Fox Chapel finds winning goal in 70th minute to get past Plum, win 1st WPIAL title since ’95
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Friday, November 1, 2024 | 10:51 PM
The Fox Chapel boys occer team celebrates with the WPIAL championship trophy after defeating Plum, 1-0, in the Class 4A final on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Carson Krushansky fires a shot to score the lone goal against Plum during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Carson Krushansky celebrates after defeating Plum, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel goalkeeper Brady Matthews makes a save in front of Carson Krushansky against Plum during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Carson Krushansky celebrates with Rocco Didomenico after receiving their gold medals after defeating Plum, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Milo Chiu moves the ball in front of Plum’s Gage Adinolfi during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Plum’s Christian Alter battles Fox Chapel’s Jake Williams (7) and Rocco Didomenico for a header during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
Plum’s Garrett Chandler battles Fox Chapel’s Rocco Poli for a header during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Friday at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Nick Squeglia battles Plum’s Noah Smith for possession during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Friday at Highmark Stadium.
Fox Chapel’s Kellan Bleier battles Plum’s Marco Tommasino for possession during the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Friday at Highmark Stadium.
It has been close to three decades since the last time the Fox Chapel boys soccer program could call itself the WPIAL champion.
From the opening minute of the WPIAL Class 4A championship game Friday night at Highmark Stadium, the Foxes put pressure on Plum’s defense but couldn’t find the back of the net until 70 minutes into the match.
Fox Chapel senior Carson Krushanky weaved through Mustang defenders, let a shot rip and found the back of the net to give the Foxes all they needed for a 1-0 win over top-seeded Plum.
“Amazing game. I know everyone on this team is so excited for this win. We worked so hard this season. I’m really happy for everyone that we were able to get this final win,” Krushanky said.
It is Fox Chapel’s sixth WPIAL title and the first in 29 years. Fox Chapel won titles in 1995, 1991, 1987, 1967 and 1964.
“I love coaching. I love the coaches I coach against. But it’s all about the boys,” Fox Chapel coach Erik Ingram said. “This is huge for them. This is their championship. I’m just along for the ride. To get it on the banner in the gym and on the plaque outside the fieldhouse is huge.”
Fox Chapel (12-4-2) found itself on the doorstep of a goal three times in the first half. However, Plum sophomore goalkeeper Chase Eber was there to make the saves for the Mustangs (17-1-3).
Eber made a big save with his feet off a shot from Fox Chapel senior Aiden Stein in the final seconds of the first half.
“It was frustrating,” Krushansky said. “Their keeper made some unbelievable saves. Their defense was strong and didn’t make many mistakes. But we went into halftime, and we said we got this, and we needed to keep taking shots and one would eventually get past him.”
Eber continued to make big save after big save in the second half.
Fox Chapel junior Nick Squeglia broke away from the Mustang defenders and found himself all alone against Eber, but the Plum goalkeeper got a piece of the shot and deflected it out of play in the 60th minute.
Minutes later, Krushanky broke the scoreless tie.
“I got on the line. I drove inside. I looked and saw a line to take the shot. I tried to hit it as hard as I could and it went in,” Krushanky said.
The Foxes had eight shots on goal with three coming off the foot of Krushanky and Stein.
Plum only had one shot on goal.
Plum was trying to snap its own title drought since it captured their program’s only championship in 2005.
“(Eber) did great. He kept us in the game,” Plum coach Raf Kolankowski said. “He made three close-range saves for us. If it wasn’t for him, it might’ve been a 3-0 game.
“It has been 19 years since a Plum soccer team has made it this far. I’m proud of them that they made it. They played a heck of a game. To lose 1-0 to Fox Chapel, a powerhouse in soccer, is not too shabby. We came to play and we put on a show. They got the bounce and we didn’t.”
Plum beat North Allegheny, 2-1, and Fox Chapel shut out Peters Township, 1-0, in the semifinals Tuesday at Gateway in order to get to Highmark Stadium after both programs fell short multiple times in recent years.
The Foxes suffered four straight semifinal exits, while Plum suffered three losses in six years.
Plum (17-0-3) and Fox Chapel (12-4-2) met in a nonsection game Oct. 12, and Plum won 3-1.
The Foxes will face the fourth-place finisher from District 3 in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday. Plum will face the winner of Erie McDowell and State College at sites and times to be determined.
Tags: Fox Chapel, Plum
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