Kingsway boys' soccer coach John Green described his players' overtime loss to Clearview on Monday as akin to having their "hearts ripped out."
The game could have put the Dragons in a commanding lead in the Tri-County Conference. Instead, it ending up being something of a gut-check time for Kingsway.
According to Green, his team showed what it was made of during practice Tuesday.
"It was brilliant," Green said. "They were buzzing - they were very energetic. They couldn't wait to move forward."
That resiliency showed in a 3-0 league win at Delsea (8-5-2) on Wednesday afternoon.
The Dragons, playing with an obviously elevated energy level, nearly converted on at least three chances in the first half before netting two goals in the first two minutes of the second half.
Senior forward Tom Schmeigel led Kingsway, ranked No. 9 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, with two goals. Benny Gialloretto netted his team's second goal less than a minute after Schmeigel started the scoring in the 41st minute.
"The Clearview loss was actually pretty tough. It's been tough to get it out of my mind," said Schmeigel, who has 10 goals this year. "But we knew we could come in here and get past it and win the game."
Schmeigel's second goal was an impressive run in which he beat two defenders before sending a bending shot past a diving goalkeeper.
"I just touched it around the one defender, saw the keeper coming out, so I just put a little chip underneath it," Schmeigel said.
Schmeigel has been a bright spot in what has been a solid regular season for the Dragons.
Kingsway is 11-2 - its only other loss this season was to No. 5 Cherokee - and has allowed just seven goals. The Dragons sit atop the Tri-County Conference, although Williamstown and Clearview (which Kingsway beat earlier this season) are nipping at their heels.
"Our depth has been great this year," Green said. "A lot of guys have been stepping up. We have a lot of expectations, and they're willing to do what it takes to get there."
Kingsway 0 3 – 3
Delsea 0 0 – 0
Goals: Tom Schmeigel 2, Benny Gialloretto.
Saves: K-Jimmy Amorebella 2; D-Nick McBride 8.
Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.
