BOYS SOCCER NEWS
Congratulations to the BSHS Boys' Soccer Team on an amazing 2021-22 season!
We are so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments!
We are so proud of all your hard work and accomplishments!
Daily Local News Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, & All-Area Players
Congratulations to Zane Domsohn who was recently named the Daily Local News Boys' Soccer Player of the Year, and to Coach Jim Kalavik who was named Boys' Soccer Coach of the Year! Additional congratulations go to the BSHS boys' soccer team members who were named Daily Local News Boys' All-Area Soccer:
First Team:
-Colin Deal (Midfielder)
Second Team:
-Evan Cunningham
-Bryce Domsohn
Honorable Mention:
-Jaden Jones
-Paul Ziegler
What an amazing season, way to go Eagles! (Click here to read more at PA PREP Live by Neil Geoghegan)
Congratulations to Zane Domsohn who was recently named the Daily Local News Boys' Soccer Player of the Year, and to Coach Jim Kalavik who was named Boys' Soccer Coach of the Year! Additional congratulations go to the BSHS boys' soccer team members who were named Daily Local News Boys' All-Area Soccer:
First Team:
-Colin Deal (Midfielder)
Second Team:
-Evan Cunningham
-Bryce Domsohn
Honorable Mention:
-Jaden Jones
-Paul Ziegler
What an amazing season, way to go Eagles! (Click here to read more at PA PREP Live by Neil Geoghegan)
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"Shanahan's Zane Domsohn is DLN Boys' Soccer Player of the Year" by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live, 1/1/22
DOWNINGTOWN >> The Daily Local News Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year is much more than just a prodigious goal scorer. Bishop Shanahan’s Zane Domsohn is a multi-faceted athlete, a three-sport star and – most importantly – a winner. His senior year has been filled with jaw-dropping accomplishments, both individually and as part of teams, and there is more to come. |
“His athletic ability is second to none,” said head soccer coach Jim Kalavik. “The way that he moves on the field, the way he’s constantly in the right position, his determination and effort, we saw it when he came to us as a freshman. And then he constantly worked harder every year to get better.”
This fall, Domsohn was a dominant figure and guided Shanahan to the District 1 3A Soccer Championship, followed by a run to the state semifinals – the deepest in program history. And while he was doing that, Domsohn was also helping the Eagles football squad reach the same lofty heights with a district crown and a trip to the state semis.
“It was amazing to be a part of it with both of those teams,” Domsohn said.
The area’s most dangerous striker, Domsohn poured in 42 goals (and six assists) in 24 outings to lead Shanahan to a 19-5 record and postseason soccer glory. He shattered the school’s single-season record for goals before the end of October, and added 16 more goals for good measure.
“Regardless of what level, if you score 42 goals in a soccer season, it is more than an impressive number,” Kalavik said. “Goal scorers like Zane have a knack to be in the right position.”
As if that wasn’t enough, Domsohn simultaneously held down the kicking and punting duties for the Eagles on the gridiron in 2021.
“The kid never played football before, and in the state semifinal, he kicked three extra points and dropped two punts inside the five yard line,” Kalavik recalled.
During one of his final football practices, Domsohn left his new teammates and coaches with a lasting memory when he booted a 50-yard field goal. Not bad for somebody who had no plans to play football last summer.
“They needed a kicker and (head) coach (Paul) Meyers asked me to do it,” Domshn explained. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it because I didn’t want it to affect my soccer season. But my mom (Trish) told me to give it a try. As the season continued, I started to really like it.
“Early on I was nervous, but at the end and we made our playoff run, I felt I was getting pretty good.”
And with little time to contemplate it all, Domsohn then threw himself into the basketball season, where he is the starting point guard for the Eagles.
“I’ve been around sports my whole life, so I am pretty confident I can play just about any sport,” he said.
The Domsohn name is sprinkled throughout the Shanahan soccer roster, so it’s easy to see why family is so important to Zane. For the last few seasons, his cousin Bryce was the Eagles’ starting goaltender, and in 2021 his brother Zander was an impactful midfielder despite only being a sophomore. Older cousin Gavin played and graduated from Shanahan in 2020.
According to Kalavik, the Domsohn cousins are more like brothers. And it only makes sense because not only have they been playing soccer together for years, they live in adjacent homes in Downingtown. Obviously, Zane’s father Dave, and his uncle Matt are very close.
“I am so grateful I can share my experiences with my brother and my cousins,” Zane said. “The bond we have is really strong.”
