Vana goal lifts St. John’s Prep into the title game
WOBURN >> Ever since his childhood days, Jake Vana has dreamed of winning championships in three different sports.
The St. John’s Prep athlete has already carried the Eagles to state titles in lacrosse and hockey during his tenure. Thanks to his latest heroics, the junior will now have an opportunity to accomplish his seemingly impossible goal.
Vana sniped the eventual game-winning goal Wednesday, as third-seeded St. John’s Prep punched a ticket to the Div. 1 boys soccer finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over No. 2 St. John’s (Shrewsbury) at Connolly Memorial Stadium in Woburn.
“It feels amazing,” St. John’s Prep senior defensive back Will Minor said. “It’s everything I’ve ever wished for. We’ve come a long way this season. I think everyone’s had the same goal on their mind since the first day of practice, the first day of summer conditioning. We’ve all wanted to go to the state championship and win. To come out here and win this tough semifinal match, it’s really important to us. It’s special to me.”
This entire season has been a revival for St. John’s Prep, with plenty of fantastic accomplishments along the way. The win didn’t simply come against a bitter Catholic Conference foe, it also clinched the first trip to a state final for the Eagles since 2006.
St. John’s Prep and St. John’s (Shrewsbury) battled twice during the regular season, a series that featured a 1-1 draw on Sept. 20, followed by a 1-0 win for the Eagles on Oct. 13. Most were expecting a nail-biter, and they were treated to one throughout the evening.
After corralling a pass in the 26th minute, Vana uncorked a shot at the Pioneers’ net, but the attempt was deflected by St. John’s (S) goaltender James Benestad. However, the senior was unable to gain possession. The rebound then skipped off a defender and back to Vana. The junior didn’t miss his second chance, as he fired a rocket off the foot of a defensive back and into the twine to put St. John’s Prep ahead, 1-0.
“He just steps up in the big moments,” St. John’s Prep coach Dave Crowell said of Vana. “Last year in the semifinal against Brookline, we lost in double overtime, but he had the goal.
So, he’s just a special kid.”
While the Pioneers (183-1) challenged in the second half by ramping up the pressure, they simply couldn’t put a shot past St. John’s Prep goalkeeper Ioannis Andrikopoulos, who completed the shutout for the Eagles.
The win sets up a Div. 1 championship bout between the Eagles and topseeded Needham. The last time the programs met on Oct. 8, St. John’s Prep registered a 4-0 victory.
Vana hopes he and his teammates can finish the job Saturday at Manning Field.
“That’s been the goal since I was a little kid,” said Vana. “My uncles went here, lot of cousins went here. Been playing three sports, and it’s always been the goal to win three. So, fortunately enough I have an amazing team, and we have an opportunity to do that. We’ve got one shot at it.”