CR North ends WC Henderson’s season in opening round of districts
WEST CHESTER – The possibility was there for the West Chester Henderson boys’ soccer team to get another shot at the Ches-Mont champs from Unionville in the second round of the District 1 4A Tournament. In order to make it happen the 13th seeded Warriors had to get past the 20th seed at home in round one on Tuesday.
It didn’t happen, however, as Council Rock North edged Henderson, 1-0, to advance to a Thursday clash at Unionville, while the Warriors’ season ends quite suddenly.
“Unfortunately, it came to an end very quickly,” said first-year Henderson head coach Dom Popolizio.
“We are kind of disappointed,” added sophomore goaltender Tino Kneis. “We wanted to get out of this round, at the very least. We really wanted another shot at Unionville.”
Instead, the Warriors have to settle for an 11-6-2 overall mark and a quick exit. Henderson entered the postseason with a 5-0-1 record in its last six, but the bigger, more physical Indians – who finished in a tie for third place in the Suburban One National – were too much for the Warriors, who start five sophomores.
“We had very similar records and (C.R. North) beat some very good teams this season, so we knew heading in that there wasn’t a true favorite or anything like that,” Popolizio said.
“When we saw them getting off the bus, started warming up and lined up each team’s starting 11, we said, ‘man, they don’t have anybody under 5-foot-10.’ They use their height and physicality to their advantage.”
Now 11-6-2 overall, the Indians had a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal, but the only score came in the opening five minutes of the second half, when junior forward Shane Bradley’s initial shot bounced off the far post and he deposited the rebound into the net.
“We kind of came out flat to start the second half and we paid for it,” Kneis said.
“We conceded in the first five minutes of the second half,” agreed team captain Kevin Kiefer. “It’s been a problem all season. We got caught sleeping and then we had to play catch-up.”
The intensity picked up after the goal, but the Warriors never really had a prime chance to tie in in the final 35:55.
“I certainly didn’t think we’d lose,” Kiefer said.
“Coming into the season, the whole Ches-Mont thought we were going to be garbage. We lost a lot of good players the last few years, plus we have new coaches.
“A lot of people doubted us, but we won West Chester — so to have the season end like this kind of stings.”
Similarly, C.R. North dominated the opening portion of the first half, and Henderson came on strong late, but neither side was able to score. Kiefer had a couple scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the half, but North keeper Christian Wierzbowicz made a nice save on the first, and a defender made the stop on the other during a scramble in front of the goal.
“The ball came in, took a deflection and it was on the back post,” Kiefer explained. “I got a foot on it and it was rolling to the goal line and a (defender) put a stop to it. We were arguing that it was over the line, but it wasn’t. It was worth a shot.”
It was the final high school outing for Kiefer and eight other seniors.
“It was a very hard conversation after the game,” acknowledged Popolizio. “I thanked our seniors. It’s obviously a difficult time for those guys right now.
“Kevin Kiefer has been a varsity starter for four years and that hasn’t happened in quite some time here at Henderson.”
Council Rock North 1, West Chester Henderson 0
Council Rock North 0 1 — 1
West Chester Henderson 0 0 — 0
Council Rock North goal: Bradley.
Goalie saves: Wierzbowicz (CRN) 7; Kneis (WCH) 11.
