Pennsbury sharp in win over Lower Merion

Zach LoBasso joked that the ball that careened off his head and into the back of the net was hit harder than any shot he had ever taken with his foot.

He had a point.

The line-drive corner from his Pennsbury teammate Colin Marks catapulted off the junior striker's head and in past the keeper in a matter of seconds.

Quicker than that, even - a-blink-and-you'll-miss it kind of play.

It was also well executed - much like most of the soccer that host Pennsbury played for 80 minutes in a 3-0 win over Lower Merion in the second round of the District 1 Class AAA tournament.

"It seemed that way," LoBasso said of whether it was the hardest shot he's taken. "The ref, afterwards - I guess I've had him before - said it wasn't, but it was a pretty hard header."

The efficiency started early for No. 6 Pennsbury (14-4-2) against the 11th-seeded Aces (11-5-3). Willem McCullough got the scoring started in the third minute.

"I score quick goals or no goals," McCullough said. "It was the scrappiest goal in the world. It just bounced off somebody. I kneed it - just threw my knee at the ball - and it happened to go upper-90."

Scrappy or not, it set the tone for the Falcons - a much different one from the start of their first playoff game, a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over No. 27 Great Valley.

The Falcons will look to continue the momentum Saturday, when they face off against Springfield (Delco) in the district quarterfinals. It is the first time the team has gotten this far since Marks was a freshman.

"We are accomplishing our goals. Just one more game and we are in the state tournament," said Marks, a senior. "This year it feels like we are on top, like we are the team that's knocking teams out and the one to beat."

Lower Merion 0 0 - 0

Pennsbury 1 2 - 3

Goals: P-Willem McCullough, Zach LoBasso, Colin Marks.

Saves: LM-Sebastian Jenkins 5, Jacob Newschaffer 2 ; P- Anthony Rosso 3.

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