Dave Domsohn is the all-time leading goal scorer at Coatesville High School (over 100 goals) and went on to play college soccer at Bucknell. Zane’s 69 is the most ever at Shanahan, but it would have been much more if not for an abridged season in 2020 due to the coronavirus.
“My dad has a binder of all of his newspaper articles when he was in high school,” Zane said. “It just motivates me to become like him and do things that he did. He’s been teaching me about the game since I was very young.”
Domsohn’s scoring output this fall was the most in Chester County since former Conestoga (and current Drexel) star Chris Donovan notched 56 as a senior in 2017. In all, Domsohn registered nine three-goal outings in ’21, including all three goals in a big win over Radnor to win the district title.
“We were the team we were this year because of Zane Domsohn,” Kalavik said.
“But the team stuff is more important to me,” Zane pointed out. “If you ask me in a few years, I might change my mind, but you can have all the stats in the world, but for me it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not winning.
“If I scored three goals a game and we would lose, would not be happy. I would rather not score and win.”
He was a unanimous choice as the Ches-Mont National Player of the Year, as voted by league coaches.
“He has the understanding of how to make space for himself and the uncanny ability to find that spot to give himself an opportunity,” said Great Valley head coach Dave Moffett. “We had him in-check for 115 minutes and then gave him a chance and it was game over.”
Domsohn has drawn some serious interest from Division I soccer programs, but he’s yet to make a decision on a college. He has already visited Hofstra and is planning a visit to Coastal Carolina.
Photo By Peter DiGiovanni, pdgiovanni07@gmail.com,
@PeteDLN on Twitter |
Zane Domsohn
Congratulations to Zane Domhson who was named to the 2021 Boys Pennsylvania All-State Team and to the United Soccer Coaches East Regional Team (one of 70 nominees from NY, NJ, and PA). He was also named as the 2021 United States Coaches All Region II (East) All American! |
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Photos by Pete Bannan, Daily Local News/MediaNews Group
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"Archbishop Wood scores early, hangs on to beat Bishop Shanahan in PIAA-3A semifinals" by Kev Hunter, PA PREP Live, November 16, 2021
WORCESTER >> Archbishop Wood’s final team huddle on Tuesday night broke with the refrain: “second team in Wood history to go to Hershey.” And then, somebody quickly added: “but we’re not done yet.” The Vikings moved one step closer to earning the program its first ever state title, earning a 1-0 victory over District One Champion Bishop Shanahan in the PIAA-3A semifinals at chilly Methacton High. |
“We knew they had solid strikers – (Zane Domsohn) and (Jaden Jones) gave Lou (Daniele) and I a handful back there,” said Vikings senior defender Dom Petruzzelli. “But we had a great game plan. It was a handful. We knew they had four in the back and their goalie was spectacular. But it felt amazing to get one in early and then hold ’em.”
The victory advances Wood to Saturday’s final at 6:30 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium against either West Allegheny or Hampton. A tremendous season for the Eagles came to a close on the turf at Methacton.
“Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t go in the back of the net,” Eagles coach Jim Kalavik said. “They’re an amazing group of kids. They’ve done everything we’ve asked. They’re a strong senior nucleus and we got great contributions from underclassmen. They’re like a family and they’re a great group of kids.”
The Vikings struck less than eight minutes into the contest.
C.J. Clyde, who had two goals in the quarterfinal win over North Pocono on Saturday, scored off an assist from Jackson Kiss.
“We probably should have had two or three up there, but just that one in the first eight minutes gave us the energy to get going,” Petruzzelli said. “We have something special going on right now.”
The two teams battled back and forth for the remaining 72 minutes, with Shanahan’s Bryce Domsohn and Wood’s Julian Naumenko making key saves for their respective teams.
Wood clung to its 1-0 lead, its experience in tight contests providing a boost.
“The PCL is probably the best league in the state in my opinion,” Petruzzelli said. “Going against them and knowing we can beat those good teams, we know if we can hang with them, we can hang with anyone.”
Tuesday’s venue provided the Vikings some extra motivation.
“As a sophomore, my fellow seniors and I were here that year and we lost to Strath Haven in the state semis 2-0,” Petruzzelli said. “As soon as we found out we were coming to Methacton, we were like ‘revenge game at Methacton.’ It was a great feeling coming back here and getting that win.”
The pace of the game intensified in the second half but Wood held strong.
“These guys work real hard. We may not be the most technical team all the time but we work hard,” Vikings coach Hugh Kelly said. “From Day One, they came out, never gave up. We had a major disappointment in the PCL Playoffs, losing to Lansdale Catholic. We expected to win and they played to win. And it was a good wake-up call. And I think it really got us back on track as far as states.”
The Vikings march on.
