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All-Delco Boys Soccer: Titles beget honors for Delco Christian, Radnor, Haverford School standouts

Radnor's Andrew Marino, right, with the ball as Springfield Montco's Nicholas Marino defends duirng the District 1 Class 3A final on Nov. 2 at Norristown Area High School. (Mike Cabrey - MediaNews Group)
Radnor’s Andrew Marino, right, with the ball as Springfield Montco’s Nicholas Marino defends duirng the District 1 Class 3A final on Nov. 2 at Norristown Area High School. (Mike Cabrey – MediaNews Group)
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In addition to Player of the Year Connor Cresswell of The Haverford School, the All-Delco team includes:

Michael Savadove, Radnor: The senior defender and lacrosse All-Delco is a consummate winner with defensive instincts that translate across sports. Savadove won a District 1 Class 5A basketball title last year and is part of the two-time reigning PIAA Class 3A lacrosse champions, adding a District 1 Class 3A boys soccer title this year. Across his last six seasons, Savadove’s teams have posted a 131-17-3 record. On the soccer pitch, he anchored a backline that allowed just eight goals in 23 games and posted 18 clean sheets on the way to 18 wins and the PIAA Class 3A semifinals. Savadove also scored three goals and added eight assists, mainly with his long throw ability. Savadove is a Harvard lacrosse signee.

Cody Dill, Delco Christian: The senior captain was Delco Christian’s rock, leading the Knights to their first state tournament appearance and then winning it all in Class A. Nowhere was Dill’s role more obvious than against unbeaten Faith Christian, when he dropped into central defense to keep the Lions at bay, leading to a 1-1 draw in which DC advanced in PKs. Dill was similarly outstanding in the state final, a 1-0 blanking of Charleroi. He provided the goal, one of three on the year, from the penalty spot in overtime to defeat Calvary Christian in the district semifinals to get to states, then stroked home a penalty in the second round of states against Old Forge. Dill was a prominent part of a PK lineup that advanced in the first round of states against Kutztown and in the semis over Faith Christian. Dill has committed to Gordon College in Massachusetts.

Thomas Kaplan, Haverford School: The senior defender is on the All-Delco team for the second straight year, a close second to Cresswell in terms of his value to the two-time reigning Inter-Ac champions. The 6-6 center back was not just a significant component of the backbone of a team that won 14 games but also its leading scorer, with nine goals. He added an assist. Kaplan and Cresswell helped key seven shutouts, including three in the league. The Fords went 8-1-1 in the Inter-Ac to lift the title for the second straight year after having been last in the six-team league as sophomores. With his aerial ability, Kaplan provided a succession of clutch goals, none bigger than the winner off a corner kick in the final minute of a 2-1 victory over league runner-up Penn Charter. Kaplan also scored on the season-ending rivalry day win over Episcopal Academy and had two goals in the opening win over Conwell-Egan.

George Pezzeca, Strath Haven: The senior midfielder has been a fixture in the Panthers’ squad since his sophomore season. His poise then in controlling the game from deep in midfield was beyond his years, and he’s matured there, leading vocally and with his play. Pezzeca added more goal contributions this year, with eight goals and five assists, helping the Panthers win 11 games and qualify for the District 1 Class 4A tournament. He had a goal and a helper in a win over Kennett, the winner in a 1-0 decision over Great Valley and a goal in a league win over Ridley. Pezzeca was one of only four Delco players to make the All-Central first team.

Brayan Chavez-Lopez, Radnor: On the All-Delco team for the second time, Chavez-Lopez was the invisible hand that ran the Raptors, on the way to 18 wins, a District 1 crown and a state semifinal. His positional awareness and technical skill on the ball in central midfield helped the Raptors remain so compact, fueling the 18 clean sheets and eight goals allowed. He was one of the team’s primary chance creators, with a team-high 11 assists and countless more dangerous moments spurred by his superlative field vision. He was voted All-Central by league coaches. Like Savadove, Chavez-Lopez was one of the tactical pillars around which Radnor rotated the lineup, due to injuries and tactical adjustments, to get the most out of the squad.

Sebastian Perez-Gasiba, Haverford School: The senior midfielder was the creative engine that stitched together the Fords’ talented squad. He led the Fords with 15 goal contributions (eight goals, seven assists), with Kaplan the only other one cracking double figures. His creativity in the middle of the pitch allowed Haverford to control games on the way to 14 wins and an 8-1-1 mark in the league to lift their second straight Inter-Ac title. An all-league selection by coaches, Perez-Gasiba scored twice in a wild 4-3 loss to Northwood and contributed an assist in the rivalry day win over Episcopal Academy to avenge a midseason loss.

Andrew Marino, Radnor: The junior forward is not just skilled but has a knack for the clutch moments. Marino was the one who set up Nate Lucchesi’s goal in the first half of the District 1 Class 3A final and finished the game off with a worldie of a top-corner goal in the second. He tied the state semifinal against Springfield-Montco with seven minutes to play, Radnor ultimately falling in the shootout. Those were among the most important of his 12 goals and eight assists, a tally reflective of both quality and quantity. His attacking verve, whether running the channels as a forward or pulled out wide to the wing, helped Radnor win 18 games and cash in all the structural soundness of their midfield and defense.

Cortez Cardone, Delco Christian: The senior forward’s numbers are impressive, with 23 goals and nine assists for the District 1 Class A runner-up and PIAA champion. But it’s when Cardone scored in the postseason that indicates just how instrumental he was to the Knights’ historic season. He scored in each of the Knights’ first three states games, including the game-winner against Old Forge in the quarterfinals and the equalizer with less than two minutes left in the semifinals to save their season. His assist was nodded home by Griffin Schmitt, to match him on 23 goals for the year, for the only goal of the state final, a 1-0 DC win over Charleroi. Cardone will join Dill at Gordon College in Massachusetts.

Nate Lucchesi, Radnor: The senior forward was the main piece in the tactical musical chairs that changed the Raptors season. When coach Joe Caruolo moved Lucchesi from central midfield to center forward, Radnor took off like a shot, thanks in part to Lucchesi’s 15 goals and 10 assists. Lucchesi was voted the team MVP and a first team All-Central pick. Lucchesi scored the game-winning goal in the District 1 final. He had two goals and an assist in the first round of both districts and states. Lucchesi, like Savadove a two-time lacrosse state champ, will play lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania.

Alex Barrist, Episcopal Academy: The senior forward was the most valuable player for the Churchmen in a 10-win season that included a midseason win over its rival Haverford and a third-place finish in the Inter-Ac. The sparkplug forward was at the center of much of went well for the Churchmen. Barrist scored the only goal late in a 1-0 win over Roman Catholic, a team to which Haverford lost. He added the game-winner against Germantown Friends, plus a goal and assist in wins over Holy Ghost Prep and Malvern Prep. Barrist is a Lafayette baseball commit.

Funsia Donzo, Upper Darby: Donzo was one of the few players in the Central League who consistently stood out to opposing coaches, in a year where only four players from the Delco schools were recognized as All-Central alongside the powerbrokers from Conestoga, Lower Merion and Harriton. Donzo was one among them, a speedy and technical forward who dictated matchups and forced opponents to change tactics. He led the Royals with eight goals and added two assists. Upper Darby went 6-12, though they started 4-5 before struggling through the middle of the campaign. Donzo is just a junior.

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