The Fleetwood will play for another boys soccer championship this season after cruising to a 4-0 victory over Trinity in a District 3 Class 2A semifinal Tuesday at Fleetwood.
The Tigers (21-1) won the Berks championship earlier in October with a 2-0 win over Conrad Weiser and now has their sights set on taking down second-seeded Camp Hill and winning their second straight district title — and 15th overall — on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Valley’s Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg. The Lions (17-1-2) defeated sixth-seeded Oley Valley 2-1 on Tuesday in the other semifinal.
“I think that the guys are very motivated and they want to succeed,” said Tigers coach Keith Schlegel, whose team also clinched a berth in the PIAA playoffs. “They work really well together, so we’re going full steam right now and it’s good.”
Full steam indeed. Top-seeded Fleetwood recorded 14 shots in the first half and controlled possession with ease while not allowing the fourth-seeded Shamrocks (12-6-1) to get a single shot off.
Senior William Maurek broke through for the only goal of the first half with 22:53 remaining off an assist from sophomore Logan DeLillo.
DeLillo slotted a through ball to Maurek around the left side edge of the Trinity defense and Maurek buried the shot around goalie Kieran Finegan, who was running off his line to try and stop the breakaway.
“With how we were at practice yesterday (Monday) I just knew this was gonna be a fun game and we played so well in the first 20 minutes; everyone knew what to do,” Maurek said. “It feels really, really good that we qualified for states and we’re in the final.”
In the second half, Fleetwood’s offensive pressure continued and became more lucrative as efficient passing gave way to clearer opportunities on goal.
Three players scored in the second half.
Junior Justin Hartline gave Fleetwood a 2-0 lead on a goal off an assist by sophomore Mason Senna with 24:55 remaining. Senior Joseph Avila scored on a shot from more than 20 yards out moments later, and a goal from sophomore Ryan Adamo off an assist from junior Davin Millisock with 10:46 left closed the scoring.
“We had to move the ball quickly,” Schlegel said. “They didn’t want us to go through the middle and we were on the edges. We got a lot of chances and took a lot of shots in the first half that were too far out. But finally we started getting the ball around the edges and putting some good crosses low and hard and responding with some goals. So it was good and it took some pressure off when we scored the second goal a little bit.”
Trinity recorded two shots in the second half and Finegan finished with 16 saves.
For Maurek, Fleetwood’s explosive offense is the result of years spent learning the game together and becoming a cohesive unit.
“A lot of us grew up with each other, and the passing and the making runs with everyone together is definitely a bond that Fleetwood holds,” Maurek said. “We teach the young every single day to just go in the backyard, come here whenever you can to touch the ball and pass around, and you’ll play soccer like we just did.”
Last season, the Tigers defeated Lancaster Catholic in the final 2-1 before falling in the PIAA quarterfinals to Emmaus. With another chance to add to an already accomplished season, Fleetwood is staying focused and motivated.
“It definitely feels amazing,” Maurek said. “Last year, it was crazy to get in the final and this year we’re ready that’s for sure.”
“I just hope we keep focused and we give give ourselves a great chance to win a district championship,” Schlegel said.
Source: Berkshire mont
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