Cathedral Prep’s football teams have the upper hand in the PIAA quarterfinals

JOHNSTOWN – Coach Sam Tojaga was wise with the goal total for the Cathedral Prep boys soccer team after Saturday’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal against Trinity.

The Ramblers rallied for a 5-2 victory over the District 3 Shamocks thanks to a 4-0 second half. Last season’s Class 3A state champions advanced to the semifinals in their current division at 17-6.

Tojaga, however, was less aware of the slump among Prep’s goal scorers. Mike McDonald, Esteban Millet, James DiSanza, Brandon Lin and Carter Budacki each recorded shots that eluded Trinity goalie Kieran Finegan.

Even better for Tojaga was the roster status for some in that quintet.

Millet is a freshman born in Mexico. Budacki is also a freshman, as is a defenseman like DiSanza.

“I just told the guys in my 20 seasons (at Prep) that this might be the ultimate team I’ve coached,” Tojaga said. “It’s a variety of guys who go the extra mile every day. And especially (Saturday), when we were at halftime, even though we felt like we were playing really well.”

Down but not out

Trinity (13-8-2) led Prep at halftime thanks to some small offense. The Shamrocks’ Brendan Palmer and Paul Gunther converted shots past Prep goalkeeper AJ Sirianni in the space of 1 minute, 50 seconds.

They ignored McDonald’s original goal for the Ramblers, who Tojaga said were dejected but did not panic on the break.

“We said to the boys, ‘Yes, it’s a bit unfair, but we still have 40 minutes to show what kind of team we are,’” he said.

That’s what the Ramblers did. They drew level on Millet’s 20-yarder and then took a permanent lead with 22:18 to go when DiSanza jumped up and converted a header from a corner.

“Everyone commits when Max (Johnson) gets a good ball on net like that,” DiSanza said. “I happened to be on the other side of that one (Saturday).”

Lin and Budacki followed with their insurance goals for Prep, which is attempting to become the first District 10 boys soccer program to receive PIAA championship trophies for consecutive seasons.

Not so happy

The excitement for a possible state 10 semifinal between Prep and Fairview had died down Saturday.

Minutes before Saturday’s opening whistle, word spread among the Ramblers and their fans that the Tigers, who defeated Prep in the 2A district final, lost 5-4 to District 7 Avonworth in penalty kicks against Franklin. After regulation time and two overtimes, the teams were tied at 1-all.

Fairview finished 20-3.

Avonworth takes a 19-3-2 record into Tuesday’s game against the Ramblers. The Antelopes, whose campus is west of Interstate 279, are the second seed out of the WPIAL.

Even after Saturday’s results, the Mercyhurst Prep boys were eliminated. Bentworth defeated the Lakers 1-0 in a PIAA Class 1A quarterfinal at Forker Field in Grove City.

Mercyhurst, the district’s small-school leader, went 16-7 this fall.

More: Northwestern Pa. fall high school sports scores, schedules, standings: Nov. 4-9

Rambler’s record number

While a Prep-Fairview boys semifinal game is no longer possible, there is now a state semifinal doubleheader involving the Ramblers boys and girls.

The Prep girls won their PIAA 2A quarterfinal match with Saturday’s 2-1 win vs. Southmoreland on Franklin. Gannon University recruit Olivia Dixon scored the game-clinching goal with 4:15 remaining.

According to coach Peter Wagner, it was a big plus that Dixon was on the field.

“We have a lot of younger kids on this team,” he said. “There was definitely a little bit of nervous energy (Saturday), but our seniors somewhat alleviated that and helped us get the win.”

The Ramblers (19-2-1) will take on the Quaker Valley Quakers (19-2-2), where their semifinal will also be held.

Quaker Valley, located in Leetsdale, defeated the Trinity girls team 3-0 in the second of Saturday’s three PIAA games at Price Field.

Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Cathedral Prep boys’ and girls’ soccer teams earn spots in PIAA semifinals