‘Stoga rolls into PIAA 3A Semifinals with depth, defense
LANCASTER >> In retrospect, it was pretty much inevitable.
Despite being deadlocked in a scoreless tie at the half, the Conestoga boys’ soccer squad endured a stiff headwind and now had a couple key advantages the rest of the way: overall team depth, and the wind at its back. So it surprised no one when the Pioneers completely dominated the second half on Saturday, and toppled Dallastown 1-0 to advance to the PIAA 4A Semifinals in action from Manheim Township.
“The wind had a significant impact on this game,” said ’Stoga head coach Dave Zimmerman. “So the goal in the first half was just to not give anything up. We considered 0-0 a win.”
In a match that featured just one goal, Conestoga still managed to command a prohibitive overall edge in shots on goal (14-0) and corner kicks (11-1). Yes, the Pioneers surrendered zero shots on goal for 80 minutes against the District 3 runner-up in state quarterfinal action. Dallastown’s season ends with a 20-4-1 mark.
“We have a very solid defense, and I trust every single one of them back there to get that ball out,” said senior midfielder Sebastian Tis. “Our center backs aren’t afraid of anything. When we scrimmage against them, it’s always 0-0 because you can’t score on them.”
Now 24-0 overall, Conestoga has yet to yield a single goal in a half dozen playoff outings in 2021. In all, the Pioneers’ defense has notched an astounding 19 shutouts in 24 outings this fall.
“We just have great communication and we are very athletic,” said senior defender Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke. “That’s why we’ve done so well.”
Up next on Tuesday is District 12 champion La Salle (17-3 overall), who beat Abington on Saturday. The winner will move on to the state championship match on Nov. 19th at Hersheypark Stadium.
On a wet field and with wind gusts of up to 28 miles per hour, Conestoga won it in the most Conestoga way: with depth and defense.
“This was a typical Conestoga win, just pushing through and grinding down your opponent. That’s the way we win,” acknowledged Vargas-Clarke.
“We tell our players to trust the process, if you will,” Zimmerman added. “We use our depth to wear teams out, get set piece opportunities, and then we typically see the field gradually tilt our way as the game goes on.”
The lone score came with 16:45 on the clock as Tis unleashed a lengthy blast from the right wing that caught the upper left corner of the net.
“Right now Sebastian’s got the radar locked in, and he’s playing his best soccer,” Zimmerman said.
“Luka (Crowe) passed it in to me, I turned, cut inside and then I saw the open shot, so I took it,” Tis recalled.
The Pioneers’ Jayce Tharish came close to adding an insurance goal soon thereafter, but ’Stoga didn’t need it as almost the entire second half was played in Dallastown’s defensive zone.
“Ultimately, the backbone of this team is our defense,” Zimmerman said. “Our back line is extremely strong, and our midfielders were able to keep the ball in (Dallastown’s) end.”
With the wind in its face at the start, ’Stoga managed four shots on goal in the opening half, but limited Dallastown to zero. The best scoring chance came at the midway point when Tis necessitated a diving save after pulling the trigger on another laser from distance.
“He takes all of our free kicks,” Zimmerman pointed out. “That’s his specialty. So he has the talent to hit a ball the way he did today.”
Wildcats’ goaltender Jacob Morouse was outstanding on the day, turning aside 13 of 14 shots. ’Stoga keeper Charlie Smith, on the other hand, had a leisurely afternoon.
“Charlie wasn’t challenged much. I think he literally touched the ball once in the second half,” Zimmerman said.
“Our coaches just tell us to keep the pressure up and our opponents will get tired and start making mistakes,” Tis added. “That it will work out for us as long as we are patient.”
Conestoga 1, Dallastown 0
Dallastown 0 0 — 0
Conestoga 0 1 — 1
Conestoga goal: Tis.
Goalie saves: Morouse (D) 13; Smith (C) 0.
