KINGSTON – It’s supposed to be hard to beat the same team three consecutive times in the same season.
Don’t tell that to the Wyoming Seminary boys soccer team.
For the second time this week, the Blue Knights defeated an opponent for a third straight time as they knocked off visiting Wyoming Area on Friday at Nesbitt Stadium, 1-0, to claim the District 2 Class 2A boys soccer championship. This coming after the team defeated Lake-Lehman just three days ago for the third time this season.
“People say it’s a very difficult task,” Sem coach Aaron Littzi said. “We’re just very blessed to be able to do that twice in the same week.”
Just like the victory earlier in the week against the Black Knights, Reggie Grayek connected on a huge free kick for the Blue Knights. On Friday night, it wasn’t a 40-yard boom like a few days prior. It was only about 20 yards away. But it was from near the right corner of the 18-yard box and the senior somehow managed to bend it around the wall and past Wyoming Area keeper Adam Wisnewski into the left part of the net with 19:24 left in the contest for the only score of the game.
The Blue Knights, who won the district title for the second straight season and for the fourth time in the last six years, advance to the state tournament and will play the District 4 champion on Tuesday at a D4 site with a time to be announced. Wyoming Area, which was playing in the district title for the first time in school history, finished 14-5-1.
The Warriors had plenty of opportunities, but fell short on their six shots on goal. They had three free kicks in the game, with the best chance being a 22-yarder midway through the second half, before Grayek’s goal. But the shot was just wide of the net. Wyoming Area also put a ton of pressure on the Blue Knights defense in the opening minutes and the closing minutes of the second half. But the team only managed a few shots on goal as Sem defenders were there most of the time to clear the ball.
The Blue Knights had the game’s first opportunity and shot on goal 11 minutes into the contest. It came off a boot from Grayek, but a Warriors defender got a piece of it just enough for it to sail over the goal.
Wyoming Area’s first good chance came 13 minutes in and was off a free kick from about 40 yards away. The ball didn’t quite make it all the way to the goal. But it set up a header opportunity that was defended by the Blue Knights defense.
Wyoming Seminary had the advantage in shots, 11-6, and corner kicks, 5-1.
Wyoming Area 1
Scranton Prep 0
SCRANTON – Defender Gavin Lahart lined in a 25-yard direct kick with 17:07 remaining Monday and Wyoming Area held off host Scranton Prep in the furious final six minutes for the District 2 semifinal victory.
Wyoming Area, which began boys soccer in 1990, made the final for the first time in school history.
Lahart often takes restarts for Wyoming Area because of his strong and accurate shooting. He lined the attempt over the Scranton Prep wall and into the upper left corner of the goal. Cavaliers goalkeeper Colin Legg lunged, but could not get to the precisely placed shot.
“We’ve been working with him on his free kicks,” Wyoming Area coach Rick Branco said. “As soon as we saw that setup, we knew he was going to put it away.”
The game, however, was far from being put away. Scranton Prep attacked relentlessly in search of a tying goal. The Cavaliers nearly got it with just under six minutes to play.
Scranton Prep’s D’Apollonio won a race with Wyoming Area keeper Adam Wisnewski for a bouncing ball near the 18-yard line, but the shot D’Apollonio chipped over Wisnewski missed to the right of the goal.
The Cavaliers were called for a push during a wild battle for the ball near the 6-yard line with two minutes left.
Wisnewski, who finished with seven saves, briefly lost control while saving the final shot, Chris Penetar’s attempt from about 20 yards out with 20 seconds left.
“We were just trying to hold it down for as long as we could,” Lahart said. “We knew we had to clear and we were just trying to defend.
“I was looking at the clock every 30 seconds, trying to get that triple zero.”
Scranton Prep is coached by former Pittston Area boys and girls coach Sean Curry.