“Nobody has won (a state title for Wood) yet, so we’re trying to make history,” said Petruzzelli. “We are ready to go and we are pumped. With the group of guys we have, and my 11 seniors next to me the entire way, it just feels amazing.”
The victory advances Wood to Saturday’s final at 6:30 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium against either West Allegheny or Hampton. A tremendous season for the Eagles came to a close on the turf at Methacton.
“Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t go in the back of the net,” Eagles coach Jim Kalavik said. “They’re an amazing group of kids. They’ve done everything we’ve asked. They’re a strong senior nucleus and we got great contributions from underclassmen. They’re like a family and they’re a great group of kids.”
The Vikings struck less than eight minutes into the contest.
C.J. Clyde, who had two goals in the quarterfinal win over North Pocono on Saturday, scored off an assist from Jackson Kiss.
“We probably should have had two or three up there, but just that one in the first eight minutes gave us the energy to get going,” Petruzzelli said. “We have something special going on right now.”
The two teams battled back and forth for the remaining 72 minutes, with Shanahan’s Bryce Domsohn and Wood’s Julian Naumenko making key saves for their respective teams.
Wood clung to its 1-0 lead, its experience in tight contests providing a boost.
“The PCL is probably the best league in the state in my opinion,” Petruzzelli said. “Going against them and knowing we can beat those good teams, we know if we can hang with them, we can hang with anyone.”
Tuesday’s venue provided the Vikings some extra motivation.
“As a sophomore, my fellow seniors and I were here that year and we lost to Strath Haven in the state semis 2-0,” Petruzzelli said. “As soon as we found out we were coming to Methacton, we were like ‘revenge game at Methacton.’ It was a great feeling coming back here and getting that win.”
The pace of the game intensified in the second half but Wood held strong.
“These guys work real hard. We may not be the most technical team all the time but we work hard,” Vikings coach Hugh Kelly said. “From Day One, they came out, never gave up. We had a major disappointment in the PCL Playoffs, losing to Lansdale Catholic. We expected to win and they played to win. And it was a good wake-up call. And I think it really got us back on track as far as states.”
The Vikings march on.
“Nobody has won (a state title for Wood) yet, so we’re trying to make history,” said Petruzzelli. “We are ready to go and we are pumped. With the group of guys we have, and my 11 seniors next to me the entire way, it just feels amazing.”
Photo by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live
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"Shanahan blanks NW Lehigh, advances to PIAA semifinal" by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live, November 14, 2021
In late boys’ soccer action on Saturday, Bishop Shanahan blanked Northwest Lehigh 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the PIAA 3A Playoffs. The District 1 champs will face District 12 champion Archbishop Wood on Tuesday in the semis with a berth in the state final on the line. It will take place at Methacton High School at 7 p.m. |
The Eagles jumped out to an early when Zane Domsohn headed home a beautiful cross from Colin Deal just under eight minutes into the match. And then, with less than a minute to go in the half, Paul Ziegler settled a pass from his brother Michael and ripped a shot from 25 yards out that hit the crossbar and dropped down. It was unclear if the ball crossed the goal line, but Zane Domsohn left no doubt, putting the ball into the back of the net for the 2-0 lead.
With the win, Bishop Shanahan improves to 19-4 overall.
Bishop Shanahan 2, Northwest Lehigh 0
Bishop Shanahan goals: Z. Domsohn 2.
Saves: Crocco (NWL) 9; B. Domsohn (BS) 7.
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Photo 3 by Pete Bannan, Daily Times
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"Shanahan blanks Donegal, moves to PIAA quarterfinals" by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live, November 9, 2021
DOWNINGTOWN >> To be the best boys soccer squad in Bishop Shanahan history, you have to do things that no other was able to accomplish. And the 2021 Eagles are now on a cusp. With Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Donegal in the first round of the PIAA 3A playoffs, Shanahan advances to the state quarterfinals – equaling the furthest postseason run in program history. Up next is the winner between Northwestern Lehigh and Palmyra on Saturday. |
“We’ve been preaching that any team that’s in states is really good, so we had to come in with the same mindset we had in the district final,” said senior midfielder Colin Deal, who notched a goal and an assist.
Fresh off the second district title run ever, the Eagles want to be the first to make it to the semifinals this weekend, but only because it is another step toward the ultimate goal.
“It would mean a lot to us to make some school history. I think the sky is the limit for this team,” said junior winger Paul Ziegler. “My brother Matthew was on the 2017 team that made it to the quarters. So of course I want to go further.
“But we are not celebrating right now. We know what we want to do, and that’s to win the state title. We are not looking for anything else.”
