By Evan Burgos

One thing better than winning a championship is being practically perfect while doing it. And Conestoga, it can now say, was practically perfect in 2011.

The Pioneers topped Upper St. Clair, 1-0, to win the PIAA Class AAA state boys’ soccer championship Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium.

The win completes an undefeated season in which the Pioneers went 24-0-1, with a tie to Shipley on Oct. 22.

When the final whistle blew, the team took to the stands, where a raucous, vuvuzela-blowing, cowbell-ringing crowd embraced the school’s first boys’ soccer state champions since 1988.

“To go undefeated, to win the state title is really a dream, is what it is,” Pioneers coach Dave Zimmerman said. “The thing I love about it more than anything is I think it’s safe to say that not only is this the greatest team in the history of the school, but I think the feat cannot be equaled.

“No one can be greater. There’s nothing else anyone can possibly do. It’s hard to imagine, even though it’s actually happening.”

Conestoga took a 1-0 lead 1 minute, 17 seconds into the second half. Senior tricaptain Andrew Connors led a magnificent break, weaving through the Upper St. Clair midfield before lacing a through ball with the outside of his right foot to a streaking Nick Laganelli.

Laganelli made a cut to break past the Panthers’ last line of defense and crossed to T-Ben Donnie, who deposited the ball in the back of the net for his 10th score of the season.
“I got the ball, knew what I was doing, fed it off, and just there’s the goal. Happens a lot,” Connors said.

“I just happened to be in the right spot at the right time. The defender got caught ball-watching, and I was able to get a touch on it,” Donnie said.

The Pioneers were the better offensive team, displaying excellent poise on the ball and making their trademark pinpoint passes. They held a 12-7 shot advantage and worked in the attacking third for much of the second half.

Upper St. Clair’s best chance of the game came with less than 11 minutes to go. Matthew Kiernan hooked a clear look from about 18 yards, but it went wide of the net.

The Panthers were pressuring the Conestoga back line late, but it stood firm and preserved the shutout.

“We’ve hung on all year,” Pioneers goalkeeper Clarke Fox said. “It’s a Conestoga win for us: getting a lead early and hanging on.”
The Pioneers, ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer and No. 6 in the country by ESPN Rise, finished the season on an eight-game winning streak. They haven’t lost since the 2010 state quarterfinals on Nov. 13, 2010.

They shut out 17 opponents this season and didn’t allow more than one goal in any game. They didn’t surrender a lead the entire season and were spectacular in close affairs: 13 of their wins came by one goal.

Upper St. Clair, the District 7 champion, was seeking its first state championship since winning back-to-back state titles in 2003-04.

“Hands down, they’re the best team we’ve seen this year,” Panthers coach Uwe Schneider said of the Pioneers.