St. Augustine stuns Pingry, wins state title

EWING, N.J. - Connor Hurff didn't wait long to score the biggest goal of his career.

But the St. Augustine Prep senior midfielder and his teammates waited a long time to celebrate it fully.

Hurff scored in the game's fourth minute and the Hermits added another goal in the 65th minute en route to a stunning 2-0 victory over Pingry in the Non-Public A state championship game Tuesday night.

"It was so early it was ridiculous," Hurff said of his goal. "I wanted to celebrate, but I knew I had to wait because I didn't want to let down."

Junior forward Dominick Palmieri added the insurance goal off an assist from Hurff as St. Augustine (24-1), the No. 1 team in South Jersey in The Inquirer rankings, won its fifth state title and first since 2005 in a driving rain at the College of New Jersey.

Senior sweeper Sam Vessels and senior goalie John Richards played strong games as St. Augustine withstood persistent pressure from a talented Pingry team that had beaten North Jersey powers Seton Hall Prep and Delbarton on its way to the state final.

"We told the players they had to raise their level of play against that team," St. Augustine coach Les Heggan said. "That's such a reknown team. But we got that early goal and it really settled us down."

Palmieri's goal was a stunner in that Pingry had maintained possession and applied pressure during most of the second half.

But on a counter, senior forward Dominic Pernice fed Hurff, who took a hard shot from the box. The ball hit off a Pingry defender, and Palmieri was on the doorstop to tap home the goal with 15 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the game.

"We dominated at times but we couldn't score," said Pingry coach Miller Bugilari, in his 51st season. "We were asleep at the switch at times. We usually finish better."

The first goal was a stunner, too. Hurff's goal was just the seventh allowed this season by Pingry, which entered the game ranked No. 1 in the state by the Newark Star-Ledger.

Pernice created a chance in the first two minutes with a strong run down the left side and cross that Hurff couldn't quite control in the box.

Moments later, Hurff sent Pernice in alone on Pingry goalie Dylan Key with a perfect flick. Pernice blasted a shot, but Key made the save.

In the ensuing scramble, the ball squirted out to Hurff, and he buried a shot from about 10 yards. It was Hurff's 25th goal of the season.

"The ball just came out to me," said Hurff, who lives in Mantua. "This was a redemption game for me because I was the only one who started two years ago when they beat us [3-0 in the 2008 title game]."

The victory capped a near-perfect season for the Hermits, who also won the South Jersey Coaches Association Tournament for the first time.

Pingry   0 0 – 0

St. Augustine   1 1 – 2

Goals: Connor Hurff, Dominick Palmieri.

Saves: P-Dylan Key 4; SA-John Richards 7.