Now 18-4 overall, Shanahan had little trouble dispatching the Indians (14-7-1 overall), who were the fourth seed out of District 3. With an overwhelming edge in shots on goal (23-6) and corner kicks (4-0), the Eagles scored twice in the first half and cruised from there.
“We were fortunate enough to get some film on Donegal and we saw some things that were going to be beneficial to our style of play,” said Shanahan head coach Jim Kalavik. “The guys executed, particularly in the first half.
“We didn’t play so hot in the second half offensively.”
The Eagles did, however, put in 80 minutes of rock-solid defense. Goaltender Bryce Domsohn turned aside just six shots, and none were really anything more than routine.
“All-in-all, we did a very good job of keeping our shape defensively. Evan Cunningham and Patrick Bracken have been doing a great job for us back there all season, and so has Bryce (Domsohn) behind them.”
From the start, the Eagles were on the attack. A few minutes in, senior star Zane Domsohn forced a save by a defender, and then about seven minutes later senior midfielder Colin Deal opened the scoring with a shot from a tough angle off an assist by Ziegler.
The Eagles had the first seven shots on goal and later made it 2-0 when Domsohn scored off a centering pass from Deal late in the first half. Shanahan outshot the Indians 15-4 in the opening 40 minutes.
In a defensive-minded second half, the best scoring chance came at the midway point when Zander Domsohn, Zane’s younger brother, had a blast hit off the crossbar.
Zane Domsohn has now scored 40 goals this season, which has been a single season school record since he reached number 25. He’s now scored six of Shanahan’s nine post-season goals this fall.
“We have some serious attack players all over the field, it just so happens that Zane ends up on the end of a lot of the chances because of his talent,” Kalavik explained. “We have other goals scorers like Jaden Jones and Zander Domsohn.”
Afterwards, Kalavik had plenty of complimentary things to say about Deal. And he also made crystal clear the only outcome this season that would fully satisfy him, his staff and his players.
“When we play our game, the only team that can beat us is Bishop Shanahan,” he said.
“This is just a special group of kids. They come ready to go, they’ve worked hard for this. The only goal we have in mind is that state trophy.”
Bishop Shanahan 2, Donegal 0
Donegal 0 0 — 0
Bishop Shanahan 2 0 — 2
Bishop Shanahan goals: Deal, Z. Domsohn.
Goalie saves: Geesey (D) 13; Ncube (D) 8; S. Domsohn (BS) 6.
Fresh off the second district title run ever, the Eagles want to be the first to make it to the semifinals this weekend, but only because it is another step toward the ultimate goal.
“It would mean a lot to us to make some school history. I think the sky is the limit for this team,” said junior winger Paul Ziegler. “My brother Matthew was on the 2017 team that made it to the quarters. So of course I want to go further.
“But we are not celebrating right now. We know what we want to do, and that’s to win the state title. We are not looking for anything else.”
Now 18-4 overall, Shanahan had little trouble dispatching the Indians (14-7-1 overall), who were the fourth seed out of District 3. With an overwhelming edge in shots on goal (23-6) and corner kicks (4-0), the Eagles scored twice in the first half and cruised from there.
“We were fortunate enough to get some film on Donegal and we saw some things that were going to be beneficial to our style of play,” said Shanahan head coach Jim Kalavik. “The guys executed, particularly in the first half.
“We didn’t play so hot in the second half offensively.”
The Eagles did, however, put in 80 minutes of rock-solid defense. Goaltender Bryce Domsohn turned aside just six shots, and none were really anything more than routine.
“All-in-all, we did a very good job of keeping our shape defensively. Evan Cunningham and Patrick Bracken have been doing a great job for us back there all season, and so has Bryce (Domsohn) behind them.”
From the start, the Eagles were on the attack. A few minutes in, senior star Zane Domsohn forced a save by a defender, and then about seven minutes later senior midfielder Colin Deal opened the scoring with a shot from a tough angle off an assist by Ziegler.
The Eagles had the first seven shots on goal and later made it 2-0 when Domsohn scored off a centering pass from Deal late in the first half. Shanahan outshot the Indians 15-4 in the opening 40 minutes.
In a defensive-minded second half, the best scoring chance came at the midway point when Zander Domsohn, Zane’s younger brother, had a blast hit off the crossbar.
Zane Domsohn has now scored 40 goals this season, which has been a single season school record since he reached number 25. He’s now scored six of Shanahan’s nine post-season goals this fall.
“We have some serious attack players all over the field, it just so happens that Zane ends up on the end of a lot of the chances because of his talent,” Kalavik explained. “We have other goals scorers like Jaden Jones and Zander Domsohn.”
