Archbishop Wood wins soccer title in a rout

It wasn't even close.

Archbishop Wood met Franklin Towne Charter yesterday for the District 12 Class AA boys' soccer championship. Unfortunately for the Coyotes, it was a championship game in name only. The game was so lopsided that, at times, it resembled an intra-squad scrimmage.

In the end, the Vikings exited Northeast's Charles Martin Memorial Stadium with a 10-0 victory.

The victory advanced the Philadelphia Catholic League representatives to the upcoming PIAA Class AA state tournament. Wood (19-1-1) will face District 1 champion Pottsgrove in Tuesday's 5 p.m. first-round matchup at Charles Martin.

The Public League's Franklin Towne Charter finished the season with a 6-6 record.

Yesterday's district final was a renewal of the old city championship game between the Catholic League champ and Public League. The series was halted after the 1979 season when a Title IX lawsuit was filed.

It was renewed this season when the Catholic League became a participating member of the PIAA.

Did the Vikings expect to win so convincingly?

"We didn't have a clue," said senior forward Rob McIntyre, whose squad is ranked 10th in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer. "We expected them to be as good as us, if not better than us."

Instead, Wood quickly learned it was easy to outrun and outmaneuver its opponents.

Seven Vikings scored at least once. McIntyre, senior forward Craig McDonald, and sophomore midfielder Joe Getz each scored twice. Senior forward James Peden had a goal and an assist. Wood held a commanding 19-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Franklin Towne Charter played without four starters. Coyotes coach Casey Huckel said they missed the game because of injuries and disciplinary reasons.

The players were missed, according to Huckel.

"It would have been a struggle for us to win," he said. "But it wouldn't have been as hard."

McDonald scored the first goal in the seventh minute. Then Getz made it 2-0 when he scored from eight yards out in the 15th minute. Then the rout was on.

Archbishop Wood 5 5 - 10

Franklin Towne Charter 0 0 - 0

Goals: AW-Ron McIntyre 2, Joe Getz 2, Craig McDonald 2, Chris Wilson, James Peden, Chris Bowen, Michael Trodden.

Saves: AW-Mike Delucia 1; FTC-Scott Wilson 7.