-Mont action (9-2 overall), Henderson is the league’s lone unbeaten and has established itself as the frontrunner at the midway point of the 2021 campaign. With that, however, comes the pressure of being the hunted.
“Teams we play circle us on their calendar and want to knock us off,” said senior forward Ethan Jarden.
“Everybody looks at Henderson and says, ‘we need to catch them,’” Popolizio added. “We have a big bullseye on our back. Every game we have to be ready to go.”
Ironically, Kennett caught the Warriors a bit flat-footed on Thursday — but the lapse was short lived. The comeback began with a three-goal outburst in a 12:26 stretch late in the first half. The onslaught then continued the rest of the way.
The Demons fall to 3-2-1 in the league and 6-2-2 overall.
“I’m disappointed in the score, but I thought our kids played hard,” said Kennett head coach Mike Barr.
“We were real confident the first four or five games, but that hasn’t been the case recently.”
Nevertheless, the Demons got off to a great start and grabbed the lead less than four minutes into the contest. Reagan Pelletier tracked down a ball in the corner and sent a perfect centering pass to teammate Cooper Seele, who found the open net.
“That was a wakeup call,” said Henderson junior forward Joe DeAngelis.
As the first half progressed, the Warriors started to pile up scoring chances. After several opportunities off of three corner kicks in a row, Kennett replaced starting keeper Andrew Turnbull with fellow sophomore Manny Castro, and less than three minutes later Henderson notched the equalizer with a goal by Jarden on a pass from Adam Gomaa.
“Adam came in, he was ready and sent a good ball in. I got a good touch on it and it went in,” Jarden said.
About seven minutes later junior Ryan Kuegler put the Warriors ahead for good when he beat Castro, and several Blue Demon defenders, to a loose ball right in front of the Kennett goal. And then about five minutes later, DeAngelis finished off a 2-on-1 break with a goal off an assists by Jarden.
“(Kennett) jumped on us, but we fought back, started moving the ball, and were able to get them on their heels,” Jarden said.
DeAngelis notched his second goal midway through the second half from a tough angle to the far post. And then a couple minutes later, Jarden’s younger brother, Josh, converted a rebound into a 5-1 lead. Senior Brandon Watson then rounded out the scoring with a goal in the final minute.
“This is a great team. We create chances and I don’t think there is a defense that can really stop us,” Ethan Jarden said.
“(Henderson) is a good offensive team,” Barr added. “And we are struggling in goal right now, in addition to some lapses defensively. But I still think we have the ability to play much better.”
The Demons had a modest 4-3 edge in corner kicks, but the Warriors had a pronounced 21-6 advantage in shots on goal.
“We move the ball very well and they all know where they are supposed to be on the field,” Popolizio said. “When we are moving the ball, it is hard to keep up with us.”
A year ago the Warriors failed to win at least a share of the Ches-Mont National crown for the first time since 2013. On Thursday they looked like a team quite determined to start a new streak.
“That provides massive motivation,” DeAngelis acknowledged. “We were very upset not winning that last season.”
West Chester Henderson 6, Kennett 1
W.C. Henderson 3 3 — 6
Kennett 1 0 — 1
W.C. Henderson goals: E. Jarden, Kuegler, DeAngleis 2, J. Jarden, Watson.
Kennett goal: C. Seele.
Goalie saves: Kneis (WCH) 5; DiPerro (WCH) 0; Turnbull (K) 6; Castro (K) 9.
