Patriots Haunted by Missed Opportunities in 4-3 Loss to Bucks

MALVERN—Central Bucks West took a 4-3 win over in the PIAA District One playoffs, Tuesday night.

“They are an outstanding team,” said Patriots head coach Dave Moffett. “We are very disappointed we lost, but I have to hand it to them they came out fast and continued to pressure us in our end and played outstanding defense in their zone.”

The Bucks (10-9-1) never trailed in the contest as junior Tyler Sabylak got West on the board at the 25 minute mark on a redirection of a shot, by sophomore Joel Klapper, which he put past Great Valley net minder Patrick Casey.

A scramble in front of the Patriots net resulted in the Bucks increasing their lead to 2-0. An own goal was credited to junior Nick Danilo as the ball caromed off of Casey’s leg into the twine in the Pats goal. 

“These guys really felt like they had something to prove,” said C.B. West head coach Steve Detweller. “We play in a great soccer conference against some very good teams. Our guys felt like they should have ranked a bit higher and really wanted to show that tonight. My seniors were a part of that 2009 team that felt like they let one get away, they have been waiting for this.”

There was no letting this one slip, as even after Great Valley scored two goals before halftime by senior Adam Halliday and Luis Palermo to even the score going into the intermission, West seemed un phased as senior Bryan Werner scored less than two minutes into the second half to regain the lead.

Eleventh-ranked Great Valley (11-6-2) again tied the game at three, as they got a sensational head goal from Robbie Campbell on a feed from Halliday. But before the hundreds of Patriots students in attendance were done celebrating, Central Bucks West senior Mike Bamford put them back into their seats by blasting a ball from 25 yards out to give the Bucks the lead for good, as they rolled to a 4-3 win. They now advance to play the winner of the Hatboro-Horsham (27) vs. Council Rock North (6) game Thursday at the highest seeds field.

“We knew coming into this game we needed to play our best defense,” added Moffett. “Our mistakes led directly to their goals, and in a district playoff game you can’t do that. Scoring three goals, we should be winning that game. But give them credit; they played well and we beat ourselves."

"That is a very good team," added Bucks coach Detweller. "They really gave us fits inside. We were able to get clears at big times or it may have been a different outcome." 

CB West            2            2         — 4

Great Valley       2            1         — 3

Shots on goal       Great Valley 12        C.B.West 9