Owen J. Roberts wins boys' soccer title

Three and counting.

That's the number of consecutive Pioneer Athletic Conference championship titles for the Owen J. Roberts boys' soccer team.

The Wildcats' latest one came last night. Jordan Baker's header in the 103d minute gave Owen J. Roberts a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Boyertown at Wildcat Stadium.

The victory improved the Wildcats to 12-4-2 heading into the PIAA District 1 Class AAA tournament. It also marked Owen J. Roberts' fourth league crown in five seasons.

Boyertown (11-7), on the other hand, saw its winning streak snapped at six games.

"That's spectacular to win three in a row," said Baker, who finished with two goals. "That was probably the biggest goal so far of my career."

A corner kick put the ball in the path of Baker. The Bears were unable to deflect it, and he headed the ball from about 7 yards out. With several defenders around Baker, he drilled the ball past the outstretched arms of Boyertown goalkeeper Tyler Burkhart.

With the junior midfielder leading the way, Owen J. Roberts held a 10-7 shots-on-goal advantage.

Miscues - not shot attempts - were the difference early on.

The Wildcats scored first, in the 11th minute, when a Bears defender knocked the ball into his own net.

That lead didn't last long.

Boyertown was awarded a penalty kick two minutes later when a teammate was tackled inside the box. Taking advantage, Kyle Craig launched a kick that zipped past goalkeeper Andy Wrisinger to knot the score.

Owen J. Roberts quickly answered back. Baker took a cross from Michael Panczer in the 20th minute. The junior forward then tapped the ball into the net from around 11 yards out.

Boyertown had chances to even the score early in the second half.

The first scoring opportunities ended when a Bear whiffed at the ball from 20 yards out in the 42d minute. Then, Craig kicked the ball wide right of the net to end another chance a minute later.

Boyertown cashed in the next time the ball was deep in Owen J. Roberts' territory. Bears defender Greg Gray gained possession from around two yards out after the Wildcats couldn't clear the ball.

Taking advantage, Gray knotted the score at 2-2 in the 60th minute to force overtime.

After the teams played through a scoreless first overtime, Baker pulled out the victory.

Boyertown 1 1 0 0 - 2

Owen J. Roberts 2 0 0 1 - 3

Goals: B-Kyle Craig, Greg Gray; OJR-Jordan Baker 2, Austin Moran-Santangelo.

Saves: B-Tyler Burkhart 7; OJR-Andy Wrisinger 5.