Whippets edge Kennett to keep pace a top Ches-Mont standings
KENNETT SQUARE >> The gauntlet of maneuvering through the brutal Ches-Mont boys’ soccer season is starting to take a toll on just about everybody.
On Thursday, following a tense and physical 3-2 win for Downingtown West over host Kennett, both sides sounded ready for a session with a sports psychologist. The Whippets won for the seventh straight time, but first-year head coach Joe Sales was irked at his team’s lack of composure.
And on the other side, Blue Demons’ mentor Mike Barr was openly worried about his squad’s sagging confidence after falling for the fourth straight time against some of the league’s best.
“Myself and the players aren’t used to losing like we are. So psychologically it’s a huge issue right now,” Barr said.
“I think we need to sort of calm down and stay level-headed,” Sales added. “In moments during a competitive match there will be frustration, that’s normal. But finding a calm within the team is important to controlling the game. If we can manage that, I think we will be alright.
“When we get worked up and don’t work together, then we run into issues.”
The pressure right now, with about a half dozen regular season contests remaining, stems from all of the postseason implications of every outing. Now 8-1 in the league (12-1 overall), West was seventh in the latest District 1 4A power rankings. Kennett (3-4-1, 6-4-2) was 20th prior to Thursday, and just 24 teams will make the district playoffs.
“From here on out, everything is going to be a battle,” Sales said. “Everybody is fighting to move up and put themselves in a good position for the playoffs.”
The Whippets never trailed in this one, and had a distinct edge in shots on goal (16-6), but found themselves in a battle. Ahead 2-0 at the half, West got a bit of a wakeup call when the Demons’ Cooper Seele scored off a pass from teammate Julian Stowell about four minutes into the second half.
“It was very physical,” said Whippets’ junior forward Matthew Lohr. “We always want to try to keep our heads because we always play better when we don’t pay attention to the refs. We just can’t get in our own way when we are trying to win these close games.”
About 10 minutes later, however, Lohr took matters into his own feet by taking a pass from senior midfielder Kyle McWilliams, making a move near the end line and lofting a shot, from a bad angle, and into the far top corner of the net.
“(Lohr) is a great forward. His technique is good and he is finding space,” Sales said.
“I’ve practice that shot so many times,” Lohr added. “Cutting in from the right side I just know what it’s like to shoot from there. Luckily it went in.”
It wound up being the game-winner, but not before Kennett’s Diego Mireles made things interesting by scoring a goal with 57 seconds on the clock.
“We had some strong moments, but (Kennett) is a good opponent,” said senior defender Kevin Schmeidel.
“We played some of the easier teams early on this season, but every game is going to be a challenge from here on out.”
The first half goals came from senior Ian Strong and an own-goal by Kennett. Midway through the period, Strong entered the game and moments later got his head on a crossing pass from Lohr to make it 1-0.
Unfortunately, about 15 minutes later Strong when down with an injury to his right knee.
“It was unfortunate, but it looks like he’ll be alright,” Sales said.
The own-goal came with 63 seconds on the clock off a corner kick by McWilliams intended for Schmeidel.
“I was just kind of at the right place at the right time,” he said. “It didn’t hit me at all, but we’ll take it.”
The Demons haven’t won a game since Sept. 21, but the schedule was frontloaded against most of the Ches-Mont contenders.
“In all of my coaching career, it’s rare that I’ve ever had a team get into a funk like this where we are losing and trying to bring ourselves out of it,” Barr said. “They walk on the field now and they are not confident with themselves.
“We just haven’t been playing well. We make stupid mistakes at bad times and give up some easy goals.”
It may be a week, and several outings away, but Downingtown West is on a collision course with first-place West Chester Henderson. And the Oct. 14 meeting is assuredly going to have Ches-Mont title implications.
“We always look forward to playing them,” Lohr said.
Downingtown West 3, Kennett 2
Downingtown West 0 2 — 2
Kennett 2 1 — 3
Downingtown West goals: Strong, Lohr.
Kennett goals: C. Seele, Mireles.
Goalie saves: Primanti (DW) 4; Vasquez (K) 13.