Afterwards, Kalavik had plenty of complimentary things to say about Deal. And he also made crystal clear the only outcome this season that would fully satisfy him, his staff and his players.
“When we play our game, the only team that can beat us is Bishop Shanahan,” he said.
“This is just a special group of kids. They come ready to go, they’ve worked hard for this. The only goal we have in mind is that state trophy.”
Bishop Shanahan 2, Donegal 0
Donegal 0 0 — 0
Bishop Shanahan 2 0 — 2
Bishop Shanahan goals: Deal, Z. Domsohn.
Goalie saves: Geesey (D) 13; Ncube (D) 8; S. Domsohn (BS) 6.
"Boys Soccer: Zane Domsohn helps Bishop Shanahan get revenge in district final" by Matthew De George, PA PREP Live, 11.5.21
Zane Domsohn knew what the frustration could do. It was only three weeks ago that he and his Bishop Shanahan teammates had failed to cash in their chances against Radnor, tasting the sting of a 3-0 setback in a pre-districts barometer game.
So if ever, the senior forward reasoned, he could manage an early goal in Thursday night’s District 1 semifinal, surely that would change things. Maybe even change the final result.
Domsohn obliged, heading home 100 seconds in on the way to a hat trick as third seed Bishop Shanahan flipped the script on No. 1 Radnor with a 3-0 victory at Strath Haven’s George L. King Field.
The win sends Shanahan (17-4) onto the PIAA Class 3A tournament as District 1’s lone representative. The run ends for Radnor (15-5-1), which was looking to replicate its state final berth of two years ago.
Domsohn saw his moment before most anyone had settled into the game, and he pounced. A prototypical striker’s goal, Paul Ziegler fired a cross from the left wing, and Domsohn drifted off the shoulder of the center back marking him and planted a header that rippled the net.
“When I saw it go into the back of the net, I was really happy,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a good night for us.”
Domsohn made sure of it. In the 27th minute, he and two other Eagles stood over a free kick 28 yards out in the right channel. He took the honors and looped an effort low and wide of the wall, curling it back into the open half of the net and past a sprawling Joaquin Cohen.
The third goal was sheer audaciousness, after he forced a turnover 35 yards from goal on the sideline in front of the Radnor bench. With Cohen momentarily off his line, Domsohn had a go toward the far post, a shot that just kept floating, kept floating, kept floating … nestling into the back corner of the net past a flailing Cohen.
“I knew he was going to clear it, and it came right to me and I thought, ‘why not?’,” Domsohn, who then mugged with arms wide in front of the Radnor student sections. “I hit it and it went right in the net.”
As much as it was Domsohn’s day, a goal just wasn’t in the cards for the Raptors. They generated dozens of dangerous service into the box, from free kicks to corners to the long throw of Danny Rosenblum. But they couldn’t seem to make a connection. Some of it was bad luck, some was four saves by Bryce Domsohn, some of it a well-drilled Shanahan defense that had a glimpsed the price of not responding to Radnor’s aerial attack.
But it just didn’t come off for the Raptors.
“The frustration is always there when you can’t finish on those,” senior center back Sebastian Kaper-Barcelata said. “But we’re always looking to scrap on throw-ins, on corners, just to get a head on it, get a toe on it. And usually it works.”
“We spent a lot of this week practicing corner kicks and set pieces, and it paid off,” Zane Domsohn said. “They didn’t have any chances.”
Nick Lucchesi had a pair of chances off long throws, but Bryce Domsohn was equal each time. Lucchesi also had the ball in the back of the net early in the second half, but it was ruled off on a handball as he settled a bouncing ball, which Radnor didn’t argue.
With 16 minutes left and Radnor still down two, Kaper-Barcelata found the ball flicked on to him at the back post. But Domsohn paddled away his initial header, and his second attempt on the volley in close quarters right on the touch line hit the side netting.
“Obviously we weren’t expecting going down that early, but we had belief, we had faith,” Kaper-Barcelata said. “I had faith in my teammates. We wanted to get the goal back. We were close on a few, just didn’t execute and we let it get away from us.”
Cohen played well, making five saves, all in a busy first half. He made an amazing denial with three minutes left to the break when Jaden Jones picked out the late run of holding mid Colin Deal with a cross. Deal volleyed it first time, but Cohen flexed it away, then snuffed Deal’s headed bid on the ensuing corner.
The thrill of a trophy and a states berth stood on its own, so the Eagles didn’t need any extra juice from the revenge factor. But the steadfastness of belief that they could upset a team that had beaten them so soundly and so recently was a big part of the preparation.
