"It sets the bar," senior Jack Dusing said of the Explorers' season. "We quickly stopped the critics and are just proud of the way we performed."
It was a back-and-forth game, in which both teams squandered scoring opportunities. The lone goal came 77 minutes into regulation.
The team from Reading kept the ball in play in its offensive third and a defender for La Salle (22-3-1) was pulled out of position. A Wilson player made a perfect serve into the box, finding an open Bryan Fegley in front of the goal. The senior midfielder buried a header into the back of the net.
"Our strength is our defense . . . but they have 24 wins for a reason, too," Explorers coach Bob Peffle said.
"It stings right now. They know it was a game with one play here or there."
The goal was the first that the Explorers, ranked first in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, had given up in 10 games. Before Tuesday, they had recorded nine straight shutouts and gone 19 halves without permitting a goal.
"It didn't seem like we were settled," Dusing said. "We were waiting for the game to come to us, instead of us taking the game to them."
Wilson will face Upper St. Clair, which also won its semifinal, 1-0, in the state final at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at HersheyPark Stadium.
La Salle 0 0 – 0
Wilson 0 1 – 1
Goal: Bryan Fegley.
Saves: L-Nick Higgins 7; W-Kyle Lorenz 4.
Contact Kate Harman at rallysports@phillynews.com.
