Bishop Ireton gave eventual 2014 champions, DeMatha, all they could handle for 60 of the game’s 80 minutes, but in the end, it was the defending WCAC champions who prevailed over the 4th-seeded Cardinals 3-0 in Hyattsville on Thursday in the WCAC boys’ soccer semifinals.
After a scoreless first half, the clubs continued a relentless up-and-down pace with the Cardinals equal to the Stags as the game wore on. It was a long blast, perhaps screening Matt Poling, from DeMatha’s Molina that gave the home team a 1-0 advantage. Another long shot to the upper corner in the 66th minute made it 2-0.
Bishop Ireton threw everyone at the Stags in a desperate attempt to get back in the contest and, as is often the case, the pressure in the offensive end leaves the defensive zone more vulnerable. The white-jerseyed hosts capitalized on the opportunity and added a late insurance marker to push the margin to the eventual 3-0 final.
Fortunately for the Cardinals, the disappointment of that setback Thursday was tempered by a chance the next day to advance in the VISAA’s Division I first round of the soccer championships when they played host to St Anne’s Belfield, a 5 versus 12 matchup.
The Cardinals were ready for the Charlottesville visitors and Joey Faddoul and Nick Ducesschi scored in the opening 15 minutes of the contest. Ducesschi would score the second of three on the day before the half ended, and Ireton went to intermission up 3-0.
The second act of this play was evenly contested, Ducesschi making a nifty dribble move to deke the goalkeeper on a breakaway enroute to a “layup” for his third score of the day and the Cardinals advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win.
The fifth-seeded redbirds earned a rematch with WCAC rival, 4th seeded Paul VI, Monday at 6:30 pm at Panther Field. The Panthers outlasted Ireton 4-3 in the season’s final regular season contest at Witter Drive field. The game seesawed back and forth during periods of rain before the Panthers scored three straight to pull away. Admission to the VISAA quarterfinal is $5/person. Winner advances to Sportsbacker Stadium in Richmond for semifinal action on Wednesday. Semifinal and finals are in Richmond and admission is $10 per person.