Sudden spark
ADAMS TWP — Luc Madonna's goal late in the first half gave Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's boys soccer team the lead, but the tally meant a whole lot more than that.
It gave the Trojans a spark that turned into a raging fire as CWNC went on to score three second-half goals in a 4-0 victory over Winchester Thurston in Saturday's WPIAL Class A semifinal at the Mars Athletic Complex.
“We knew by scoring the first goal, that was going to force them (Bears) to play more risky and that was going to open up things for us,” said Madonna, a senior defender.
The Trojans will face Springdale, a 2-1 winner over Seton-La Salle, in the championship game at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh at a time and date to be determined.
Both teams had legitimate scoring chances in the first 39 minutes of play, but Trojans' goalkeeper Keaton Jennings and Winchester Thurston's Jivak Nischal kept the game scoreless.
A set piece helped lead to Madonna's score.
As the clock ticked under a minute to play in the first half, CWNC was awarded a corner kick to the left of Nischal. Joe Kearney took it and the ball was headed out of the goal box by a Bears' player. Madonna got to it, however, and let a shot go from 20 yards.
“That goal was a momentum killer,” said Bear coach Adam Brownold. “It took a bad bounce.”
“We knew Winchester Thurston (16-2) was a possession team,” said first-year CWNC coach Aaron Kelly. “Their players have good footwork and ball skills, but we got that first goal and just wore them down.”
The second half saw the Bears' chances diminish while the Trojans turned up the heat on Nischal. In the 48th minute, Mike Drambel lofted a shot over the goalkeeper, who had come out to challenge the senior striker. The ball landed in the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Kearney scored his 51st goal of the season seven minutes later and late in the game, Ian Daugherty capped the scoring with a fourth goal.
The Trojans' team speed has had a lot to do with their 19-1 record.
“I thought we matched up well with them for most of the game,” said Brownold. “Their speed didn't hurt us, our players are used to playing teams with a lot of speed. What hurt us was mental mistakes.”
Nischal and Jennings both made six saves in the game.
The Trojans will play for a district title for the second straight year. They fell to Sewickley Academy, 1-0, in last year's final.
“Our players want to make up for last year,” Kelly said. “They're ready for it.”
“With guys like Kearney, Bryce Kopchak and Augie (Ryan Augustine) up top, we can score at any time,” Madonna said.
