Shanahan blanks Donegal, moves to PIAA quarterfinals
DOWNINGTOWN >> To be the best boys soccer squad in Bishop Shanahan history, you have to do things that no other was able to accomplish. And the 2021 Eagles are now on a cusp.
With Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Donegal in the first round of the PIAA 3A playoffs, Shanahan advances to the state quarterfinals – equaling the furthest postseason run in program history. Up next is the winner between Northwestern Lehigh and Palmyra on Saturday.
“We’ve been preaching that any team that’s in states is really good, so we had to come in with the same mindset we had in the district final,” said senior midfielder Colin Deal, who notched a goal and an assist.
Fresh off the second district title run ever, the Eagles want to be the first to make it to the semifinals this weekend, but only because it is another step toward the ultimate goal.
“It would mean a lot to us to make some school history. I think the sky is the limit for this team,” said junior winger Paul Ziegler. “My brother Matthew was on the 2017 team that made it to the quarters. So of course I want to go further.
“But we are not celebrating right now. We know what we want to do, and that’s to win the state title. We are not looking for anything else.”
Now 18-4 overall, Shanahan had little trouble dispatching the Indians (14-7-1 overall), who were the fourth seed out of District 3. With an overwhelming edge in shots on goal (23-6) and corner kicks (4-0), the Eagles scored twice in the first half and cruised from there.
“We were fortunate enough to get some film on Donegal and we saw some things that were going to be beneficial to our style of play,” said Shanahan head coach Jim Kalavik. “The guys executed, particularly in the first half.
“We didn’t play so hot in the second half offensively.”
The Eagles did, however, put in 80 minutes of rock-solid defense. Goaltender Bryce Domsohn turned aside just six shots, and none were really anything more than routine.
“All-in-all, we did a very good job of keeping our shape defensively. Evan Cunningham and Patrick Bracken have been doing a great job for us back there all season, and so has Bryce (Domsohn) behind them.”
From the start, the Eagles were on the attack. A few minutes in, senior star Zane Domsohn forced a save by a defender, and then about seven minutes later senior midfielder Colin Deal opened the scoring with a shot from a tough angle off an assist by Ziegler.
The Eagles had the first seven shots on goal and later made it 2-0 when Domsohn scored off a centering pass from Deal late in the first half. Shanahan outshot the Indians 15-4 in the opening 40 minutes.
In a defensive-minded second half, the best scoring chance came at the midway point when Zander Domsohn, Zane’s younger brother, had a blast hit off the crossbar.
Zane Domsohn has now scored 40 goals this season, which has been a single season school record since he reached number 25. He’s now scored six of Shanahan’s nine post-season goals this fall.
“We have some serious attack players all over the field, it just so happens that Zane ends up on the end of a lot of the chances because of his talent,” Kalavik explained. “We have other goals scorers like Jaden Jones and Zander Domsohn.”
Afterwards, Kalavik had plenty of complimentary things to say about Deal. And he also made crystal clear the only outcome this season that would fully satisfy him, his staff and his players.
“When we play our game, the only team that can beat us is Bishop Shanahan,” he said.
“This is just a special group of kids. They come ready to go, they’ve worked hard for this. The only goal we have in mind is that state trophy.”
Bishop Shanahan 2, Donegal 0
Donegal 0 0 — 0
Bishop Shanahan 2 0 — 2
Bishop Shanahan goals: Deal, Z. Domsohn.
Goalie saves: Geesey (D) 13; Ncube (D) 8; S. Domsohn (BS) 6.