Seeing that come to fruition was certainly satisfying for Zane Domsohn and company.
“I think it helped us knowing that they did beat us, but we knew that we were in the game the whole time,” he said. “We knew that if we played our best, we could beat them.”
Zane Domsohn knew what the frustration could do. It was only three weeks ago that he and his Bishop Shanahan teammates had failed to cash in their chances against Radnor, tasting the sting of a 3-0 setback in a pre-districts barometer game.
So if ever, the senior forward reasoned, he could manage an early goal in Thursday night’s District 1 semifinal, surely that would change things. Maybe even change the final result.
Domsohn obliged, heading home 100 seconds in on the way to a hat trick as third seed Bishop Shanahan flipped the script on No. 1 Radnor with a 3-0 victory at Strath Haven’s George L. King Field.
The win sends Shanahan (17-4) onto the PIAA Class 3A tournament as District 1’s lone representative. The run ends for Radnor (15-5-1), which was looking to replicate its state final berth of two years ago.
Domsohn saw his moment before most anyone had settled into the game, and he pounced. A prototypical striker’s goal, Paul Ziegler fired a cross from the left wing, and Domsohn drifted off the shoulder of the center back marking him and planted a header that rippled the net.
“When I saw it go into the back of the net, I was really happy,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a good night for us.”
Domsohn made sure of it. In the 27th minute, he and two other Eagles stood over a free kick 28 yards out in the right channel. He took the honors and looped an effort low and wide of the wall, curling it back into the open half of the net and past a sprawling Joaquin Cohen.
The third goal was sheer audaciousness, after he forced a turnover 35 yards from goal on the sideline in front of the Radnor bench. With Cohen momentarily off his line, Domsohn had a go toward the far post, a shot that just kept floating, kept floating, kept floating … nestling into the back corner of the net past a flailing Cohen.
“I knew he was going to clear it, and it came right to me and I thought, ‘why not?’,” Domsohn, who then mugged with arms wide in front of the Radnor student sections. “I hit it and it went right in the net.”
As much as it was Domsohn’s day, a goal just wasn’t in the cards for the Raptors. They generated dozens of dangerous service into the box, from free kicks to corners to the long throw of Danny Rosenblum. But they couldn’t seem to make a connection. Some of it was bad luck, some was four saves by Bryce Domsohn, some of it a well-drilled Shanahan defense that had a glimpsed the price of not responding to Radnor’s aerial attack.
But it just didn’t come off for the Raptors.
“The frustration is always there when you can’t finish on those,” senior center back Sebastian Kaper-Barcelata said. “But we’re always looking to scrap on throw-ins, on corners, just to get a head on it, get a toe on it. And usually it works.”
“We spent a lot of this week practicing corner kicks and set pieces, and it paid off,” Zane Domsohn said. “They didn’t have any chances.”
Nick Lucchesi had a pair of chances off long throws, but Bryce Domsohn was equal each time. Lucchesi also had the ball in the back of the net early in the second half, but it was ruled off on a handball as he settled a bouncing ball, which Radnor didn’t argue.
With 16 minutes left and Radnor still down two, Kaper-Barcelata found the ball flicked on to him at the back post. But Domsohn paddled away his initial header, and his second attempt on the volley in close quarters right on the touch line hit the side netting.
“Obviously we weren’t expecting going down that early, but we had belief, we had faith,” Kaper-Barcelata said. “I had faith in my teammates. We wanted to get the goal back. We were close on a few, just didn’t execute and we let it get away from us.”
Cohen played well, making five saves, all in a busy first half. He made an amazing denial with three minutes left to the break when Jaden Jones picked out the late run of holding mid Colin Deal with a cross. Deal volleyed it first time, but Cohen flexed it away, then snuffed Deal’s headed bid on the ensuing corner.
The thrill of a trophy and a states berth stood on its own, so the Eagles didn’t need any extra juice from the revenge factor. But the steadfastness of belief that they could upset a team that had beaten them so soundly and so recently was a big part of the preparation.
Seeing that come to fruition was certainly satisfying for Zane Domsohn and company.
“I think it helped us knowing that they did beat us, but we knew that we were in the game the whole time,” he said. “We knew that if we played our best, we could beat them.”
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Domsohn scores hat trick, power Shanahan past Upper Perkiomen (Photo and article by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live 10/27/21)
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DOWNINGTOWN >> There are soccer players who can score goals, and then there are the truly special ones who are renown as ‘goal scorers.’
It’s kind of hard to explain, but you know it when you see it. And Bishop Shanahan’s Zane Domsohn is the real McCoy.
