Council Rock North, the winners of the AAA state quarterfinal, followed their shirtless hero, Steve Miller, around Bethlehem-Liberty s stadium after he headed a throw-in past Valley West keeper Albert Clocker with 3:06 remaining in the second overtime period. Meanwhile, some of the Spartans pulled their shirts over their heads. The loss left them hungry.
But in a way, it was enough to chew for their coach, Ted Tsioles. It was an overtime game, we were there, close, Tsioles said. We re talking quarterfinals in the states.
We played there to the last minute, it s satisfying to me. Though somewhat bittersweet for the coach whose career now ends after 20 years at the helm. He s leaving to be able to spend more time with his family, though he ll still attend Valley West games next season.
Early on in this game, though, it looked like he d leave on a sour note. I thought after the first five minutes, it would be an embarrassment, Tsioles said. In those first five minutes, North s Jake Fields snuck a cross past Clocker.
It wouldn t be until the first five minutes of the second half that Valley West tied it. Joe Schmid sent a corner kick into the middle, where Matt Cecconi was there to head it in. But they were fortunate to get even that one.
As the Indians forwards constantly pressured the Spartans defense, their defense made it impossible for Valley West to get quality looks. It was like they were working directly against the grain, because nothing came smoothly. The Spartans spent a lot of time trying to clear the ball, especially in overtime, when it rarely left their own zone.
Council Rock got off 25 shots to Valley West s 10 and hounded Clocker, who Tsioles said played an outstanding goal. Their forwards put so much pressure on our defense. We played in their style of game, Tsioles said.
We just didn t keep the ball on the field enough. Not that it would have made a difference against the Indians swift backline, which stifled the Spartans trio of scorers. The McGuiness brothers and cousin Schmid comprised the top three of the Wyoming Valley Conference s scoring leaderboard, but were shut down yesterday.
The Spartans tried to set up Rob McGuiness as he penetrated Council Rock s four-man backline. Numerous times he sent the ball back to a teammate, hoping to get a through ball past the Indians defense. But the Indians routinely closed the gaps and neutralized the threat.
Every time the ball was sent to me the defenders were real quick, they d step in front. The only chances I had I tried to do the best. It didn t happen, McGuiness said.
Nor did the penalty kick shootout the Spartans wanted to happen. As each minute went by, the mismatch between the teams increased. Valley West s size disadvantage wore them out as they competed against a bigger team.
Miller actually described his teammate, C.J. Price, as a rhino.
But Council Rock had the speed and skill to match its size. McGuiness said that forced the Spartans to play more physically and drained them further. During a stoppage of play with 5:32 left in the second overtime, the Spartans looked for water.
All they found was a coach in disbelief that his team used up every one of the 50 bottles it brought. Miller said Valley West s skill negated their need for size, but the Spartans could have used it. Their quest to get to penalty kicks resembled a hang-on-for-dear-life style of play in each of the overtimes.
A couple times they almost lost their grip. In the first overtime, Clocker kept a Council Rock shot from going in by inches. On a separate play, Cecconi kicked the ball out of the box after it got by Clocker.
But they couldn t quite hold on. We were still thinking maybe it was a one play game, Tsioles said. We were thinking shootout.
We didn t want to go to penalty kicks against this team, Miller said. Anything can happen. But as Miller took his teammate s throw-in and flicked it in, he ensured that it didn t.
It was just amazing, Miller said. It was in the back of the net before I knew it. But the Spartans knew it, one by one, as their lifeless, listless, maroon bodies dropped to the ground.
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