Boys Soccer: Chris Donovan scores all four goals as Conestoga cruises to second straight state title

HERSHEY >> “Legendary.”

That was Conestoga boys soccer coach David Zimmerman’s quick answer on how to describe senior striker Chris Donovan’s performance in the PIAA Class 4A Championship at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday.

Anyone who witnessed the brilliance of his 80 minutes against Hempfield would be grasping for a more apt description. Donovan scored four times as the Pioneers rolled to their second straight title, 4-0.

“That’s 56 (career) goals,” said Zimmerman. “If people who hadn’t seen before was curious about him, he put on a show. You couldn’t have asked for a better ending to an incredible soccer career.”

Donovan, who scored the lone goal in last year’s win over Elizabethtown, now has five goals in the last two title games, conjuring up images of another Donovan who came up clutch on a big stage, retired U.S. Soccer star, Landon Donovan.

“Couldn’t have dreamt of anything better,” said Donovan. “To be honest, I thought one goal would just be good enough, but to get four is just crazy.”

Conestoga polished off an unbeaten 25-0-1 season and became the first team to repeat at the top PIAA level since Upper St. Clair in 2012-13. They have won both championships contested at the 4A level.

“I think of it as the white whale,” added Zimmerman. “If you look at all sports on all levels, it’s very rare that teams are able to repeat. Something about winning that makes it hard to win again. For us to be able to do this is a dream. Credit to these guys, we had a dominant season, and this was the exclamation point.”

The game had an even beginning before Conestoga started to assert its authority. A seemingly innocent long pass turned into the game’s first goal with a little over 10 minutes in. A long ball from Logan Schwartz from about 30 yards out floated into the box. Donovan beat two defenders and onrushing goalie Brady Ross to head it into the net.

“I just love when my teammates play long balls in the box because I’m not afraid to go in on the keeper. He came out, but I won it over him,” said Donovan.

Just five minutes later, Donovan and the Pioneers doubled their advantage. A long-range effort by Nino Mauro took a fortuitous bounce onto Donovan’s right foot, where he rifled a shot into the back of the net.

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