Spring-Ford thwarts thorn in side Boyertown, 1-0, in District 1-4A first round

BOYERTOWN >> The Spring-Ford boys soccer team has endured its share of disappointment thanks to Boyertown.

Last year’s Pioneer Athletic Conference championship comes to mind, the Rams’ third defeat of that campaign to the Bears; this year’s league title race that the Bears emerged from to repeat as well.

Things haven’t always clicked into place this fall for the Rams either.

But Monday afternoon, against a Boyertown team that’s been a thorn in its side many times so often, Spring-Ford came up roses with a 1-0 victory in the first round of the District 1 Class 4A playoffs at Boyertown.

Senior Colton Pollock knocked in the rebound of an Andrew Merchant free kick in the 14th minute and the Rams played with an urgency that allowed the Bears (8-5) to generate few opportunities on a blustery day in Boyertown.

“It feels amazing to finally get one after some frustration this whole year to finally get a good win out,” said S-F senior captain Tommy Bodenschatz. “Two years in a row pretty much they took the PAC from us. It feels great to come to districts and get one from them.”

No. 9 Spring-Ford (8-4-1) meets the winner of No. 16 Souderton at No. 1 West Chester East on Thursday at the home of the highest seed.

Boyertown and Spring-Ford were the favorites entering the fall in the PAC but both endured up and down regular seasons. Nevertheless, they came through in the end competing for the PAC title in the final week, but the Bears used a five-game winning streak to claim the crown.

The Bears and Rams split in the regular season, Spring-Ford winning 3-1 on goals by Bodenschatz, Pollock and Merchant while Boyertown won the other matchup, 3-0.

Playing in conditions not conducive for the ‘beautiful game’, it was a game for urgency, effort and making your own luck, and Spring-Ford came up with the goods.

“We knew that today wasn’t going to be the best day to play pretty soccer, so we just did what we had to do with the circumstances and got it done,” Bodenschatz said. “We knew that we had to chase down every ball, win every second ball. We had to. This could have been our last game so we’re just playing for our lives out there because some of us might not get to play soccer again.”

“We did not want to go home this week,” said S-F senior defender Shlok Shah. “For us seniors, we didn’t want to go home. This performance really proved that.”

Shah made a pair of goal-line clearances on a corner kick from Dimitri Randjelovic and a Beckett Wenger header in the first half to head the Rams’ defensive effort along with a commanding performance from center back Ekow Asomaning. Goalkeeper Logan Hyduke made five saves while getting additional defensive support from Trevor Jones and Brian Zisk.

Spring-Ford had five shots on goal in the first half but their only great chance was the one they cashed in on. After a handball 30 yards out, Merchant put his free kick on frame to the left side. The shot was saved but spilled by goalkeeper Tanner McCafferty and Pollock was the first to it on the follow with 26:45 left in the first 40.

“It wasn’t the best goal but it went in the back of the net,” Bodenschatz said. “We knew that we had to get the first one. We were saying whoever gets the first one it’s going to have the advantage the whole game. We had to put that in and then work our butts off to keep that clean sheet.”

Boyertown did not make the most of their clear opportunities, trying to run their preferred short-passing style and usual set pieces on occasions that called for just getting the ball on target considering the conditions.

With the lead, the Rams were happy to nullify and pressure the Bears all second half and put on a winning performance.

After being stunned in its district opener last season to Abington, Spring-Ford moves on. Conversely, it’s an abrupt end for a Boyertown team that reached the District 1-4A final and PIAA semifinals a year ago.

Boyertown’s departing seniors include Braden Bartman, Lucas Cameiro, Nick Chlanda, Matt Esz, Matt Kerr, Tanner McCafferty, Dimitri Randjelovic, Jagger Sokel, Josh Torrens and Nick Willson.

Notes >> The teams were level in shots on target 6-6 while Boyertown led in corners 3-1.