Experience the key for Council Rock South
BucksLocalSports Editor There’s no accounting for experience – though in the case of the Council Rock South boys soccer team, maybe there is.
After finishing third in the league last year, the senior laden Golden Hawks went out onto their home field Friday, Sept. 28 and dismantled SOL National Conference rival Abington, this time by a 4-1 score pushing CR South to 7-1 in the league, 8-2 overall on the season.
Three of the goals in the home contest were registered by seniors. Midfielder Julien Antal tallied two strikes, senior Dalton Ford had one and junior Dan hockett had the other as the Hawks outpaced the Galloping Ghosts (7-3, 5-3 SOL) for the second time this season. South (now 12-4-1, 9-3-1 SOL) edged Abington 2-1 earlier in the 2012 campaign.
In addition to Antal, who is the team’s top scorer, the Hawks are led by goalkeeper Tyler Caffey, center-back Mike Stuski and center-mid Chris Spadaro.
“You look at us right down the middle and we’re senior-heavy,” said CR South coach Alan Nicholl. “When you look for leadership – goalkeeper, centerback, center-mid, I don’t know if it gets any better than that.”
“You can really see that leadership in them emerge. The excitement is really driving them; that’s why we’re having a lot of success.”
What’s more, the unit has jelled into a well-oiled machine, one that has the back of the next guy down the line. Late in the war with the Ghosts, Abington was pressing hard. A forward for the Ghosts brought the ball into the box, forcing Caffey to commit. When the Abington player slide the ball past the keeper, he probably thought it was in the back of the net.
It wasn’t, booted out of harm’s way by senior backfielder Alex Wolf.
“He jumped it and
he wound up in the right place at the right time,” explained Nicholl. “People say that’s lucky but it’s not. You have to be a second or two ahead. It was that advantage that enabled him to jump the play.”
“Again, as a senior player, we come to expect that.”
“I knew I had defenders back there that are gonna work for me,” said Caffey. “All the shutouts that we have, they’re not entirely me at all. It’s intense hard work from the defense the whole 80 minutes.”
The Hawks possess shutout victories over Neshaminy, William Tennent, CR North, Pennsbury and Truman. Caffey attributes South’s success to hard work and team unity.
“We have a quality that not a lot of teams have. We can flick a switch and we’re in the game and we’re dominating.”
Ahead, 1-0, at the half on Antal’s first strike, the Hawks took control with the senior’s second goal in the 52nd minute and one by Ford three minutes later.
The Ghosts finally got on the board in the 62nd minute when Danny Sheppard reached the back of the net off a feed from hofi Appianing.
“We let up a little when it was three-nothing; we kinda held back,” said Caffey. “Once they scored, we flicked the switch on again.”
Seven minutes after Abington’s lone goal, South got it back on a goal by hockett off a feed from Spadaro, who contributed a pair of helpers in the con-
test.
Antal (6 goals) and Spadaro make sure the ball is headed in the right direction for South.
“You can pretty much put [Antal] anywhere on the field and he’s going to be great in that spot,” said Nicholl. “ee’s a good, physical specimen, a big boy who plays big.
“ee’s just bulging with confidence right now.
“The more success we have, the more that confi- dence is growing and that makes him a dangerous player.” The coach on Spadaro: “ee anticipates the play before it happens. ee’s got great technique. ee’s got two good feet and he’s a strong player because he’s so technically advanced.
“When you play against somebody like that he’s very difficult to defend.
That’s not to say the eawks haven’t gotten contributions from some of their youngsters. Already, sophomore forward Jake Shefsky has tallied five goals.
“For a young player to have that kind of success on a senior-heavy team is great,” said Nicholl.
The coach likes the position in which his team sits.
“The more success they’re having, it kind of builds on itself,” said Nicholl.
“They’re at the point now where they’re expecting to score. It’s a great position for me to be in as a coach. I dedicate myself to reinforcing that success.”
Abington entered the match at 5-2 in the SONL and could have gained a share of first place. Now, the eawks are two games ahead of the dhosts, who have duels remaining with Neshaminy and Pennsbury and are fighting for a berth in the upcoming District One playoffs.
From here out, every win Abington records is double the power points for South.
*** NOTbS: The eawks recently battled SONL champ Neshaminy to a scoreless tie in double OT but lost 1-0 to Tennent in regulation.