WC Predators defeat Alloy SC to clinch second straight APSL conference title

Ridge Robinson and Troy Amspacher each scored in the first half and goalkeeper Tino Kneis and the WC Predators back line held off a second half surge from Alloy SC to wrap up the APSL Delaware River Conference regular season title for the second straight year.

Robinson opened the scoring in the 15th minute with his 31st of the campaign when he headed in a rebound by Alloy keeper Connor Bell off a shot by August Axtman. Axtman received a long ball by defender Chas Wilson and played it off his chest into the box where he was able to line up the shot.

Sixteen minutes later Tomas Ascoli received the ball after good pressure from John Austin Ricks and drove forward to the box and was taken down. Amspacher lined up the free kick from 20 yards and curled it in past a diving Bell, who got a piece of the ball but wasn’t able to keep it out. With the 2-0 lead it looked like West Chester was cruising but the second place visitors were far from throwing in the towel.

Alloy was able to grab a goal soon after halftime on a counter attack. William Ardiles fed Luke Nall with a pinpoint cross and Nall dropped his shoulder and repositioned himself for a better shot on goal, which he did to good effect. The goal switched the momentum and Alloy was able to increase their pressure on the backline and get several balls in that Kneis had to be quick off his line to cut down.

“It’s great to win the conference back to back years, first two years playing in the league,” Kneis said after the match. “We’ve had a bit of a rough spell the last week or so, we play a lot of games but it’s always nice to bounce back with a win after a draw over the weekend, which feels like a loss to us.”

The Predators dropped points for just the second time during the APSL season on Saturday evening with a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Heritage after getting knocked out of the USASA Region 1 Amateur Cup the previous Sunday. West Chester were the defending Region 1 and National Amateur Cup champions.

“We’re not playing our best soccer right now,” Predators head coach Blaise Santangelo said. “I think we’re a little tired, a little banged up and everyone is giving us their best game so nothing is easy.”

The Predators improved to 17-2-0 (W-D-L) on the year with three games left to play in the regular season. The top four teams in the conference advance to the conference playoffs. Oaklyn United is currently in second, followed by Alloy SC and Real Central NJ. Philadelphia SC is within striking distance of the fourth place spot at four points back with a game in hand.