Photo: Nancy Winter

In the Catholic League championship on Oct. 29, Judge dominated the game against Lansdale Catholic and won 3-1. Senior Ryan Nork got the game ball. The Inquirer has a match recap.

The Public League Championship on Oct. 29 featured Central, which finished third in the regular season, against Northeast, the first place finisher of the regular season. Central grew into the game with Northeast and won 1-0. [Editor’s note: Josh is the head coach of Central’s boys’ soccer team.]

Central choose to play the ball on the ground, and showed a technical approach to the game, while Northeast opted for a direct route. In the first half Northeast pressured Central and got three or four good chances, but last minute interventions by Greg Winter and the backline preserved the team. Then Central got the ball up the field and a long throw in by Matt Kelly bounced through to Jason Pixley, who beat the Northeast keeper to the ball and kneed home for a 1-0 lead.

The goal galvanized Central, who looked stronger. Then a through ball found Adin Hernandez-Carrera, the Northeast forward who scored a hat trick in Northeast’s quarterfinal face off with Franklin Towne Charter. He took a touch and fired from about twelve yards out with Central keeper Greg Winter advancing. but his shot went just inches wide of the post.

In the second half, Central showed midfield dominance, and would have the better of possession. But Northeast won a free kick one minute from time. Tyler Gormley stepped up to take it and struck a swerving shot on frame toward the near post. Central keeper Greg Winter came up big, knocking Gormley’s effort over the crossbar.

With the win, Central claims its first Public League Championship in twelve years. For more on the game, The Inquirer has a recap and you can view a video of the complete game here.

District 12 Class Championships: Public League versus Catholic League

The Catholic and Public Leagues joined the PIAA in 2008. As such they have an opportunity to advance one team from three school classifications, based on size. On Friday, Nov. 1, the best team from the Public League in each size faces the best team from the Catholic League.

In the Public League the two semi-finalists were both 1A teams, Prep Charter and Philadelphia Academy Charter High School. The teams had tied in the regular season so they played again on Tuesday to see who would represent the Public League in Fridays District 12 1A Championship. PACHS was able to create a two goal lead going into the second half, but Prep pulled one back with twenty minutes left. Prep strove to play the ball to feet, and was able to move the ball downfield, but never found the equalizer.

At 3 pm on Friday, PACHS will face off with Conwell-Egan for the 1A D12 Championship. This promises to be a good contest, with PACHS finishing second in the Public League in the regular season, as opposed to Conwell-Egan’s tenth in the CL. Based on the respective strength of the leagues the two teams will be even.

At 5 pm, Franklin Towne Charter will vie with Lansdale Catholic for the D12 2A championship (for schools with between two hundred and four hundred boys enrolled). While Lansdale Catholic promises to be a beast, having powered through greats like Roman and LaSalle to reach the Catholic League final, FTC is a team that never says die and plays their heart out every time.

At 7 pm, Central will face Father Judge. In a non-league match in September, Judge fought hard in the second half to find two goals and beat Central 3-1. Central will be the underdog, but this team just knocked off the first and second finishers in the Public League to claim the championship.

All of the District 12 title games this Friday are at Northeast High School.