PHOTOS: Late goal off counterattack sinks Wildwood Catholic in South Jersey semifinal

Posted: November 12th 2024

Wildwood Catholic center back Chris Papageorgiou slide tackles the ball away from a Princeton Day forward in the first half.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

STONE HARBOR – The Wildwood Catholic Academy boys soccer team earned a dangerous chance when it was awarded a free kick about 15 yards outside the penalty area with less than 15 minutes to play in Tuesday’s South Jersey Non-Public B semifinal against Princeton Day School.

Only a few seconds after the free kick was taken, however, Princeton Day scored.

Princeton Day goalkeeper Oren Yakoby gathered the ball after the free kick was flicked toward him. A stiff wind at his back, Yakoby quickly punted the ball downfield. Teammate Mark Nahas got in behind the defense, ran down the ball and punched it inside the left post for the only goal as the Panthers edged Wildwood Catholic, 1-0, to advance to the South Jersey title game.

“We just kept making too many mistakes and we knew it was going to cost us eventually,” Wildwood Catholic coach Tommy Bolle said. “Our heads just weren’t in the game for some reason. You have to show up and you have to perform and when you don’t, this is what happens.”

For Princeton Day (8-13), the sixth seed in the tournament, the victory was its second of the tournament over a higher seed. The Panthers had beaten No. 3 Doane Academy one round earlier. They’ll play at top-seeded Moorestown Friends for the sectional title. Moorestown Friends won its semifinal matchup over No. 5 Ranney, 5-2.

Princeton Day enjoyed more chances throughout Tuesday’s game, but Wildwood Catholic goalkeeper Keynan Alston made some critical stops in the first half and the early stages of the second. 

Despite its overall lack of dangerous opportunities, No. 2 Wildwood Catholic had an opportunity to take the lead on a penalty kick midway through the second half after Calvin Kiker was fouled by Yakoby after Yakoby bungled a clearing attempt. But the spot kick missed the target and Princeton Day eventually got the winner seven minutes later.

Wildwood Catholic finishes at 15-5-1 and as an undefeated champion of the Cape-Atlantic United Conference. That’s just two seasons removed from a two-win campaign during which Wildwood Catholic at times struggled to have available substitutes due to low numbers.

The Crusaders advanced to the sectional semifinal round for the first time since 2016.

“Looking at where this program was not too long ago, we can’t be anything but happy with what we were able to do this year,” Bolle said. “We had some goals we set out to accomplish. We accomplished a few of them, not all of them, but overall I’m really happy with the season we put together and the guys should be proud of it, too.”

Wildwood Catholic loses key seniors Chase Adams, Ted Woolery, Gonzalo Gonzalez, Chase Critchfield, Christian Sorensen and Alston to graduation. But with players such as Kiker, Chris Papageorgiou, Nick Catanoso and Charlie Flickinger returning, the Crusaders hope to remain competitive. They could, however, be moving up to the more talented CAL National Conference for the 2025 season.

“I think we’re in a good spot going forward,” Bolle said. “We’re probably going to move up into a harder division next year and that’s exciting. We’re looking forward to that. We’re going to lose a lot of key guys. It’s hard losing seniors but I’m really excited to see what we can do next year.”