Stars shine in thrilling overtime game in Delaware

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salesianum School is a local powerhouse with an overflowing trophy case and a long list of successful alumni while the Phelps School is a relative newcomer in the world of high level prep soccer but the two teams met Saturday night in Delaware in a match that has the makings of a budding rivalry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phelps School, the Malvern, Pa.-based private boys school, is looking to replicate some of their success in basketball with soccer. They launched a full-year program this fall and hired experienced division 1 college coach Evan&nbsp;Prybutok. He's compiled a talented roster of international players along with some local day students from local clubs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The jewel of the incoming players who led Phelps to a 9-0-0 start (including a win over the Philadelphia Union Development Squad) is Ghanaian attacker <strong>Collins Oduro</strong>. The 2023 grad flashed his skill in the final third on Saturday night with penetrating runs at the back line and delivered a lovely strike in the 64th minute to give the visitors a 2-1 lead in the second half. <strong>Eliot Beaumale</strong>, a 2023 grad from France, was also involved in the goal, setting up Oduro with a backheel pass. Beaumale and classmate and countryman <strong>Justin Schweitzer</strong> had Phelps on the front foot for much of the night with their technical skill and passing in the attack. <strong>Damon Keller</strong>, a 2023 from United Arab Emirates/Switzerland scored the first half equalizer in the 32nd minute on a shot in the box set up by a long <strong>Esteban Colange</strong> (2023) free kick. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the Sallies side, reigning Delaware State Player of the Year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='15180' first='Jake' last='Ross']</strong> (2023) had all three goals, including the dramatic overtime winner off a lovely threaded pass from <strong>Jacob Sorrells</strong> (2023). Central defender <strong>Justin Hinds</strong> (2024) was also involved in the play that led to the golden goal and was strong in the defense along with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='15315' first='Tanner' last='Brentlinger']</strong> in front of senior goalkeeper <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='9561' first='Zachary' last='Bittner']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1576379974608572416?s=21u0026t=Jy7jeV7P0k76QFeIlNQWqg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1576379974608572416?s=21&amp;t=Jy7jeV7P0k76QFeIlNQWqg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ross's star turn may not have come to be had he been shown red instead of yellow for a very late challenge early in the first half. His first goal followed soon after he came back on from the yellow card substitution. The goal was a perfectly placed free kick. His second was a poached goal off a mistake from Phelps goalkeeper <strong>Joe Wilkinson</strong> (2023). Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='9466' first='Aiden' last='Gonzalez'] was credited with an assist on the goal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilkinson recovered well from the mishap and made two clutch saves to deny the hosts from a regulation win. Phelps also walked a bit of a tight rope when a yellow was shown on a possible last man back foul that set Ross up with a free kick from a dangerous spot that was blocked by the wall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sallies improved to 6-1-0 on the season with the overtime win. Their lone loss came to the Delaware rival that ended their decade-long state title streak back in 2020: Appoquinimink. Phelps School is now 9-1-0 on the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->