Holy Ghost Prep takes District 1 AA boys' soccer title with win over Pottsgrove

Colin O'Neill made run after run down the left sideline Monday night, using his speed and technical ball skills to exploit the Pottsgrove defense.

The senior midfielder for the Holy Ghost Prep soccer team was a threat all evening, the catalyst for the Firebirds attack in a 4-0 victory that captured the District 1 Class AA championship.

But for more than 70 minutes, O'Neill could not find the back of the net. He finally did with just over three minutes left at Souderton High School.

"It was 3-0, so the game was kind of out of contention, but I think it solidified the game," O'Neill said.

Holy Ghost (15-3-1), the regular-season champion of the Bicentennial League, won its second straight district title in decisive fashion.

The victory earned the Firebirds a berth in the PIAA tournament. They will face District 12 champion Archbishop Wood in a first-round game at Northeast High on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

"Our goal is to go all the way," said junior midfielder Tim French, who also scored a goal. "Right now we have the momentum going. We are ready to win it all."

The speed of Holy Ghost was too much for Pottsgrove (11-7-2). The Firebirds midfielders sent ball after ball over the top for O'Neill and Adam Snyder. O'Neill dictated play on the left side of the field, turning the corner on his defender, resulting in a shot on goal or a cross.

Speed wasn't the only factor Monday night, as experience won out over a young Falcons squad that has only two seniors on the roster, with five sophomores starting. Holy Ghost's roster is quite different, with juniors and seniors making up the entirety of the 28-man roster.

After going undefeated through the first 12 games of the season, the Firebirds lost three games in a one-month span, but they have rebounded in the district playoffs. They have outscored their opponents, 9-0, in two games.

"We were hurt at the end of the year," Prep coach Ken Lawson said. "[It] helped us get healthy, and we got to work on some things. That showed today."

Pottsgrove 0 0 - 0

Holy Ghost Prep 2 2 - 2

Goals: HG - Tim French, Matt Crawford, Matt Dott, Colin O'Neill Saves: P - Teddy Calabretta 7; HG - Steven Kersten 2.