Knoch’s early lead dissolves in 3-1 boys soccer loss
JEFFERSON TWP — Winning its last six games of the regular season, Knoch’s boys soccer team seemed to carry that momentum into its WPIAL Class 2A first-round playoff game against Elizabeth Forward on Monday.
Junior midfielder Matthew Welsh scored in the fourth minute to stake the Knights to an early lead, but that’s all they could muster in a 3-1 loss at Knoch Stadium.
The Warriors managed all of their scoring in a five-minute flurry late in the first half.
“They like to throw a heck of a lot of pressure at you and we knew we’d have to move the ball quickly. I thought we did that well in scoring our goals,” said Warriors coach Doug Finke. “We took it to ‘em.”
Elizabeth Forward tied the game when William Sinay booted a high arcing shot over the head of Knoch goalie Jacob Fox, who had come off his line to challenge in the 34th minute.
Three minutes later, Dominic Cavalier made it 2-1 and Ethan Childers sent a cross past Fox with just over a minute remaining in the half.
“We made some silly mistakes in the back,” said Knoch coach Malcolm Cook. “We’re such a young team and just weren’t able to respond.”
In the first 15 minutes of the second half, all of Knoch’s scoring chances — shots and crosses — were gobbled up by Warrior midfielders and defenders. Then the Knights started to turn up the heat on EF goalie Matthew Johnston.
The initial shot on goal came off the foot of Duncan Schilpp in the 55th minute.
Seven minutes later, Johnston made a save off a Knoch corner kick and stopped another attempt seconds afterward.
Mason Nebel and Kannon Trofimuk both had opportunities in the final five minutes, but were also turned away.
“We played teams this year that have a finisher. We have four players who reached double digits in goals, but I don’t know if we have a finisher.
“We knocked on the door for a good part of that second half,” Cook said. “We played teams this year that have a finisher. We have four players who reached double digits in goals, but I don’t know if we have a finisher.”
Johnston made eight saves in the game, seven of them coming in the final 26 minutes.
“He came out when he needed to, came up with some huge saves for us,” Finke said of Johnston.
Knoch (11-8) entered the game as the No. 7 seed while the Warriors (11-6-1) are No. 10.
“This is my eighth season as head coach here and this is the first time we’ve won a playoff game as the lower seed,” added Finke. “Credit Knoch, though. They are a good team and made us earn it.”
Fox stopped six shots for the Knights, who featured just five seniors.
“Young teams are going to make mistakes,” said Cook, “but I have no complaints about the season. It was a good one.”
