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Wood reaches PCL semifinals

Dan McDonald didn't wait for coach Joe Krantz to say who should take the penalty kick. The senior midfielder for the Archbishop Wood boys' soccer team didn't wait for anyone to volunteer, either.

Archbishop Wood's Nick Sonsini celebrates with Tommy Rosenbaum. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Archbishop Wood's Nick Sonsini celebrates with Tommy Rosenbaum. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

Dan McDonald didn't wait for coach Joe Krantz to say who should take the penalty kick.

The senior midfielder for the Archbishop Wood boys' soccer team didn't wait for anyone to volunteer, either.

No. 7 ran right up to the ball, picked it up, and placed it on the mark 12 yards from the net. He was going to take it.

McDonald didn't miss, and his goal with 13 minutes remaining in the Catholic League quarterfinal against St. Joseph's Prep put the Vikings over the top, 2-1, Tuesday night at Veterans Field in Southampton.

"We've been hitting PKs all week in practice and I've been striking them well, so when it happened, I took the ball," McDonald said. "I knew I wanted to take it."

"I was confident, and I wanted it."

The Hawks (6-5-6) were the first team to beat the Vikings (14-2-2) this season, snapping Wood's 13-game unbeaten streak. That loss motivated Wood, and the Vikings showed intensity from the very start.

But the Prep matched the Vikings' energy, as both sides pressed and flew forward in the attack.

In fact, the Hawks almost went ahead early in the second half, when a well-hit ball nailed the post.

"We definitely make it interesting sometimes," Wood senior Dave Bateman said. "I was just thinking that we had to get the ball out of the box, had faith that we would, and then we did."

On Saturday, Wood will face Father Judge in the semifinals. The only meeting between the teams this season ended in a 1-1 draw.

"It's a dream come true," McDonald said. "It's not done yet - we want to win the PCL; that's our goal - but we are really excited for Saturday."

For McDonald and goalkeeper Ryan Hemsley, the dream is one that started years ago on their first club team when they first discussed going to Archbishop Wood.

After the victory, the two found one another by the bench and, giddy with excitement, hugged and high-fived.

The dream is only two wins away.

St. Joseph's Prep 1 0 – 1

Archbishop Wood 1 1 – 2

Goals: SJP-own goal; AW-Nick Sonsini, Dan McDonald.

Saves: SJP-Frank Maniscalco 10; AW-Ryan Hemsley 5.