There’s just one given when Conrad Weiser and Abington Heights meet Saturday at Northeastern High School in the final match of the season: One program is going to win its first state title in boys soccer.
The Scouts (27-0-1) and the Comets (23-1) will take the field at 10 a.m. for the 3A title match and by early afternoon one of them will be toting a PIAA championship trophy back to either Berks or Lackawanna County. It’s the first state final for both schools.
Conrad Weiser has won back-to-back District 3 titles, bowing out last year in the PIAA tournament in the semifinals after a 1-0 loss to Moon Area.
The only blemish on Conrad Weiser’s record is a 1-1 tie with Cocalico on Aug. 27. Since then, the Scouts have rattled off 25 straight wins, and captured the BCIAA and District 3 Class 3A championships.
They’ve won three games in the state playoffs, having to make the trip to Mansion Park in Altoona in their last two matches to face western Pennsylvania opponents.
With four district and three county championship trophies in the school’s showcase, the Scouts are hoping to add the biggest trophy of them all on Saturday.
The Conrad Weiser-Abington Heights match kicks off the second day of soccer championships at Northeastern. On Friday, titles will be decided in 2A and 4A boys and girls, with Saturday crowning champions in 1A and 3A boys and girls.
Conrad Weiser is the only District 3 team to make the championship game in any of the eight brackets.
2-1 Abington Heights (23-1) vs. 3-1 Conrad Weiser (27-0-1)
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
Where: Northeastern High School, Manchester
Admission: Tickets must be purchased online through Hometown Ticketing. Go to piaa.org, click on the link and find the game you’d like to attend.
How they got here: Abington Heights beat District 4 champion Selinsgrove, 5-0, in the first round, District 11 champion Blue Mountain, 1-0 in overtime, in the quarterfinals and District 1 champion Harriton, 2-0, in the semifinals. Conrad Weiser beat District 7 bronze medalist Thomas Jefferson, 4-1, in the first round, District 7 runner-up Franklin Regional, 2-0, in the quarterfinals and District 8 champion Taylor Allderdice, 3-1, in the semifinals.
Breakdown: Abington Heights and Conrad Weiser had one common opponent this season, Blue Mountain. The Comets beat Blue Mountain, 1-0 in overtime, on Saturday, while the Scouts defeated Blue Mountain, 3-0, on Aug. 30. … Conrad Weiser outscored its opponents, 104-11, and secured 17 clean sheets this season. In seven postseason games, the Scouts outscored their opponents, 23-4, with four shutouts. … Conrad Weiser striker Abu Barrie led the Berks County League with 82 points, including 32 goals and 18 assists, and is the league’s player of the year. Midfielder Owen Hunt is fourth in the league with 54 points, including 17 goals and 20 assists, and had an assist in Tuesday’s win over Allderdice. Midfielder Owen Meredith is 11th in the league in points with 28, including eight goals and 12 assists, and had a goal Tuesday. Defender Parker Centeno tied for 12th in the league with 27 points, including 12 goals and and three assists, and had a goal Tuesday. Striker Cash Stout is tied for 16th in the league with 26 points, including 12 goals and two assists. … Midfielder Luke Callahan (three goals, six assists), defender Sam Harry, goalkeeper Dan Heil (39 saves, 11 goals allowed), Hunt and Meredith earned a spot on the league’s All-Division 2 Team, while Derek Long is the league’s coach of the year. … Abington Heights outscored its opponents, 132-9, and compiled 17 clean sheets this season. In six postseason games, the Comets outscored their opponents, 29-0. … Forward Joey Pivirotto leads the team with 96 points, including 42 goals and 12 assists, and had a goal to clinch Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Harriton. Midfielder Nico Bustos is second on the team with 70 points, including 26 goals and 18 assists, and scored the game-winner against Blue Mountain on Saturday and Harriton on Tuesday. Forward Lucas Samala is third on the team with 36 points, including 15 goals and six assists, and assisted the game-winner against Blue Mountain. Midfielder Jack Leuthe is fourth on the team with 31 points, including nine goals and 13 assists, and had two goals and two assists in Abington Heights’ 5-0 win over Selinsgrove in the first round of states. Forward Jayden Alu is fifth on the team in points with 27, including 11 goals and five assists. Midfielder Wes Illian is sixth on the team with 22 points, including six goals and 10 assists, and assisted the game-winner against Harriton. Defender Tanner Shane is seventh on the team in points with 15, including two goals and 11 assists. Goalkeeper Billy Johnson has 46 saves, including 10 on Tuesday to secure the team’s 17th shutout. … Abington Heights and Conrad Weiser advanced to the state final for the first time.
Joe Baress contributed to this story
