Throughout the scoreless struggle with Gonzaga in the WCAC quarterfinals, no one played better than the Cardinals' keeper, first team, all conference senior Andrew Perham (above).
When it was over, there was a momentary silence, with only jubilant white jerseyed players hugging. Fans as well as players seemed emotionally drained as the realization sunk in as to what had just happened. Gonzaga and Bishop Ireton struggled for 80 minutes of regulation play, 10 more of overtime with neither team finding the back of the net. Suddenly, in a quick flurry of penalty kicks, Gonzaga emerged with a 4-2 advantage, enough for a trip to the semifinals in the WCAC quarterfinal contest at Long Bridge Field in Arlington Tuesday.
The game was a struggle from the opening whistle until the final shot nestled in the back of the net. Gonzaga immediately pressed the offensive and opened the game with the Cardinals counterpunching in their own end, going minutes without the ball crossing midfield. Still the visitors maintained their poise, the Eagles had few good scoring chances and all conference goal keeper Andrew Perham patrolled the box early cleaning up everything. Bishop Ireton then pushed the ball into the home squad end, getting some openings, but also finding the Gonzaga defense a smothering one and open looks hard to come by. Halftime found the teams knotted at 0-0.
The second half began as the first half did, Gonzaga on the attack, this time getting more chances, but still Perham slammed the door on each opportunity and the Ireton defense shadowed the Eagle forwards relentlessly. The second-seeded Eagles had a golden opportunity when a direct kick just outside the box gave the Jesuit school a juicy opportunity, but the Cardinals “wall” knocked the kick to the corner. Shortly afterwards, Gonzaga had a flurry of activity deep in the Ireton box, one shot caroming off a Cardinal and the rebound rocketed toward the net only to see the lanky Ireton senior net minder shoot out a leg and rob the Eagles of a sure goal.
The Eagles continued to press but the Ireton team refused to fold and in the 66th minute the momentum seemed to turn as it was Ireton that became the hunter and developed scoring opportunities of their own, but no goals.
Overtime for the clubs seemed to fly by and the 5-minute sessions produced little in the way of scoring opportunities, bringing the marathon battle to a shoot out conclusion.
Freshman Austin Smith opened the penalty kick portion for Ireton with a nifty rocket low and to the keeper’s left corner of the goal. Gonzaga matched shot with a blast past Perham, Preston Haugh followed with another tally, again to the keeper’s left and low. With the Eagles alternating goalkeepers in the PK session, Thomas Keane and Tyler Olmstead, the Eagles’ goalies may have found a trend or simply been lucky. Junior Nick Ducceschi shot left and low and the sprawling Eagle keeper snared the kick. After Gonzaga converted their third kick, senior Spencer Amarantides looked to go low again for Ireton and again the keeper’s sprawling effort resulted in a save. Perham was in a perilous way at this point, the Cardinals would need saves on the final two Gonzaga shots while Ireton would need a pair of scores to send the PK round to a sixth shooter and possibly sudden victory. With the booming shot slamming into the net, the Cardinals’ WCAC hopes vanished in the titanic struggle. The teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the 80 minutes of regulation during their regular season encounter, each team scoring on a penalty. After 90 more minutes of play, neither team had solved the other in the tournament encounter in Arlington.
For the Cardinals (6-8-2) they take a breather before heading to Richmond as an 11th seed to play the 6th seeded St Christopher’s School at 3pm on Friday in the VISAA’s Division I boys soccer championship tournament. The Eagles (8-6-3) advance to the semifinals on Thursday when Coach Scott Waller’s charges will host WCAC Coach of the Year Matt Leiva and the PVI Panthers.
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