Local Soccer Notebook: October 27, 2017

Downingtown native Zack Steffen’s career hit a new high on Thursday night when the 22-year-old goalkeeper helped Columbus Crew silence an MLS playoff record 67,221 fans at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Steffen made eight saves through 120 minutes of a scoreless draw and then made a pair of saves in the penalty shootout to send the Crew through to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We wanted to shut that crowd up, and we did,” the former FC Delco standout and Philadelphia Union youth was quoted saying after the match.

Former FC Delco star Jeff Larentowicz was on the wrong end of the penalty shootout, slamming his attempt from the spot off the post.

In other playoff action, Lawrenceville, New Jersey native Jake Nerwinski and Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 5-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Zach Zandi (West Chester, Pa.), Kenny Lasseter (Narberth, Pa.) and Joe Swenson shared Philly Soccer 6 honors this week. Zandi had the game-winner for Villanova to beat Penn, Lassiter had a brace in La Salle’s win over Saint Joseph’s and Swenson had four goals for Penn in a win over Yale.

Michael Samnik was named defensive player of the week and Ritchie Barry rookie of the week for his two goals for Saint Joseph’s in the loss to La Salle.

The Philly Soccer 6 schedule ended on October 24 with a 1-0 La Salle win over Drexel, giving them a share of the title with Villanova. Pat McCarthy (Cinnaminson, N.J.) scored the lone goal in the match. La Salle beat Penn last month while Villanova had wins over Saint Joseph’s and Penn.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Raheem Taylor-Parkes took just 16 seconds to score for Virginia after coming off the sub’s bench against Pitt. The goal was his second of the season.

Lafayette forward Evan Vare (Jamison, Pa.) scored a hat trick to lead his team to a 3-2 win over Navy. The former Central Bucks East standout has six goals on the season and an assist.

Reading United forward Frantdzy Pierrot scored on this overhead kick for Coastal Carolina to lead them to a 1-0 win over Maryland in College Park.

San Diego midfielder Santiago Majewski verbally committed to join Temple for the 2018 season.

Joseph Franks was recently named U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Young Male Referee of the Year. Franks is a student at Temple University studying mathematics.

Chris Bratton handed out awards for the 2017 Harrisburg City Islanders season.

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