WOBURN — Ever since his childhood days, Jake Vana has dreamed of profitable championships in three completely different sports activities.
The St. John’s Prep athlete has already carried the Eagles to state titles in lacrosse and hockey throughout his tenure. Thanks to his newest heroics, the junior will now have a possibility to perform his seemingly inconceivable purpose.
Vana sniped the eventual game-winning purpose Wednesday, as third-seeded St. John’s Prep punched a ticket to the Div. 1 boys soccer finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over No. 2 St. John’s (Shrewsbury) at Connolly Memorial Stadium in Woburn.
“It feels amazing,” St. John’s Prep senior defensive again Will Minor stated. “It’s everything I’ve ever wished for. We’ve come a long way this season. I think everyone’s had the same goal on their mind since the first day of practice, the first day of summer conditioning. We’ve all wanted to go to the state championship and win. To come out here and win this tough semifinal match, it’s really important to us. It’s special to me.”
This complete season has been a revival for St. John’s Prep, with loads of unbelievable accomplishments alongside the best way. The win didn’t merely come in opposition to a bitter Catholic Conference foe, it additionally clinched the primary journey to a state remaining for the Eagles since 2006.
St. John’s Prep and St. John’s (Shrewsbury) battled twice throughout the common season, a collection that featured a 1-1 draw on Sept. 20, adopted by a 1-0 win for the Eagles on Oct. 13. Most had been anticipating a nail-biter, they usually had been handled to 1 all through the night.
After corralling a move within the twenty sixth minute, Vana uncorked a shot on the Pioneers’ internet, however the try was deflected by St. John’s (S) goaltender James Benestad. However, the senior was unable to realize possession. The rebound then skipped off a defender and again to Vana. The junior didn’t miss his second probability, as he fired a rocket off the foot of a defensive again and into the twine to place St. John’s Prep forward, 1-0.
“He just steps up in the big moments,” St. John’s Prep coach Dave Crowell stated of Vana. “Last year in the semifinal against Brookline, we lost in double overtime, but he had the goal. So, he’s just a special kid.”
While the Pioneers (18-3-1) challenged within the second half by ramping up the stress, they merely couldn’t put a shot previous St. John’s Prep goalkeeper Ioannis Andrikopoulos, who accomplished the shutout for the Eagles.
The win units up a Div. 1 championship bout between the Eagles and top-seeded Needham. The final time the packages met on Oct. 8, St. John’s Prep registered a 4-0 victory.
Vana hopes he and his teammates can end the job Saturday at Manning Field.
“That’s been the goal since I was a little kid,” stated Vana. “My uncles went here, lot of cousins went here. Been playing three sports, and it’s always been the goal to win three. So, fortunately enough I have an amazing team, and we have an opportunity to do that. We’ve got one shot at it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com