W.C. Henderson boys advance to state soccer semifinals
Frankie DeRosa is a goal scorer. Aiden McFadden has known this fact about him since the two were 9 years old, and playing club soccer together. Back then, he was much smaller and the squad's striker.
Frankie DeRosa is a goal scorer.
Aiden McFadden has known this fact about him since the two were 9 years old, and playing club soccer together. Back then, he was much smaller and the squad's striker.
"He's got a knack for just knowing where to be, and he's been doing it all year," McFadden said. "He has been scoring goals for teams I've been on for as long as I can remember."
Now the duo play for West Chester Henderson.
Different team, same DeRosa.
The senior forward netted a hat trick on Saturday afternoon to help the Warriors down North Penn, 5-1, in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals at Spring-Ford.
"I was kind of surprised, to be honest, because we came out very flat, very lackadaisical," DeRosa said. "I think we had four chances total in the first half and we happened to score three of them. To score three in the first half against a good team is a huge accomplishment for a team, let alone me."
The first came on a penalty kick for DeRosa, when McFadden was taken down just inside the box. DeRosa stepped to the spot for W.C. Henderson (22-1-1) and buried it just 11 minutes into the contest against the Knights (18-5).
He scored again roughly 12 minutes later, on a beautiful header that went near post.
His third found the back of the net 20 minutes after the first did, when he turned around and shot it low past the keeper.
"Our offensive was always clicking in a sense during the regular season but starting with Penn Wood in the first round of districts I think we've been on fire," DeRosa said. "We've scored over 25 goals in 6 playoffs games, which is amazing for any team."
Tuesday, the Warriors look to continue the hot streak when they play Elizabethtown in the state semifinals.
"Frankie! Frankie!" the team chanted in the postgame huddle.
"Frankie! Frankie!" they repeated, as the Warriors celebrated the game's unofficial MVP.
But DeRosa was just doing what he's always done.
Something McFadden has known for almost a decade.
North Penn 0 1 - 1
West Chester Henderson 3 2 - 5
Goals: NP-Nate Baxter; WCH-Frankie DeRosa 3, Aiden McFadden, Tom King.
Saves: NP-Bobby Dean 3; WCH-Brady McSwain 7.
@ka_harman