Last season’s playoff loss motivates unbeaten Avonworth boys soccer team

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 15, 2018 | 5:30 PM

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Most undefeated teams aren’t driven by a loss, but defeat has motivated Avonworth’s boys soccer team for nearly a year.

The Antelopes’ dominance this fall is apparent in not just its 15-0-1 record, but also the way the team has won. Avonworth has scored 5.5 goals per game, recorded 11 shutouts with Timmy Stewart in net and allowed six goals this season.

Tom Angell, the program’s coach since 2009, isn’t surprised. He has known the 2018 team might be special, having watched the seniors play since they were freshman, but he couldn’t have predicted the team’s remarkable run would be founded in part by a game that most outside of the program have likely forgotten.

Downed 3-1 by Seton LaSalle in the first round of the 2017 playoffs, Avonworth was one of the few teams that shut down Darryl Daniels, Seton LaSalle’s star player who was named an Eastern Region All-American by the The National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

“They were definitely a really good team,” Avonworth’s Jonah Brandt said. “We did a good job shutting Darryl Daniels down, but they had a lot of set piece goals. Every time they somehow got a goal. We were upset with ourselves.”

Lucas Schriefer, Jason Novosel and Brandt took it upon themselves soon after the season ended to invite teammates to work out and participate in unscheduled, player-run practices in addition to what Angell arranged.

“It started right after playoffs,” Schriefer said. “We were all heartbroken.”

“I really wanted the team to build chemistry, and one of the things I’m all about is getting the team together,” Novosel added. “We have a tight-knit group that wants to work hard, and we formed that group to better ourselves and the team.”

The extra offseason reps have paid season-long dividends for Avonworth, one of the last four teams in the WPIAL to enter Monday without a loss. With goal scorers like Sam Guzzo, Tyler Bryan, Aymeric Verdier, Brandt and Novosel — they have combined for 65 goals — the Antelopes might be the heartbreakers in the playoffs one year after a heart-wrenching elimination.

Springdale is the Class A team that has come the closest to earning a win over Avonworth, ending their first game in a tie, but falling in a 1-0 loss in the second meeting.

“After Springdale, that first game motivated us more.” Brandt said. “I don’t think we were worried, but we knew we needed to prove ourselves. If there was any sense of overconfidence, I think that switched it to us feeling like we have to earn everything in our games, because wins aren’t just going to happen.”

Avonworth would welcome another game against Springdale, a third meeting between two teams that have not allowed any opponent to score more than two goals this season.

“I feel like it’s a great matchup,” Novosel said. “We have a great offense. They have a great defense. That would definitely be a great playoff game.”

One thing Avonworth’s players won’t do is make any predictions. There are too many quality playoff teams like Seton LaSalle, Greensburg Central Catholic and Sewickley Academy to know how a game will unfold.

“Our focus is on ourselves and playing our game the way we know how to play,” Schriefer said. “We want to come out really hard to put together results. We know other teams are going to be good. We know these are going to be tough games, but we want to focus on ourselves and our game to put everything together.”

Angell is also determined to not allow his team to overlook any opponents.

“We talk about that a lot,” Angell said. “The biggest thing is the next team we play. Is this where you want it to end? Is there any reason not to give your all? The score is 0-0 when we head out there, because we don’t get a goal on the board because of our record coming in.”

No matter the outcome, be it a WPIAL championship or another early exit, it will be a bittersweet ending for Avonworth’s coach.

“Once you start the playoffs, you either win it all or end with a loss,” Angell said. “We have goals, but we also want to get in as many games as we can. We don’t want this to end. We are enjoying it. It’s a close team. I love spending time with them. However it ends, it will be sad to see them move on. Our goal is to make it last as long as possible.”

Shawn Annarelli is a freelance writer.

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