In myriad ways, it has been a season to remember for the Conestoga boys' soccer team.
The only District 1 or 12 Class AAA team to go without a loss, the Pioneers earned their first district championship Saturday by defeating Council Rock North.
They began their bid for a first state title on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Wilson-Reading.
For a team ranked No. 8 in the nation by ESPN Rise, perhaps the brightest spot in a stellar season has been the play of senior goalkeeper Clarke Fox.
Through the District 1 playoffs - 19 games - Fox recorded 15 shutouts and had a goals-against average of 0.315.
That average, had the season concluded after the district tournament, would have ranked fourth best in state high school boys' history. Those 15 shutouts, including six consecutive from Oct. 3-18, tie for seventh best all-time. Both figures are according to the Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association.
"He's been awesome. We've had a great defense, but ultimately, the buck stops with him," Conestoga coach Dave Zimmerman said. "He has a great frame, great athleticism. He's just been huge for us."
What's more, Zimmerman estimates that Fox - who is 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds - halted 50 percent of all penalty kicks he faced this season. That includes two snuffs in the Pioneers' 1-0 PK victory over North Penn in the district quarterfinals.
"We've been through a lot of penalty kicks over the last couple years," Fox said. "So it's not something that I'm too afraid of, if I do have to face them. . . . But I think we're all pretty confident in our ability to win if it comes down to PKs."
Added Zimmerman: "He just has the ability to stay composed during these penalty kicks. He's been through them before, he knows how to handle it, and we have confidence in him."
Conestoga (19-0-1) is one of the clear favorites to win the AAA state title. They fell in the quarters last year.
"We're just taking it one game at a time and trying to keep this ride going as long as possible," Fox said.
Contact Evan Burgos at rallysports@phillynews.com.
