"Put something warm on and go over to the other end of the field. They want to give you your medals" were the instructions given to the Conestoga boys' soccer team.
Almost in unison, at least four players shot back: "That's OK, we're not really all that cold."
It was about 35 degrees and windy on the turf field at Harriton for Saturday night's PIAA District 1 Class AAA title game, but the Pioneers didn't play like they were cold, and they certainly weren't celebrating like it, either.
The team had just completed a dramatic second-half comeback, winning by 2-1 over Council Rock North for the first District 1 championship in Conestoga history.
"We have so much adrenaline right now, we can't even feel the cold," said Nick Laganelli, who headed in the winner with just 4 minutes, 29 seconds remaining in regulation. "It's just a really big win for us, especially since it's the first for our program."
Laganelli's goal was the culmination of an entire game's worth of patient and efficient possession soccer.
Conestoga coach Dave Zimmerman noted that, in the days leading to the game, his Pioneers had been working on possessing and controlling the ball better, something he felt had been an issue recently.
With that mind-set, a remarkably calm Pioneers offense held possession, almost without a break, from the time the team went down by 1-0 in the seventh minute to the time the team tied the game on a 20-yard laser beam by Danny Gonzalez in the 55th minute.
"We executed the game plan to perfection today," said Zimmerman, whose team had fallen in penalty kicks in the district finals to Lower Merion last season. "This team has just, time and time again, come through."
C.R. North took the early lead when Chris Kulczytzky sent a well-struck, line-drive free kick toward the goal. Alec Neumann put a head on the ball, which banked off the cross bar and into the net.
"It was one of those goals where it was kind of hard to predict the outcome when he headed it," Conestoga goalkeeper Clarke Fox said.
The goal was just the sixth that Conestoga (18-0-1) has allowed this season, and it was only the third time all season that the Pioneers trailed.
"It was definitely a different feeling being down," Fox said. "But we were all confident in our ability to come back. We just kept our composure and luckily we got two in the back of the net."
North became more offensive after Laganelli netted the go-ahead-goal, just missing on several chances.
Both the Pioneers and North (16-5-1) will play Tuesday in the first round of the state tournament.
"I thought we played about 55-60 minutes of good soccer," C.R. North coach Wendell Beres said. "But Conestoga is a great team, I think they're probably the best team in the state, and we hung with them today. It makes me feel good heading into states."
Council Rock North 1 0 – 1
Conestoga 0 2 – 2
Goals: CRN-Alec Neumann; C-Danny Gonzalez, Nick Laganelli.
Saves: CRN-Will Terry 7; C-Clarke Fox 3.
Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.
