Impact Players: Pennsylvania state championship finals

Eight PIAA state champions in high school soccer were crowned last weekend in the Sweetest Place on Earth: Hershey, Pa. Here's a look at some players who stood out over the two days at Hersheypark Stadium. 4A Finals

After creating several dangerous chances going forward in the first half, Conestoga senior forward Jayce Thurston headed home a corner kick from sophomore defender Brady Costin Brady Costin D Conestoga | 2024 State PA to give his team a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish in a 1-0 win over Seneca Valley in the 4A boys final on Friday night.

Conestoga star senior midfielder Sebastian Tis Sebastian Tis M/F Conestoga | 2022 PA was another bright spot but Seneca Valley junior goalkeeper Ryan Krumenacker was able to deny him a great chance in the first half for one of his 10 saves on the night. Krumenacker also did a great job commanding his box on the long throw-ins from Conestoga senior left back Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke.  

Conestoga senior defender Simeon Dorsey Simeon Dorsey D Conestoga | 2022 PA , who created some mismatches going forward deployed higher up the field early in the game and moved between central midfield and center back led a strong performance for the Conestoga back line and senior midfielder Colin Wurth helped the Pioneers win a number of battles in midfield and cap off a perfect 26-0-0 season. 

Moon junior Kayla Leseck was involved in a pair of goals — the first off a play started by her free kick that hit the post and the second a chipped in insurance goal of her own — to lead Moon to a 2-0 win over Conestoga in the girls 4A final on Friday.

Moon sophomore midfielder Sydney Felton scored the eventual game-winner off Leseck's rebound in the first half. 

Moon's defense did so well to limit Conestoga's attacking weapons, Pioneers senior defender Haleigh Wintersteen appeared to be the most likely to find a breakthrough with her attempts both on the taking and receiving end of free kicks. 

3A Finals

Radnor sophomore forward Selah Koleth Selah Koleth M/F Radnor (PA) | 2024 State #156 Nation PA scored early on a powerful run into the box to put the Raptors in front and continued to be a handful as a skillful and dynamic attacking presence but Mars showed poise to limit her and Radnor's multiple other attacking weapons to one goal and mounted a comeback with a second-half goal from junior Reece Dunaway and an overtime winner from senior Aly Cooper.

The win for Mars made it not only three straight state title seasons but also three straight unbeaten seasons for the Planets. 

Hampton senior goalkeeper Thomas Bradfield made an incredible diving save to deny a Louis Daniele bid for an equalizer with 14 minutes left in the 3A boys final against Archbishop Wood. Hampton grabbed the lead eight minutes earlier on a goal from senior Zach Panza, who also made some big defensive plays on the other side of the ball in the 1-0 win for Hampton.

The game would likely have had more goals if not for the strong performances of both keepers, including Wood sophomore keeper Julian Naumenko, who had six saves in the losing effort for the Vikings. 

2A Finals After battling through 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, the 2A boys final came down to penalty kicks between Quaker Valley and Lewisburg.

Sophomore defender Nick Allan played the hero for Quaker Valley when he stepped up to convert the decisive penalty in the shootout. That it stayed scoreless as long as it did was surprising considering the effort of Quaker Valley senior forward Keller Chamovitz, who was a danger man all afternoon for the Quakers. 

Junior Madalyn Szoke and sophomore Sammy Roth scored late goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and lead Allentown Central Catholic to its first PIAA championship in the 2A girls final.

1A Finals

Junior Loren Gehret Loren Gehret F Southern Columbia (PA) | 2023 State PA had a brace in the first five minutes and assisted on two other goals to lead Southern Columbia to their second straight 1A girls title with a 4-0 win over Greensburg Central Catholic in the 1A girls final.

Winchester Thurston junior Oliver Daboo Oliver Daboo D/M Winchester Thurston | 2023 PA scored the game-winner in overtime on a rocketed shot from outside the box Faith Christian senior keeper JR Richards was only able to get to after it crossed the line in the 1A boys final.

Senior midfielder Marcus Pringle was dynamic and dangerous from the run of play and set pieces and many of the attacking weapons for Faith Christian gave Winchester Thurston fits but the final ball just wasn't there in a frustrating end to their attempt to repeat as state champions. Faith Christian senior center back Peyton Curry was frequently called upon defensively and did well using his size and strength to stand up the Winchester Thurston attack through most of the day. 

For Winchester Thurston, senior defender Massimiliano Memoli was outstanding despite having his hands full with Faith Christian's dynamic attacking players, which included seniors Bobby Elitz and Chris Evans, and sophomore forward Colin Moyer.