Boyertown tops Neshaminy in District 1-4A quarters for first state berth since 1996

BOYERTOWN >> Coming into Saturday afternoon’s match, the last time the Boyertown boys soccer team qualified for the PIAA Tournament it was from a different district more than 20 years ago. But the Bears are now headed back to states for the first time since 1996 after a hard-fought 2-1 winner over visiting Neshaminy in the District 1-4A quarterfinals.

Kolby Houck knocked in the game-winner off an assist by Landon Wenger with 2:35 remaining in the second half . Matt Esz also scored for the third-seeded Bears (19-1-2), who will play at Lower Merion, a 2-1 win over Central Bucks West, in a semifinal on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Neshaminy (14-7), the 11th seed, will need to win two straight playback games in order to claim the district’s fifth and last state berth.

“It feels amazing,” said Wenger. “All of us are pretty ecstatic right now. We’re loving it.”

Wenger booted a free kick to the left wing as the Redskins were still trying to get their defense set up and Houck headed the ball into the far corner. Wenger also played a part in the first goal when he threw the ball in from the right sideline and Nick Willson directed it to to Esz for a shot and score that tied the match at 1-1 late in the first half. Casey Foley had given the visitors the lead in the 12th minute.

The contest became more and more physical and contentious as the afternoon wore on, but Wenger said the Bears were ready for such a match.

“We knew coming into it, they would be physical and want to get into our heads,” he said. “While they were arguing with the refs, we set up a play and had a couple guys on the posts.”

“We expected it to get a little chippy, a little physical” said Boyertown coach Mark Chambers. “Obviously, the game-winning goal was a result of a little loss of composure on the part of some of their players.”

Neshaminy had a height advantage, but that wasn’t the first time this season that the Bears have been in such a situation.

“We’re not the tallest of teams,” Wenger added. “But we always make sure we’re challenging and winning the air balls.”

With the physical play, neither team had all that many good scoring opportunities. Both sides had four corner kicks. Bear goalkeeper Mason Kurtz made five saves and Redskin net minder Trevor Rush stopped four shots.

Neshaminy nearly took the lead with 14 minutes remaining when a blast by Cole Jackson was deflected on goal, but Kurtz quickly adjusted and made a diving save. Then Boyertown came close to going on top with eight minutes left, but a hard free kick by Willson clanked off the left post.

The Bears made it to states in 1996 as the second seed from District 3 after defeating Susquehannock 1-0 in the semifinals and losing 3-0 to Dallastown in the final. They lost 1-0 Strath Haven in the PIAA opening round.

Since then, they’ve had a tough time even winning a match in District 1 until Thursday’s 3-1 decision over Pennsbury.

“We’ve had plenty of goals this season,” said Wenger. “Winning the PAC, winning districts and making it to states.”

But mostly, the Bears have concentrated on one step at a time, according to Chambers.

“Regular season, PAC’s, district tournament,” he said. “Our mentality all year was one game at a time. This group all year, we’ve had some really bad injuries. It’s always the next man up mentality with these guys. They’ve done well. I can’t give enough credit to these kids.

“They know they’re going to states. Let them enjoy it. They know they have another tournament to play.”