Pen Argyl rallies past Thorpe in D-11 boys soccer playoffs

Jim Thorpe’s game plan worked to perfection in their semifinal match-up with Pen Argyl for the majority of the game. However, like most coaches will tell you, it isn’t how you start the game, but rather, how you finish.

Pen Argyl, the tourney’s number two seed, faced a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered goals to move on to the final against Notre Dame of Green Pond.

“At halftime, we told the kids that we believed in them and to keep playing their game and they did exactly that,” Pen Argyl coach Nevin Smith. “We knew they could come back if they just played the game that they came here to play and it worked.”

In the first half, the Olympians challenged throughout, dominated the possession for the most part, and eventually took the lead when Alex Putt found Alex Mierzejewski at the 13:51 mark for the 1-0 advantage.

“Jim Thorpe brought what we expected and then some,” Smith said. “They played an amazing game and surprised us.”

Just before halftime, Chris Williams lofted a beautiful shot over the Pen Argyl goal keeper, Matt Rodas’ head for a 2-0 lead going into the intermission. Preston Lawrence assisted on the score.

“We had a game plan coming into tonight and we knew their team,” Jim Thorpe coach Mike Dudak said. “I’ve watched them play a few games this season and we knew what we had to do tonight.”

The Green Knights got on the board on a penalty kick.

Eventually, Pen Argyl tied the game up on a header by Eric Lobb, which seemed to trickle past the JT goal line in slow motion to create a 2-2 deadlock.

At that point, the game’s momentum was clearly in favor of the Green Knights.

“We work very hard on conditioning throughout the season, because in order to go 80 minutes without a substitution, the kids need to be in top shape, physically,” said Pen Argyl’s Smith.

With just under three minutes to play in the game, Pen Argyl advanced the ball up the offense’s right side to Stivan Kumbarov, who took a loose ball and crossed it toward the goal in front of JT’s Kingsley Ehling for what proved to be the game-winner.

ALL GOOD THINGS ... Following the final buzzer, the Olympians took the tough loss with plenty of tears and frustration, as the sting proved difficult. Dudak, however, couldn’t stop praising his team and their storybook season. “I told all of those kids that they can hurt and be sad, but none of them need to hang their head, as this season was full of so much to be proud of,” the first-year coach said.

WHO HAD WHAT? ... For the game, Thorpe outshot Pen Argyl 22-19, while committing 15 fouls in the game to just seven for the Knights. Rodas and Ehling both had 10 saves.

FOND FAREWELL ... Seniors Thomas Dein, Ethan Melber, Mierzejewski, Ian Montelius, Damola Taiwo and Williams played their final game for Thorpe. Dudak said, “The leadership that came out of that group was huge. I didn’t expect it, they mentored kids that really needed some help, they stepped up, they led by example, and they got out on the field and took control when they needed to.”