Father Judge blanks Roman
Father Judge soccer coach John Dunlop turned around to his assistants and a bench full of substitutions. "We just put that play in yesterday," the longtime Crusaders coach said, his voice equal parts amazement and pride.
Father Judge soccer coach John Dunlop turned around to his assistants and a bench full of substitutions.
"We just put that play in yesterday," the longtime Crusaders coach said, his voice equal parts amazement and pride.
It was six minutes into the second half against Roman Catholic, and Judge had just found the back of the net off a corner kick, breaking a scoreless tie.
The header by Davis Habilaj was the only goal the Crusaders needed to defeat the Cahillites, 1-0, in a hard-fought Catholic League battle Wednesday night.
The corner, served into the box by Leo Villegas, was set up well, and Habilaj was able to beat a Roman defender on a near post run.
"It was a good ball, a good ball," Habilaj said. "Gotta give him credit."
When the Crusaders (6-2-1 overall, 3-0 league) went over the play in practice Tuesday, it wasn't Habilaj making the near post run.
In fact, the sophomore, who started at center back instead of in the midfield because of an injury to Billy McCarthy, thought that Shane Holmes would be the one on the receiving end of the ball.
Holmes had been winning a lot of head balls during the game, but this time, it was Habilaj's time to get up and over the defender.
"It was huge," Habilaj said. "I didn't know where to go [after the goal], so I kept running. I just kept running back to my goalie."
The goalie was senior Mark Pohl, who had a great game for Judge, registering seven saves and commanding the box all night.
The feat was all the more impressive considering the intensity and up-tempo nature of the Roman attack.
Roman (5-1-1, 3-1-1) hit the post less than five minutes into the contest on a great shot by Billy Stermel.
The Cahillites then had chance after chance late in the game, only to be stifled by the Judge defense.
"They just came out, and they were on fire," Pohl said.
"They were pressuring us and pressuring us. We weathered the storm and got through it."
Father Judge 0 1 - 1
Roman Catholic 0 0 - 0
Goal: FJ-Davis Habilaj.
Saves: FJ-Mark Pohl 7; RC-Mark Tobin 4.