Boerth, Strath Haven growing nicely together

MIDDLETOWN — Strath Haven’s boys soccer team isn’t the same one that traveled to the PIAA Class 3A final last year. The Panthers know that, perhaps no one more than Peter Boerth, the striker who is filling the largest shoes left behind from a season ago.

But as this year’s Panthers grow into their journey, they’ve had the luxury of building around a spine that includes Boerth up top and versatile midfielders Andrew Lowman and Emmet Young behind. That nucleus showed its value Tuesday in a 3-0 win over Penncrest, the latest step in that rebuilding process.

Boerth scored twice, and Young added a free-kick goal for the Panthers, who controlled play and would’ve had more if not for hitting the woodwork three times. It’s all predicated on the flexible midfield axis of Lowman and Young, who act as the conduit from a solid and relatively experienced backline to a more youthful attack that they set up in good spots.

“They’ve been so solid in being able to keep the ball, work it, spread it out, either get it to me and I can lay it back, or they spray it wide, they chip it over, they play it long,” Boerth said. “It’s amazing having them there because they’re so solid and you can always depend on them.”

The Panthers (6-4, 4-2 Central) lost plenty from last year’s District 1 Class 3A title and trip to the state final, a 4-0 loss to West Allegheny. Gone is Daily Times Player of the Year Nate Perrins. Also graduating were dangerous wingers Gavin Birch and Nicky Palermo, plus the starting center-back tandem.

It’s fallen to players like Lowman and Young to shoulder the legacy.

“The people returning have a big responsibility to carry,” Boerth said. “All the starters last year left really big shoes. We have some big shoes to fill, but we just try to get our teammates hype every game, go out there and work our hardest.”

Boerth is stepping into the largest shoes of all in Perrins’, scorer of 28 goals and 10 assists. Though Boerth started the season slowly, he’s fitting into the niche left behind.

He generated the first chance Tuesday by hitting the crossbar in the 18th minute, Penncrest goalie Justin Potts getting just enough of the shot to steer it onto the woodwork. In the 23rd, reserve winger Timothy Wright got to the byline down the left and crossed a ball (that the Penncrest bench vehemently argued had gone out of play) back to Boerth, who tucked the cut-back pass off the bar and in for the goal.

In the 74th minute, Boerth put the game away off the second ball from a corner played in by Lowman. Potts could only flap at it, and it fell right to the foot of Boerth, who made no mistake on the edge of the six-yard box, slotting it through a pair of Lions.

The production that Boerth, a senior, has provided isn’t to the level or style of Perrins. But that’s not what he’s trying to replicate, per se.

“I think we have somewhat similar playing styles,” Boerth said. “I think I am writing my own chapter. We’re both good in the air, can both shoot. … We’re both doing the same job, but in different ways.”

Peter Boerth with his second goal of the game. Emmet Young adds a marker. @SHHSMensSoccer beats Penncrest, 3-0. pic.twitter.com/0BNuiwB6Hz

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) September 24, 2019

Young scored the other goal off a free kick earned by Traeger Hogarth on the edge of the box that Young took quickly before Penncrest’s defense could settle in. With Potts unaware and the Lions defense in a quandary, Young quietly curled it into the far side-netting.

It’s a trick he picked up from the state final last year.

“West Allegheny scored once like that against us early, put us down 2-0,” he said. “Ever since then, I’ve gotten the ball, placed it down quick, and if the goalie is out of position and the wall’s not in front of me, I shoot it and hopefully it goes in.”

Lowman would’ve had an assist off a corner kick but a glancing header by Simon Bolinger rang off the post. Even before Penncrest (7-3, 3-3) was reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes to play, Steven Woolery getting his marching orders for consecutive yellow cards for dissent, Young and Lowman controlled the game from the engine room. Penncrest had just two shots, one in each half, while Potts had to turn aside six shots.

That’s all part of the plan from Haven’s midfield, and it was executed to perfection Tuesday.

“We keep the ball, we play it quick and we don’t turn it over that much,” Young said. “So we try and get it to Peter and our wings out wide who are faster than the defense and we play them through, and they do their job.”

Also in the Central League:

Radnor 6, Springfield 0 >> Drew Warren recorded a hat trick, and Bobby Hydrisko tallied a goal and two assists as the Raiders pulled away via four second-half goals. Eric Moscol paired a goal with an assist, Peter Vitale also scored and Cole Schwartz recorded the shutout with two saves for Radnor.

In the Del Val League:

Penn Wood 5, Interboro 1 >> Ricoh Conteh scored twice and Daniel Ballah had two saves in goal to lead Penn Wood (3-7, 3-0 Del Val) to the win.

Zack Bosak scored for Interboro in a game that featured five second-half goals.

In the Bicentennial League:

Christian Academy 4, Plumstead Christian 0 >> Grant Sareyka scored a second-half hat trick, and Evan Sareyka added the fourth goal as the Crusaders blew open a tie game at half.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Springside Chestnut Hill 2, Episcopal Academy 0 >> Trevor Manion made five saves, but goals by Dane Harmaty and Ben Hayes send the Churchmen (2-2-3, 1-0) to a loss in their Inter-Ac opener.

Penn Charter 1, Haverford School 0 >> Julian Fernandez found the game-winner with five minutes to play, and the Fords couldn’t solve Chase Williams (7 saves) in goal. Will Boyes made six stops for the Fords.