The senior midfielder scored in the 74th minute of the Crusaders' 1-0 victory over George Washington at Northeast High School last night, handing the Catholic League champions the city title and making Father Judge the District 12 top seed entering the state playoffs, which begin Tuesday.

Morris scored two goals against Archbishop Ryan in Tuesday's Catholic League championship before hitting the game-winner last night.

On the goal, Morris received a pass alone to the left of the net from junior forward Kevin Bushbeck. Then he set, stepped and, as a Washington defender and goalie Sidney Nicol (10 saves) charged, struck a shot short-side into the corner.

"I try to come up as big as I can for my team when they need me," Morris said. "We definitely didn't capitalize on our chances in the first half, but we turned it around, we kept fighting, and our defense played great again."

Father Judge, 19-2-1 and ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, outshot Washington 11-0 and won the possession battle, but the Crusaders barely prevailed.

In fact, had one play been called differently, the two teams might still be playing.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first half and the game scoreless, Washington forward Chea Fineboy – repositioned by coach Chris Reid to spark the Eagles' offense – broke free past a defender on a ball over the top.

As Father Judge goaltender Chris Schwartz rushed out of his net, Fineboy played one touch to his right then cut the ball back hard to the left. Schwartz missed the ball and got all of Fineboy, who crumpled to the turf, but there was no whistle and no penalty kick was awarded.

"The ref said he pushed it away and it was going out of bounds, and from where I was, it didn't look like it was going out of bounds," Reid said. "But he should have shot it before that . . . You can't take it back."

Even Father Judge coach John Dunlop agreed.

"Yeah, I think we got away with one," Reid said. "I think they got away with one back there, too, though, so it balances out. But good teams find a way to win. My team kept on coming."

Father Judge was able to triumph but only began to dominate 65 minutes in, compared to about 15 minutes in against Ryan on Tuesday.

"We're excited . . . this is the first city title for Father Judge and we're proud that we brought it home for them," Dunlop said.

The win was also somewhat bittersweet for Dunlop.

Dunlop and Reid played on different Public League championship teams at Washington in the 1980s.

"To come back and get a win against my alma mater is good, but my heart's on the other side, too," the Judge coach said.

Meanwhile, Reid praised his team for standing tall against the area's best.

"I'm so proud of them," Reid said. "We went into this knowing that's the No. 1 team in Southeastern Pa., and they're a great team."

Father Judge, the District 12 No. 1 seed, will host the loser of tomorrow night's District 1 final between Unionville and Downingtown West at Northeast High on Tuesday night in the first round of the PIAA AAA state playoffs.

Washington, the District 12 two-seed, will visit the winner of that District 1 final Tuesday, at a site to be determined.

Washington 0 0 - 0

Father Judge 0 1 - 1

Goal: J–Nick Morris (assist Kevin Bushbeck)

Saves: J–Chris Schwartz 0. W–Sidney Nicol 10.