Early goal, stout defense leads Radnor to first state title in 20 years

An early goal on a finish in the box by sophomore Aidan Haas and an impressively organized and workmanlike defensive display led Radnor to a 1-0 win over Moon Area and the school’s first state title since 2004.

Haas hit home a deflected ball in traffic in the box off a short corner by Dean Moon just three minutes in.

“It happened so quick off the corner,” Aidan Haas said. “I just have to give credit to Roman (Rivera) for shielding the keeper there. It was just such a great feeling but I really couldn’t have done it without the team and I give all credit and props to them.”

Rivera, fellow senior captain Commerce Fisk and junior Quincy Hippler anchored a back line in front of senior goalkeeper JD Ball that limited the Tigers’ attack all game. Ball stepped up with a big save just before the half but wasn’t tested much the rest of the way. Still, his leadership from the back organizing a back line that was calm and collected was key.

“Playing behind (this defense) I know they’ll do their job and all I have to do is really organize them and I know they’ll listen to me and get in the right spots,” Ball said. “Throughout the season I haven’t had to do much and I knew in this game I knew I’d have to step up more and I feel like I did that.”

Ball’s counterpart Will Guarino was under considerably more pressure and made some big stops and interventions of his own to keep his side within striking distance. But every time the Tigers would have a bright attacking moment – usually through the dynamic senior midfielders Evan Thomas and Finn Dengel – the defensive shape stayed true to deny the chance.

“The tape that we’ve seen, and what we saw today, their individual skill was impressive, but I think what we stuck to was our collective press to where we try and suffocate teams in all three thirds,” Radnor head coach Joe Caruolo said. “And listen, it looked like it was a game of territory to where we pinned them in, we suffocated them a bit, and then they pinned us a bit in the second half for a good amount of time, and the favor went towards them, but just constantly getting team pressure I think gave them a run for their money.”

Radnor was in the final for the first time since 2018 when they lost 1-0 to Wilson on a controversial goal. The title was later vacated due to an ineligible player. Radnor’s only previous state final win came in 2004 in a 1-0 victory over South Park at Hersheypark Stadium in the Class 2A final. Kyle Shilcock-Elliott, a current assistant, was the head coach of that 2004 team. The program also made a run to the final in 1980, losing 2-1 to Fleetwood.

The Raptors started the season 12-0 with 8 one-goal wins but slipped up with back-to-back losses to Conestoga and Penncrest and dropped their final regular season game 3-2 to Shipley. The team really started to click in their run to a second straight District 1 championship – outscoring opponents 8-0 in three wins – and through the state playoffs, where they outscored opponents 10-1 to reach the final.

“We didn’t really peak until the playoffs to where we started scoring and creating more high percentage chances,” Caruolo said. “And so for me, it was we might have had the ball in the earlier season and won nail biters, but we knew that wasn’t our potential. So when we adjusted a few tactical things, I think the confidence grew and we started scoring, and the belief just grew and grew.”

Caruolo, who became the program’s winningest coach during the regular season, received an ice water bath during the post-game celebration to put an exclamation point on a season that can be trace back to when many of the players were young and he was coaching them at Radnor Soccer Club.

“The first time I had coach Joe was in third grade,” Fisk said. “Four different club seasons I had him as coach and I was lucky enough to be on varsity all four years.”

Over four seasons on varsity, Fisk has been part of the progression from season-to-season along with the heartbreaking exits like last year’s penalty kick loss in the state semifinals. He’s also embraced a number of different roles on the team and moved around the field, from the front to the back.

“We have so much talent on this team,” Fisk said. “But what it comes down to is this is a team in the truest definition of the word and I’ve been playing with some of these guys since I was five.”

For Caruolo, the shared history with the players and their families dating back to elementary school and the time he’s spent with the team on and off the field are what made the win extra special.

“That’s the most intrinsic reward about it all, to know that I’ve coached many of these guys since they were eight,” he said. “But also that they won because they’re good people, good brothers and then good soccer players after that.”