The senior has all of the skill and intangibles when it comes to putting the ball into the net: the athleticism, the footwork, the mentality and the nose for the ball. And on Wednesday in the District 1 3A Quarterfinal Round, he exhibited it all by notching the hat trick and leading the Eagles to a 3-1 win over visiting Upper Perkiomen.
“Zane just knows how to score, and he scores in critical moments,” said Shanahan head coach Jim Kalavik.
“He’s a big, strong fella,” added Indians’ head coach Kyle Fisher. “(Domsohn) attacks like he wants it, and three times he got it. He’s got a bright future.”
Now 15-4 overall, the third-seeded Eagles advance to Friday’s semifinal to take on No. 2 Lower Moreland. The sixth seed, Upper Perkiomen’s season ends with a 12-7 mark.
“I definitely think we have a chance,” said Shanahan senior defender Evan Cunningham. “We play good competition all through the season. If we play our style of play, we can go far in the postseason.”
Domsohn entered the postseason with 33 goals this fall, so it’s safe to say that every team slants its defense his way. The Indians certainly did, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Domsohn’s game-winner early in the second half was spectacular, and so was his insurance goal in the final two minutes of regulation.
“When you score 36 goals in a season, there is bound to be some spectacular ones mixed in there,” Kalavik said.
“It was obvious early that (Upper Perkiomen) knew who they needed to mark on the field. But Zane is a top player. You can scout him all you want, but he is still going to find the back of the net.”
Clinging to a 1-0 halftime lead, the Eagles had a great chance to get another when a pass from junior Paul Ziegler was headed by Domsohn toward an open net, but Indians’ goalkeeper Matthew Wanamaker made a great diving save.
About three minutes later, however, Ziegler and Domsohn teamed up for a memorable tally and a 2-0 lead. This time the pass had pace and was several feet off the ground, but Domsohn somehow found a way to collect the ball and direct it.
“I took it down with my left foot and then volleyed it top-corner with my right,” Domsohn explained.
But Upper Perkiomen never gave up, and with 15:39 on the clock freshman Matthew Fisher notched a goal on his team’s first shot on goal. Clearly inspired, the Indians proceeded to turn up the pressure offensively the rest of the way in a desperate bid to get the equalizer.
“There is a lot of fight with this group, so I am not surprised at all that they made it a game and came back to make it interesting,” Fisher said.
“We thought if we could hold (Shanahan) defensively then we could change tactics and get a little bit more offensive later in the game, which is exactly what we did.”
Upper Perk never did get another goal, and Domsohn made it 3-1 when he harassed Wanamaker, forced a loose ball, and deposited it just inside the near post with 1:47 to go.
“Colin Deal headed the ball into a dangerous area and I got my foot on it, the goalie lost control of it and I just tracked it down and was able to tap it in,” Domsohn recalled.
The Eagles had all of the shots on goal (six) and corners (two) in the first half, but didn’t take the lead until Domsohn hit pay dirt with just over two minutes on the clock. Once again it was Ziegler delivering a centering pass that glanced off a defender, found its way to Domsohn in the goal mouth, and he made sure the shot counted.
“Zane finds ways to score against any team and any defense,” Cunningham said.
“I’ve joked with him that he’s like Premier League players where even if he isn’t having his best game, it doesn’t matter. If there’s five minutes left and we need a goal, he will do it.”
When asked about the mindset of a ‘goal scorer,’ Domsohn talked about his overwhelming determination to see the ball in the opponent’s net. But he also mentioned a major motivational figure in his life: Dave, his dad.
In the previous century, Dave Domsohn scored more than 100 goals during his playing career at Coatesville High School.
“I’ve seen a bunch of the old newspaper clippings about my dad and how he scored a lot of goals, and it just motivates me to try to be like that,” Zane said.
Shanahan finished with an edge in shots on goal (16-2) and corner kicks (4-1). But afterwards, Fisher wanted to credit his seniors for four years of work.
“This senior class won the most regular season games as any group I’ve had, and it’s the most in about 15-16 years,” he said.
Bishop Shanahan 3, Upper Perkiomen 1
Upper Perkiomen 0 1 — 1
Bishop Shanahan 1 2 — 3
Upper Perkiomen goals: Fisher.
Bishop Shanahan goals: Z. Domsohn 3.
Goalie saves: Wanamaker (UP) 13; B. Domsohn (BS) 1.
"Double OT goal gives Shanahan key win over Downingtown West" by Neil Geoghegan, PA PREP Live, September 21, 2021
DOWNINGTOWN >> It only made sense. Bishop Shanahan senior striker Zane Domsohn was all over the field on Tuesday evening against Ches-Mont rival Downingtown West, orchestrating a whole bunch of serious scoring threats.
