North Edges The Prep 1-0

BackDrop

What a great day yesterday was, mid 70s to low 80s, no humidity with plenty of sunshine. What a better way to spend it by watching North soccer take on a heavily regarded St. Joe’s Prep team. Last year, North was able to defeat the Prep by the scores of 2-1 in OT and 1-0 (at the death). This has been a contentious rivalry throughout the years and this year would be no exception. Both teams come into the game with a similar 1-0 record. The outcome of these games usually has a direct impact on seedings come playoff time.

First Course

As an appetizer to the main event, the JV team engaged the young Prepsters as the warm-up act. It was an old home coming of sorts, see the Prep is coached by Mr. Jack O’Neil and his son Anthony. Now Anthony went to the Prep and was an outstanding keeper during his tenure but Jack is a North man, through and through. North’s JV team is coached by Mr. Larry Sullivan. Larry, if you don’t know, is a North Soccer Hall of Famer, great player and equally great coach. He retired as coach of Villanova to take the freshman coaching job under his mentee, Mr. Jerry Brindisi. Jerry was Larry’s assistant during his time at Father Judge. Anyway, back to the point of reminiscing, Jack and Larry go way back, in fact they helped start Summerdale soccer back in the 70s which continued at FC Bayern that became what is now known as Lighthouse Soccer. Bragging rights this year go to Larry, as his squad defeated Jack’s team by the score of 3-0. While there was plenty of loud voices coming from both sidelines, when the game concluded all the coaches shook hands, laughed and talked about the next game, still friends and great role models to the boys.

The Main Event

The first half was sort of see-sawed match with each team taking control in short spurts. About the 5th minute a Prep forward latched onto a loose ball at the 18 and hit a surprising bullet ticketed to the far, high corner but Sr. Keeper, John McCarthy made a sensational save. In our opinion, John McCarthy is the best keeper in the area, bar none; in fact he has been for the past two years. A few minutes later, North's Ira Woodruff missed a great opportunity when he shot high from 12 after receiving a pass from Khristian Hall. Coach Brindisi substituted pretty liberally and was not hesitant to use some of his younger players. Kevin Lockhart, Justin Hiltwine and Austin Baranukas saw plenty of first half action. When North was able to collect the ball at midfield and play its passing style, the game looked easy as Prep looked to counter attack. The back line, anchored by Tyler Ward and Dan Venuto was outstanding in keepng the ball away from the net. After one period it was 0-0.

The second half looked very familiar to the first but North committed more players forward looking to press the action. This style of course, leads to counters and the Prep countered with a vengeance a few times. About 10 minutes into the half, a Prep forward, on a counter, was able to turn his defender at the penalty spot and hammer a shot that appeared to be in, but the cat quick McCarthy lunged and deflected it just wide of the near post. A Prep family standing a few feet from me were overheard rumbling, man that’s All Catholic there. I would tell you that save was “all world.” This save seem to take some steam out of the Prep while energizing us. About 20 minutes or so later into the final stanza, North was able to gain control at midfield. As Hank Stramm, legendary coach of the Kansas City Chiefs once said "we matriculated the ball down the field." At the end of the possession, near the top of the box, North played a sweet tic-tac-toe possession between Hall, Woodruff onto the foot of All-Catholic Juan Pablo Martinez. Pablo moved from his left to right and nailed a shot from 18 where all the Prep keeper could do was have it hit off his fingertips into the near corner.

For the final 20 minutes, North was able to keep pushing men forward to force Prep to defend more than attack. When they did attack, Ward, Venuto, Baranukas and Sr. Mark Brown were equal to any chance Prep initiated.

Final score, North 1, Prep 0.

Rumblings and Grumblings

While we have been contemplating PSL for all our games (personal seat license) for some time, we decided again to forego it on behalf of our loyal followers and they are many. Spotted at the game, as usual, were certifiable “SuperFans” and you know who they are: Ed White, Tim Murphy and Mike Ferris. Accompanying these fine men was none other that Kevin Murphy’s dad, Bob. There were other die hard fans there as well that want to attain the status of Super Fan but have to put a little more time to it. One that comes to mind is Mike Ritchie. Mike is such a soccer nut; he arrived at 3:30 for our game that didn’t start until 5. Not sure if he was mowing the grass or lining the field but it was a good 30 minutes before the team got there for warm-ups. While he could not stay for the entire game, some excuse about parent/teacher conference, he did want to be texted with an update and results. As I hope all of you know, you can follow updates when Mike Ferris is there through Twitter and this website.

Another sighting was our Athletic Director Paul Dixon, while arriving fashionable late for the game, he saw it to its conclusion. He was perched along the fence, near the south end of the field. Hey Paul, we need a bus for Sunday! Finally, my classmate (75), Mike Quinn was spotted rooting for his Falcons.

While the games were going on, I couldn’t help but notice both of Ryan’s Varsity and JV football teams practicing. In remembering Mike Ferris’s commentary, I have to tell you that I felt tall next to them, not sure what is not in the water up in northeast Philadelphia these days.

Finally, you hear me rave about George Todt Memorial Field all the time but sometimes the accessories of the field are not on par with the field. Any criticism that is offered is constructive of course and when it comes from a Super Fan it comes with some standing. Tim Murphy was overhead complaining about an undercooked hotdog and sauerkraut that he bought at the concession stand at the field. Tim knows his dogs by golly.

Next up is a visit to O'Hara this Friday (9/18) at 3:30 PM for the Varsity, JV starts at 5.

On Sunday, North travels to Newark, NJ to take on the Nationally Ranked, St. Benedict's Prep at New Jersey Institute of Tecnology. Game time is 4 PM.