Next week is the last before the play-in rounds for both the Catholic and Public League. These final games will decide the playoff structure. Teams have a chance to make a last push, or drop in the standings.
Catholic League
Conwell-Egan beat McDevitt 1-0 on Tuesday. On Friday they beat O’Hara, dispatching the game with a sudden death goal in double overtime (1-0) for a perfect week. Confidence was restored to Conwell-Egan, after the team had given up consecutive losses, with Coach Barry Roxberry reporting that Conwell-Egan outshot their opponents 30-10 in those failed efforts. Such are the cruelties of this sport, so this week was a breath of fresh air; air that smelled like winning. The results put Conwell-Egan within striking distance of a playoff spot.
Judge was able to beat Roman by finishing a couple of corners on Tuesday. On Friday Judge beat Ryan 2-0 to maintain a perfect record. Judge still have to face an undefeated Lansdale Catholic on their final regular season game.
Lansdale got a 1-0 win over Archbishop Wood on Tuesday, and on Friday beat McDevitt with two unanswered goals. McDevitt have had a long season, with many close games but not a single result. They keep competing, and that is something to admire.
La Salle had a perfect week, beating Bonner by pushing five in and not letting a single one back. On Friday they came back against Wood, ending the half down 1-2, but a goal in the second half, and one in double overtime secured the victory.
St. Joe’s beat Wood 1-0 on Tuesday and on Friday battled Roman to a 0-0 draw. SJP keeper Francis Maniscalo had four saves, including a a stop on a header with two minutes remaining in the match. Roman’s keeper Mark Tobin had nine saves.
|
Division A |
W |
L |
T |
Division B |
W | L | T |
Division C |
W | L | T | |||
| Northeast |
7 |
0 |
0 |
Olney |
7 |
0 |
1 |
Franklin |
9 |
0 |
0 |
|||
| PACS |
6 |
1 |
1 |
APAL |
6 |
1 |
1 |
Kensington |
9 |
0 |
0 |
|||
| PREP |
6 |
2 |
0 |
Furness |
6 |
2 |
0 |
NFCS |
7 |
2 |
0 |
|||
| Southern |
5 |
2 |
1 |
FLC |
5 |
2 |
0 |
Roxborough |
5 |
3 |
0 |
|||
| Central |
5 |
3 |
0 |
HSOF |
4 |
3 |
0 |
Mastbaum |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|||
| Washington |
3 |
3 |
1 |
E&S |
3 |
5 |
0 |
Del Val |
3 |
5 |
1 |
|||
| Fels |
3 |
4 |
1 |
MLK |
2 |
5 |
0 |
Bodine |
3 |
6 |
0 |
|||
| Bartram |
3 |
4 |
0 |
Boys Latin |
1 |
5 |
1 |
Edison |
2 |
7 |
0 |
|||
| Lincoln |
3 |
4 |
0 |
SLA |
1 |
6 |
1 |
KIPP |
1 |
7 |
1 |
|||
| FTC |
2 |
4 |
2 |
Swenson |
1 |
7 |
0 |
Penn Treaty |
0 |
9 |
0 |
|||
| Masterman |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|||||||||||
| Frankford |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|||||||||||
Public League A
After another week of tough play, the Public League A has established a trend of parity, with unexpected results all over. Prep Charter, PACS, and South Philly have all had success, finding themselves in the top half of the table, and beating or drawing traditional powerhouses like Central and Washington. Usually strong Lincoln and Fels will have an uphill battle to make the playoffs. Northeast, with a perfect record, is clearly the team to beat. Bartram has had successes against top teams, but they have lost a number of games.
On Wednesday PACS beat Central in a second half rife with goals. PACS found two. Central answered with two, and PACS responded with a controversial goal that won the game. Central Coach Josh Trott (myself) regretted the team’s failure to convert possession into goals in a first half that Central dominated. With the result PACS find themselves solidly in third, with Central and South Philly behind.
Other exciting results included South beating neighborhood rival Prep 2-1 on Wednesday. Prep returned to winning on Friday, beating FTC 4-1.
Fels and Lincoln, not having had a lot of good results, improved their fortunes by finding wins against solid teams. Fels beat Washington 3-2 on Friday, and Lincoln beat Bartram 3-1 on Wednesday.
Masterman and Frankford look to be bound for relegation, as both teams have yet to produce a point. There is honor in losing well, but it rarely feels like it.
Public League B
On Tuesday Engineering and Science found five goals against MLK, with King finding only one in response.
Furness beat SLA 5-3 on Tuesday, and lost to Olney 2-3 on Thursday.
Palumbo produced a pair of wins, beating FLC 1-0 on Tuesday, and beating Engineering and Science 2-1 on Thursday.
Palumbo and Olney are still undefeated.
Public League C
On Friday Ben Franklin beat Mastbaum 11-4. I haven’t heard from the coaches, but I’m thinking they played their talent up front that game.
Kensington got more wins, topping Del Val on Tuesday thanks to a forfeit, and a convincing 3-1 win over Bodein on Friday.
This upcoming Friday Ben Franklin and Kensington will play at Cione Rec at Aramingo and Lehigh. The winner will get first place, and, barring a Tuesday upset, it looks like both teams will earn promotion to B division. Two different success stories are here. Kensington has been laboring in the C division for years, getting close but never quite earning promotion, while Ben Franklin just started a program. With the talent they have, it’s a good thing the school got a program and the kids can play now.
The keeper for St. Joe’s Prep is Francis Maniscalco .
Thanks, Frank. My mistake. If he’s your son, tell him good job.
Josh- enjoyable read again. Thanks, and I appreciate the St. Joe’s Prep news. Consecutive shutouts- good defending and keeping.