So when the host Eagles notched the game-winner in the first minute of the second overtime, who could blame Shanahan head coach Jim Kalavik from thinking that it was Domsohn who booted in the difference in a 2-1 boys’ soccer marathon at Jack Mancini Field?
Afterwards, after a wild celebration of the critical win against the previously unbeaten Whippets, Domsohn set the record straight.
“It was Colin,” he said.
Colin, as in senior Colin Deal. The two-way midfielder was actually the one who corralled a rebound and put it into the back of the net with 9:02 on the clock in double OT to give the Eagles a huge boost in their quest to at least contend for the Ches-Mont championship.
“This was a must win, for us to have any shot at the Ches-Mont (crown),” Kalavik said.
“We battled the entire time until the end,” Zane Domsohn added. “We don’t give up and if we just keep pushing, we can compete with anyone.”
Now 3-1 in the league (5-2 overall), Shanahan is still in the title chase along with prime contenders like unbeaten West Chester Henderson and Downingtown West (4-1, 6-1).
“We knew this was going to be our first really good test,” said first-year West head coach Joe Sales. “I thought my guys handled it all pretty well – it was a good fight.
“It’s unfortunate that a deflection in the second overtime decided it.”
The Whippets entered the contest having outscored its opponents 23-1. But the Eagles peppered West keeper Aiden Primanti with 23 shots on goal. He stopped 21 of them, and the Shanahan defense also had to deal with nine corner kicks and managed to turn aside them all.
“This victory was all heart,” Kalavik said. “Our boys are motivated. We have something to play for.”
It is actually somebody: senior defender Michael McGonagle, who was lost for the season with an ankle injury and subsequent surgery. Kalavik described him as the teams ‘heart and soul.’
The Eagles finished with a lopsided 21-7 edge in shots on goal, but needed Deal’s overtime heroics to finally win it. Junior Paul Ziegler started the sequence with a blast from the left side that Primanti was able to steer away, but it went directly to Deal, who was hanging out near the opposite post.
“West’s keeper did everything he could to save it. But we’ve been running that far post all season long,” Kalavik explained.
“Downingtown West is extremely athletic and their center backs are phenomenal. We thought where we could best get our chances was to play into the space around them, and both of our goals were scored by getting to their flank.”
It was a highly competitive first half as well even though the Whippets had just one shot on goal and the Eagles had a 6-1 deficit in corner kicks in the opening 40 minutes. Senior midfielder Kyle McWilliams put the Whippets ahead about 33 minutes in on a penalty kick, left-footing it to the near corner.
But less than two minutes later Shanahan tied it when senior Anthony D’Addezio took a centering pass from Ziegler and found the open net. Both sides had nice early scoring chances, and Zane Domsohn had three of the best. But Whippets keeper Aiden Primanti was up to the challenge.
In the second half, Domsohn had a couple more prime chances, and then he very nearly ended it in the opening minute of the first overtime when Primanti got a finger (or two) onto his shot and it just missed the far post.
“Primanti did a really good job in goal,” Domsohn said.
“Especially in the big games, Zane bring a little extra,” Kalavik added. “It looked like (Downingtown West) was doubling him which helped us because it opened up the rest of the field for us to run into the space.”
The Whippets also had a chance to end it in the first OT when Matthew Lohr headed it towards the cage and Shanahan goalie Bryce Domsohn made a leaping save with West’s Alex Ade inches away.
In all, Downingtown West had a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks, but were unable to turn all of those chances into much in the way of scoring threats.
“That’s something we need to work on,” Sales said. “Give (Shanahan) credit. They had a game plan and they executed it.”
According to Kavalik, it was no coincidence that Ziegler was at the heart of both goals by the Eagles.
“Paul had two calf cramps going into the end of regulation,” he pointed out. “He came off after the first overtime and told me he wasn’t coming off the field until he was on the ground.
“He got the job done for us.”
It all amounted to a contest that Shanahan needed desperately, especially after falling to West Chester Henderson 3-0 on Sept. 13.
“Once we lost to Henderson, this one became really big,” Zane Domsohn said. “We knew we needed to win this game.”
Bishop Shanahan 2, Downingtown West 1 (2 OT)
Downingtown West 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1
Bishop Shanahan 1 0 0 0 0 1 — 2
Downingtown West goal: McWilliams.
Bishop Shanahan goals: D’Addezio, Deal
Goalie saves: Primanti (DW) 21; B. Domsohn (BS) 7
