Four Pa. soccer teams prep for state title games

Once the playoffs started, the scoring hasn't stopped for the Downingtown West girls' soccer team.

During the regular season, the Whippets possessed one of the area's most dangerous attacks, scoring at a clip of 3.7 goals per game en route to a 16-0-1 regular-season record.

And in seven postseason matches, Downingtown West is scoring 3.4 goals per game. In three state playoff games, the Whippets have scored, respectively, five, four and five goals - the most recent a 5-0 shellacking of State College to earn a berth in the PIAA Class AAA girls' state championship game.

Downingtown West, looking for its first girls' title since 2006, will face the top seed from District 10, Erie McDowell, Saturday at 5 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium. West has won two state titles (2004 and 2006) since the school district split in 2003.

Behind Steph Myers (Villanova commit), Lauren Wilson (James Madison), Morgan Dankanich and a whole cast of others, first-year coach Wes Davis has a powerful offense.

"Sometimes it takes us a while to get the first one," Davis said. "But usually when we get it, we sort of learn as we go."

The Whippets are just one of four area teams that will play for state soccer championships Saturday. Here are the others:

Class AAA boys

Father Judge vs. Central Dauphin, 7 p.m.

Late in the second overtime of the state semifinal against Unionville, Father Judge coach John Dunlop sensed his players were running out of gas. The game was back-and-forth, and the forwards were doing plenty of running.

So he took senior forward Darius Gblunblee out of the game for junior Gavin Whalen.

"We thought [Unionville goalie Cory White] would break on the near post," Dunlop said. "He got caught backdoor."

And Whalen, who was inserted to stand right there, put the game-winning goal in the net in the 103d minute.

"That was a good coaching move, huh?" Dunlop said, laughing.

Whatever stroke of luck the Crusaders have been blessed with, Judge is riding it all the way to the title game against Central Dauphin, which needed penalty kicks to defeat Erie Cathedral Prep in the other semifinal.

Dunlop, who has taken his team where no other Catholic League soccer squad has ever gone, said he is most impressed with the way his team has handled the challenge of the state tournament.

"They just find a way to win," Dunlop said. "This is one of the closest teams I've ever been together with. If you want to call it fate . . . they just stick together.

"Each time, it gets better and better."

Class AA boys

Octorara vs. Hampton, 2 p.m.

Playing in the Ches-Mont League with mostly Class AAA schools helped Octorara reach the state title game for the first time in 10 years. And having Greg Patrick wasn't a bad thing, either.

Patrick has scored 30 goals for the Braves this season, none more important than his overtime game-winner against Fleetwood in the AA state semifinal.

But after the game, coach Kevin Noon wanted to praise his defense, specifically central defender Eric Simpson. Octorara (18-4-1) has allowed just three goals in five postseason games.

"They didn't give up many shots," Noon said. "They've played great the entire tourney."

Class A boys

Christopher Dock vs. Seton La Salle, 10 a.m.

Dock is back in a familiar position. The Pioneers can win their fourth Class A state title this decade.

Standing in the way is the defending state champ, Seton La Salle, from District 7. Each time Dock reached the state title game - in 2002, 2003 and 2005 - the Pioneers emerged as champions.

Dock already defeated one nemesis, Camp Hill, the same team that knocked the Pioneers out of the state playoffs last year. Dock coach Matt Moyer said he believed his team's experience would pay off in the rematch. Camp Hill returned just one starter from last year's squad, and Dock has five seniors in its starting lineup.

One of those seniors, Brandon Reichart, scored in the first minute Tuesday against Camp Hill, and the return to Hershey was never in doubt.