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By Neil Geoghegan
ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com
@NeilMGeoghegan on Twitter
MECHANICSBURG >> Like trying to name a favorite child, it is very difficult for head coach Dave Zimmerman to single out any of his favorite soccer teams at Conestoga. And when you orchestrate as many state boys’ championships as he has, it makes the task even more challenging.
Zimmerman and his Pioneers did it again Friday evening with a come-from-behind 2-1 double overtime win over upset-minded Central Bucks South to cap off an unbeaten season and capture the PIAA Class 4A State Title in an all-District 1 contest.
“It was an epic game,” Zimmerman said. “A couple times, as the game was going on, I couldn’t help but think ‘overtime in the state championship — whoever scores the winner is going to be an instant legend.’”
It wound up being senior midfielder Ryan Zellefrow, who notched the game-winner midway through the second OT on a direct kick from about 23 yards out. It was an emotional odyssey for Zellefrow, who grew up in the Tredyfrin-Easttown School District but moved to the Portland, Ore., area before returning for his senior season.
“It is an amazing feeling to win one last game with my buddies,” he said.
The 2023 campaign just may be the crowning achievement for ’Stoga’s soccer program and Zimmerman, who has been at the helm for 22 seasons. At Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg, the Pioneers concluded a near perfect run over the last three months with the most difficult, yet most satisfying, triumph of them all.
“When you have to struggle and fight and scratch and claw, the win is sweeter. It’s all kind of mind blowing,” Zimmerman said.
“It is very hard to go wire-to-wire. The game of soccer is so low scoring and sometimes there are games where you dominate and somehow lose. We managed to avoid that.”
The final record of 24-0-1 included 17 shutout wins, the defense surrendered a total of nine goals, and the team’s legendary depth resulted in Conestoga outscoring all eight postseason opponents 14-1 in the second half.
“This team is ranked No. 2 in the country,” Zimmerman pointed out. “That’s the highest we’ve ever been ranked by U.S. Soccer Coaches Association.”
And Friday’s outcome was also an historic milestone: no large school in the state owns six state boys’ soccer crowns, except for ’Stoga. Zimmerman’s program was tied with two others at five all-time heading into 2023.
“For me it’s all about leaving a legacy,” said senior goaltender Ryan Carella. “I want this team to be talked about for the next 10 years and beyond.”
It is Conestoga’s second state championship since 2021, and the fifth overall under Zimmerman dating back to 2011. That means that the Pioneers have reigned over Pennsylvania’s largest enrollment programs in five of the last 13 state boys’ soccer tournaments.
“There are high expectations, so for me this is more of a relief than anything,” Zimmerman said. “That happens when, almost at a certain point, nothing but a state championship will do.
“We are fortunate to have good players consistently. And we kind of have a formula for how we play and we try to win. And it’s been working.”
In what was a magical season, the only blemish – if you could call it that – was a scoreless tie in the regular season finale at Radnor. It’s important to keep in mind that the Pioneers did it all this fall against many of the best teams in the state, starting with a title in the Central League — perhaps the best in the state.
Then came a District 1 crown — which is almost certainly the best in the state — and then finished off the three-pronged championship resume by outscoring four of the top 16 teams in the PIAA Tournament by a combined 10-1.
“This has to be our toughest game this season,” said senior Brady Costin, who scored a huge equalizing goal in the second half. “We’ve been down two times this season, and it was in the district final and at the state final. It shows you something about the heart of this team.”
Scoreless at the half, the Titans (19-6-2 overall) drew first blood by scoring on their first, and only, corner kick of the contest. It came about six minutes into the second half off a header from sophomore midfielder Josh Dozier. It marked the first time ’Stoga trailed in the second half of any game all season.
From that point, with each tick of the clock, the Titans built momentum, while more and more pressure was foisted on the backs of the Pioneers.
“Of course, you start to worry,” Zimmerman acknowledged. “We shifted into a 3-5-2 and that made all of the difference. We were able to get the ball more in (CB South’s) half of the field.”
It paid off with 18:39 left in regulation. Costin took the second of two straight corner kicks and bent it into the top far post unassisted.
“That was very lucky,” Costin admitted. “The corners to the front post weren’t working that well so my coaches said to try hitting it to the back post. That’s what I was aiming for. I have never done that before.”
Conestoga’s leading scorer, senior Kole Wintersteen, had four quality chances to end it in a frenzied five minute stretch of the first overtime, but was thwarted each time. But in the second OT, senior midfielder Westin Fryberger was taken down and a direct kick was awarded to the Pioneers with 9:39 on the clock.
That’s when Zellefrow stepped up and let loose.
“I’m just thinking up and over,” he recalled. “Before every game I take a couple practice kicks for moments like that.
“Without a doubt, it was the biggest goal of my life. It has to be.”
Zimmerman added: “Ryan is our most talented player, far and away, and what he did was special. For him to step up and drill that shot, it was legendary.”
It was also a fairytale ending for 17 seniors, who become the most accomplished class in program history.
“There is a big buy-in,” Zimmerman said. “Last year we had just two seniors, and we lost in the semifinal round. I think our mantra was ‘unfinished business,’ and these guys got a second crack at it.
‘There was a great determination, that’s really been there from the very beginning, to finish the job.”
Ironically, CB South’s second-year head coach, Kyle Pettican, played soccer for ‘Stoga a decade ago and helped the Pioneers win the 2011 state crown, which was the first under Zimmerman.
“I know Conestoga — I went through it,” Pettican said. “They are just spoiled with a lot of talent.
“Our boys really believed. Conestoga is fighting for state titles every single year. I took over this program two years ago and they had only been to the state tournament once and had never won a game at states.
“So just to be here, and to take the best program in the state to double overtime, I think it says wonders.”
Conestoga 2, Central Bucks West 1 (2 OT)
Central Bucks South 1 0 0 0 — 1
Conestoga 0 1 0 1 — 2
Central Bucks South goal: Dozier.
Conestoga goals: Costin, Zellefrow.
Goalie saves: VanLuvanee (CBS) 12; Carella 9.
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