Standouts from Pennsylvania PIAA Boys Finals

Four boys teams were crowned state champions in Pennsylvania on November 18 and 19 at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. After getting revenge on Conestoga for last year's finals loss in the semis, Seneca Valley steamrolled Lower Merion 6-0 to win the 4A final for the second time in three years. Moravian Academy topped defending champs Winchester Thurston in overtime for their third state title in the Class A final. Two other boys champions brought home their program's first state titles. Hershey made the most of their program's first trip to a final with an overtime win over Springfield Township in the 3A and Northwestern Lehigh won a hard fought 2-1 victory over Lancaster Catholic in the 2A final.   <h2>4A Final</h2>   Ryan Krumenacher, Senior, Goalkeeper, Seneca Valley The goalkeeper isn't typically the first player that comes to mind in a 6-0 blowout but Krumenacher changed the game when he saved a penalty in the first half after being whistled for the foul. Instead of being down 1-0, Seneca Valley was scoreless thanks to the senior and went on to roll to the lopsided win.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/6N4A6976-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-68286" width="334" height="222" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ryan Krumenacker</figcaption></figure>   Cole Kamarec, Junior, Forward, Seneca Valley Kamarec opened the scoring and doubled the advantage six minutes later off a lovely through ball from Beaux Lizweski.   Gavin Loya, Senior, Forward, Seneca Valley Loya had a pair of assists and a goal of his own to lead the Seneca Valley attack.   Drew Davis, Senior, Forward, Lower Merion It's hard to find a whole lot of good things to say about the Aces in a game where they were completely run off the field but in the early going it looked like things might be headed a different way thanks to Davis, who drew a penalty on a run into the box after he was unable to hit a volley from a headed clearance.   <h2>3A Final</h2>   Hannes Budde, Junior, Goalkeeper, Hershey Budde was at his best when the game was on the line in the 3A boys final. Springfield Township had the better of the chances in overtime before the Hershey winner but Budde came up big to deny Riley Martin a couple of great chances and kept things alive for his teammates.    Ian McGroarty, Senior, MIdfielder, Hershey McGroarty was the hero with the golden goal in double overtime to seal Hershey's first state title. He also started the counter attack deep in his own territory with a good play and followed up after a good save was made by Julian Casabon-Aznar. McGroarty's toughness in the midfield doing a lot of the dirty work paid off in the end with him celebrating at the corner flag with his teammates.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/IMG_5686.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-68287" width="383" height="251" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Niklas Budde</figcaption></figure>   Niklas Budde, Freshman, Forward, Hershey Budde provided a big lift to Hershey off the bench and was instrumental in the game-winning play with the pass to Brett Moyer that set up the shot that was rebounded into the path of McGroarty for the winner. Budde was a key player throughout the postseason.    Nick Hanushchak, Sophomore, Midfielder, Springfield Township Springfield Township looked strong out of the gate moving the ball and creating chances and one of the sparks was the sophomore, who seemed to create dangerous chances every time he had the ball. That continued throughout the match and even though they were shut out in the end the Spartans were often the better team.    Riley Martin, Junior, Forward, Springfield Township Martin was the focal point throughout the game and if not for the Hershey keeper would've been the hero with some of his quick trigger shots on goal.    Julian Casabon-Aznar, Junior, Goalkeeper, Springfield Township Though not as busy in net as his counterpart, Casabon-Aznar was just as strong in net. Even on the game-winning goal, he was there to make a great save with an outstretched hand that led to a rebound that was put away.    <h2>2A Final</h2>   Nathan Hummer, Senior, Goalkeeper, Lancaster Catholic Hummer stood tall early in denying NW Lehigh, which came out of the gate firing and peppering him with shots and had a solid outing throughout in a game that could've easily gone in Lancaster Catholic's favor.    Jake Van Lierop, Sophomore, Midfielder, Northwestern Lehigh Van Lierop made a great run into the box and had a smooth finish to open the scoring in the first half. He was involved in some pretty attacking moments later in the match too, illustrating his place as a rising star in the program.   Matt Johnson, Junior, Forward, Northwestern Lehigh Johnson was flying early on with a slew of chances and did well to set up the first goal with a pass on the run up the gut to Van Lierop. He was doing a lot of dirty work throughout, winning the ball and creating chances going the other way.   Stephen Scott, Freshman, Forward, Lancaster Catholic Scott came up with the big equalizer when he scored off a long cross from his brother Will Scott that was flicked on by Leo Lambert to Scott in front of goal midway through the second half.    Jack Mauro, Sophomore, Midfielder, Northwestern Lehigh It wasn't pretty but Mauro was able to slide in to clean up a loose ball in the box and get it past the defender to score the go-ahead goal just five minutes after the Lancaster Catholic equalizer.    <h2>1A Final</h2>   Trey Sheeler, Senior, Midfielder, Moravian Academy Sheeler is a center back by trade (headed to Lehigh) but he put the team on his back in the final playing in the midfield. He opened the scoring off a long run up the middle in the first half and was the hero with the golden goal in double overtime.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/12/6N4A4737.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-68290" width="430" height="276" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Selman Eris</figcaption></figure>   Rafael Sanjuan, Senior, Midfielder, Moravian Academy Sanjuan set up both of Sheeler's goals with passes from the midfield and created a number of chances throughout the match. Sanjuan's ability to control bouncing balls off the turf, see plays develop and break lines with his passing were what was needed to break down a tough defensive team.   [player_tooltip player_id='37620' first='Alex' last='Hauskrecht'], Senior, Midfielder, Winchester Thurston Hauskrecht scored the equalizer off a great ball from [player_tooltip player_id='15274' first='Oliver' last='Daboo'] to get the Bears back in the game and had some chances to add another with his movement, pace and strength on the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='15274' first='Oliver' last='Daboo'], Senior, Midfielder, Winchester Thurston Daboo is the type of player who seems to always be at the center of good things that happen for the Bears and while he wasn't able to cap his high school career with another title he was instrumental in getting the Bears back into the game with a lovely assist on the equalizer and was dangerous throughout with his ability to link play in transition.   Selman Eris, Freshman, Forward, Moravian Academy Eris was outstanding all game down the left flank, creating problems for the Winchester Thurston with his technical ability on the ball. He nearly set up the game-winner with a great run down the end line that just needed a clean touch to finish off the pass and showed a calmness and attacking prowess beyond his years even as the pressure mounted in overtime.

Four boys teams were crowned state champions in Pennsylvania on November 18 and 19 at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. After getting revenge on Conestoga for last year's finals loss in the semis, Seneca Valley steamrolled Lower Merion 6-0 to win the 4A final for the second time in three years. Moravian Academy topped defending champs Winchester Thurston in overtime for their third state title in the Class A final. Two other boys champions brought home their program's first state titles. Hershey made the most of their program's first trip to a final with an overtime win over Springfield Township in the 3A and Northwestern Lehigh won a hard fought 2-1 victory over Lancaster Catholic in the 2A final.