Dock faces familiar foe in soccer semis

Christopher Dock is in the exact same position as it was last year: One win away from the PIAA Class A boys' soccer state title game. And Camp Hill is standing in the Pioneers' way.

"We're familiar with them," Dock coach Matt Moyer said.

Camp Hill, from District 3, knocked the Pioneers out in the state semifinals last season with a 1-0 victory. In 2007, Dock's season ended in the second round of states with a loss to Antietam.

Dock plays Camp Hill on Tuesday at Exeter Township High in Reading.

This time, Moyer is banking on his team's having learned from its past failures in order to make it to Hershey. Moyer starts five seniors.

"The one factor I see is that this group has experience from last year," Moyer said.

"We returned a number of players. We've been in that position. We have an understanding of what it takes."

What Dock also has is one of the area's most dominating teams. When District 4's second-place team, Benton, scored in the first minute of Saturday's game, it was the first time the Pioneers had trailed in a game since Oct. 3.

That's a span of nine games.

Dock has a long history of success among the smaller schools. Moyer is in his seventh year as coach and led Dock to Class A state titles in 2003 and 2005. As an assistant coach, he was also a part of the 2002 championship team.

But Dock hasn't been back to the title game since 2005.

Moyer said he has scouted Camp Hill in person twice this season. The preparation for this game won't change, he said, but the players are fully aware of the fact that the same team can end Dock's season again.

"Yeah, there's some pressure there," Moyer said. "I think the players are ready."

Last week, after his team's historic victory in the Class AAA boys' soccer playoffs, Father Judge coach John Dunlop said he was not surprised to see his team come out a little flat against area power Downingtown West.

Father Judge, winners of the Catholic League, had never been in the state tournament. Downingtown West, the defending state champions, scored in the eighth minute. Judge recovered and went on to win, 2-1.

"You can give them all the motivation speeches you want," Dunlop said. "Until you actually play in this tournament, you get a sense of what it's all about."

Father Judge has a pretty good idea now. On Tuesday, it will play for a berth in the state championship against another area team, Unionville. Neither school has ever made the final.

The Crusaders have already toppled perennial soccer powers Downingtown West and Central Bucks East in becoming the first District 12 boys' team to win a game in the state tournament.

Unionville captured its first District 1 title in school history by beating rival Downingtown West. The Indians took down George Washington in overtime and convincingly beat District 3's Red Land by a 3-1 score Saturday.

Whichever team wins, history will be made.

The Episcopal Academy girls' soccer team knocked Germantown Academy from its 18-year perch atop the Inter-Ac League. An even more notable achievement: The Churchwomen allowed just one goal in 12 league games, leading to a 10-0-2 run through the Inter-Ac.