LITITZ – Just about a year ago, the Great Valley boys’ soccer squad advanced all the way to the PIAA Tournament Semifinals. Nobody at the time knew that Patriots’ head coach Dave Moffett was eventually going to retire from coaching about eight months later.
And due to a large and deep senior class, just seven players from that team would return in 2025 for new head coach Bern McCauley. But the Pats kept improving during the season, and despite falling to Ches-Mont rival West Chester Henderson in the district quarterfinal, Great Valley earned its way back to states with back-to-back come-from-behind wins against Lower Merion and Downingtown West in playbacks.
One of just 16 4A teams in the state to make the field, the Patriots’ unlikely postseason run this time came to an end Tuesday evening in a 1-0 tussle at Warwick, the District 3 champion.
“I am so proud of the effort the boys put in,” McCauley said. “We have nothing to hang our head about.
“Coming back after a heartbreaking loss to (West Chester) Henderson, going down 2-0 to Lower Merion and coming back, and then coming back from 1-0 to Downingtown West and winning in PKs, it showed this team’s resiliency. And then tonight, for a large chunk of the game to be on the front foot and to have (Warwick) score an unbelievable goal to knock us out is tough.”
The fifth-seed from District 1, Great Valley’s final record is 16-6-2. Warwick (19-2-1) advances to the state quarterfinals to play the McDowell-Seneca Valley winner on Saturday.
“We only had seven or eight guys returning from last season,” said McCauley, who was Moffett’s top assistant. “Those guys helped teach the younger guys about the playoffs. The last few weeks the rest of the guys grew into it. Warwick was in the state semis last year as well, and their experience showed.”
The final stats are indicative of a tight, defensive battle. The Warriors had a 2-1 edge in corner kicks, but the Pats had a two-to-one advantage in shots on goal (10-5). There were a total of three prime scoring chances overall: Great Valley was unable to finish off its two, but junior Antonio Vega capitalized on Warwick’s one and only.
“It was a phenomenal goal by (Warwick),” McCauley said. “We knew we would have to stay organized defensively, and we did. We didn’t give them many looks.”
Midway through the second half, Vega let loose with a blast from 30-plus-yards that found its way into the upper right corner of the cage. It culminated a stretch where the Warriors had the Pats on their heels.
“For a while (Warwick) had us pushed back but then we sort of slowly regained the chances,” McCauley pointed out.
“One tremendous shot by (Warwick) was the difference. That’s playoff soccer.”
Great Valley just missed a great chance to tie it when sophomore midfielder Nico Ulloa unleashed a laser that Warwick keeper Isaac Yerger got a piece of and it deflected up and off the crossbar. Ironically, the Patriots had a similar play in the first half when Yerger misdirected a header by senior forward Vini Riccomi that also bounced off the crossbar.
“Reece (Bredickas) crossed it in, I looked up and kind of lost it in the lights, but then I saw the ball and I was kind of by myself,” Riccomi explained. “I headed it and saw the goalkeeper get a hand on it. I thought it was going to squeeze by, but it hit the crossbar and bounced out.
“The (Warwick) goalkeeper made two great saves – there is nothing you can do about that.”
And even though McCauley’s squad kept up the pressure after the save on Ulloa, Great Valley never had another prime opportunity.
“I thought we dominated much of the way against a very good opponent. (Warwick) got one chance and they scored it,” said Miguel Buitrago, a senior defender and captain.
“(Warwick’s) keeper stole two from us,” McCauley added. “We got Vini (Riccomi’s) header going into the top corner and he gets a hand on it and it touches off the bar. And then in the second half Nico (Ulloa) picks off a pass and hits another one top corner and (Yerger) hits that one off the bar.”
In the opening 40 minutes, the Patriots worked for half a dozen shots on goal. Warwick didn’t notch its first until the final minute of the first half. But after 80 minutes, another memorable season came to a close for Great Valley.
“(Dave) Moffett stepping down definitely shook everything up,” Riccomi said. “We had to deal with a change with the head coach, a change in formation – but everybody bought into what we wanted to do to be successful.”
Buitrago agreed: “We remember what happened last season and that just made us want it more this year.
“I’m very proud of this team. We had high expectations coming out of last season. Getting back to states and being able to compete – I’m grateful for that.”
Warwick 1, Great Valley 0
Great Valley 0 0 – 0
Warwick 0 1 – 1
Warwick goal: Vega.
Goalie saves: Fajardo Castro (GV) 4; Yerger (W) 10.
Source: Berkshire mont
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