Archbishop Wood battles back, advances past North Pocono in PIAA-3A quarterfinals

CATASAUQUA >> Archbishop Wood savored the thrill of victory Saturday afternoon.

“You always love the comeback wins, man,” C.J. Clyde said with a smile. “We kept our composure the whole game and it was a nice one.”

The Vikings didn’t just rally but rather roared back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring four straight to earn a 4-3 victory over North Pocono in a PIAA-3A Quarterfinal contest at Catasauqua Middle School.

The win sends Wood to Tuesday’s semifinals, to take on Bishop Shanahan or Northwestern Lehigh.

“We are really looking forward to Tuesday,” Clyde said.

The Trojans bolted out to a 2-0 lead on this cold, blustery afternoon on the turf, with Jonah Yurkanin scoring at the 16-minute mark and Cayden Lougee knocking in rebound seven minutes later.

But the Vikings battled back.

“We just had to stay level-headed and stay in the game,” Clyde said. “Every team tends to (have a lull), especially when it’s a far drive out. That can make you put your heads down, but we didn’t. We came back, and finished out with a win.”

A goal by Jackson Kiss got the Vikings on the board, and then Wood drew even when Logan Savage scored with just 37 seconds left in the first half.

Wood’s momentum didn’t diminish after the break but instead just kept building.

The Vikings pulled ahead for the first time when a corner led to a goal by Clyde, and then Clyde scored his second with 31 minutes to play, getting to a loose ball and putting it away to make it 4-2.

“It was exciting. You’re in the right place at the right time and it all works out,” he said. “We really felt it.”

Wood controlled play the rest of the way but the Trojans kept battling, cutting the margin to one on a goal by Will Pickarski with 1:43 left.

The Vikings didn’t allow an equalizer, working it into the Trojans’ end in the final minute and then huddling in celebration once the final seconds ticked away.