Camp Hill tops Quaker Valley in double overtime of PIAA Class 2A boys soccer title game

By: David Bohr
Friday, November 17, 2023 | 4:01 PM

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MECHANICSBURG — Quaker Valley held a lead in the PIAA Class 2A boys soccer final for 57 minutes, but in a game that would ultimately last 108 minutes, that was not enough.

Camp Hill scored in the eighth minute of the second overtime to defeat the Quakers, 2-1, for the third state championship in the Lions’ program history. Quaker Valley had been aiming for a 10th championship.

“We have very high expectations at our program,” Quaker coach J.J. Veshio said. “We have goals to win the district championship and the state championship. We came in second in both. I know there’s other programs where that would be the greatest thing they’ve ever done. It’s disappointing to us, but I’m still proud of what the boys did. Losing in overtime in the state final…only one team can come out on top.”

The winning goal for the Lions (21-2-2) was scored by Richard Lutkins on a corner, assisted by Jack Kennedy, who started the set play from the left side.

“It’s the back and forth, and it’s the cruelty of soccer that it’s not what happens in the back and forth but on those ultimate type of plays that decides who wins,” Veshio said.

In the extra periods, the Quakers (20-5) had more opportunities. There was a corner midway through the first overtime, a shot on frame by Bennett Haas in the opening seconds of the second overtime, and a header just high of the net by Matteo Castellini a minute later.

However, Quaker Valley only had a few chances overall, with two corners and five shots on net.

“You want to avoid that one little mistake that could cost you,” Veshio said.

That said, the Quakers were protecting the lead much of the game.

Nick Allan put the Quakers on the scoreboard early. With a free kick from 31 yards out, Allen put the ball on frame and above the reach of Camp Hill goalie Mac Sarff, settling it into the top right of the net. That put Quaker Valley ahead 1-0 just 3:50 into the contest.

For the remainder of the first half, the Quakers had more sustained opportunities, while the Lions had a few quick chances, but it remained 1-0 at the break. At the midway point of the half, Camp Hill got a touch in the box on a corner, but the tip went off to the left instead of on the net. Jack Karwoski had a line drive kick on net for the Quakers in the last five minutes of the half, but this time Sarff was in position and caught the ball in his midsection.

Camp Hill picked up the equalizer with 22:35 left in the second half. After a failed corner, the Lions swiped the ball away in the Quakers’ defensive third. Cole Nelson set up Ty Kirchoff with a cross to the left, and Kirchoff shot it back right to get it past Quaker Valley goalie Nathan Pribik to make it 1-1.

Quaker Valley had two good opportunities in the last 10 minutes to settle the issue in regulation.

With six minutes left, Allan took a free kick from right of the box. Tanner Schultz put a header on net, but Sarff punched the ball away from danger.

Two minutes later, Allan had another free kick, this from 25 yards out. Bennett Haas turned it into a header, but it flew wide of the left post.

Pribik had four saves, including one diving to his right, to keep the game going with 16 minutes left in the second overtime.

Camp Hill, which won championships in 2016 and 2017, had six shots on goal and four corners. Sarff had four saves.

Quaker Valley last won the state title in 2021 with a 1-0 (5-4 penalty kick) win over Lewisburg.

Tags: Quaker Valley