Winchester Thurston edges defending champ for title

HERSHEY, Pa. — Oliver Daboo swore off chocolate before the playoffs with the promise that he would only eat it after Winchester Thurstonwon the state title.

Consideringthat Chocolate World is only a stone’s throw away from Hersheypark Stadium, the Bears junior defender now can indulge his chocolate fantasies to his heart’scontent.

Daboo scored the only goal of the match on a shot from about 15 yards with 8:06 remaining in overtime to give Winchester Thurston (22-0-1) a 1-0 victory over defending champion Faith Christian (183-0)to capture the school’s first PIAAClass 1A title.

“I know it was a mad scramble in the box and it might have even been a handball on them,” Daboo said. “The ball just got cleared right tome. It couldn’t have been set up any better and, luckily, it wentin.”

Daboo walked off the pitch with the five-pound Hershey’s bar the PIAA gives to the winners. It’s unclear whether or not he plans to give any of it to histeammates.

“Afterthe semis, somebody from school gave us a big Hershey bar and … Oliver had it close and had a sniff and said he was going to wait,” Winchester Thurston coach Adam Brownold said. “He might not share that bar with anybodyelse.”

Hitting the game-winner made up for a missed opportunityearlier in the match.

Junior forward Alex Hauskrecht, the WPIAL Class 1A player of the year, got a wide-open opportunity from about5 yards and got a shot off that beat Faith Christian goalkeeper J.R. Roberts. But the ball hit off the right post and bouncedback out into the box.

Winchester Thurston got a second chance when Daboo corralled the rebound off the post. But his chip-in attempt from point-blank range clanged off the crossbar with 35:26 remaining in regulation and the match remained scoreless.

Not to be outdone, Faith Christian flubbed an easy one as well with 24:41 remaining inthe second half.

Lions midfielder Marcus Pringle threw a perfect pass fromthe right sideline into the box, where Kieran Rea had an open net to work with. Rea got a foot on the ball, but it went straight up off the crossbar andout of harm’s way.

That was how it stayed until Daboo sent the game-winneracross the goal line.

“The one off the crossbar was tough and I thought we were going to score that one, too,” Daboo said. “Obviously they had a couple as well, so it sortof evened out, but nothing is going to beat that feeling of scoringthat goal.”