Palermo, Perrins drive Strath Haven into state title game

WEST GOSHEN — Some soccer teams park the bus, stacking 10 players behind the ball in search of a 1-nil win. Others, like Strath Haven, take the bus, cut the breaks and race it downhill.

The Panthers have taken an offensive ride, full of counterattacks and quick strikes through the PIAA Class 3A tournament, and kept the wild ride going Tuesday night with a 3-2 defeat of District 12 champion Archbishop Wood at West Chester East High School.

Strath Haven trailed 2-0 1:07 into the second half before rallying for three goals. Nick Palermo scored twice, and Nate Perrins headed home the winner, his 15th goal in six postseason games.

“At the end of the day, that speed, that momentum wave we’ve ridden has done us well every single time,” Panthers coach Ryan O’Neill said. “It’s gotten us here. This is who we are now. And it’s been successful.”

Haven could not have gotten off to a worse start. Ryan Morgan fired the Vikings in front midway through the first half. Wood doubled its lead just after the break when Joe Baranoski played a long, hanging ball into the Panthers’ penalty area.

Haven defender Simon Bolinger misjudged his jump and sent his header over his keeper, Noah Atsaves.

On the other side of the field, the Panthers failed to string anything together. Palermo had a chance in the first minute, but every other look came from well outside the 18-yard box.

Still, the Haven offense lurked. The club hadn’t been shut out all season. And Tuesday would be no different.

“One of our messages, you always have to keep your head up, keep battling,” Perrins said. “And good things will come out.”

Palermo led the charge. Following the own goal, he made a run down the left side. Perrins played him into space and Palermo did the rest, sprinting toward the Wood goal and sending keeper Connor Ford the wrong way.

“I thought (Perrins) played a really good ball,” Palermo said. “I saw the lane open, so I tried to go back post. I kind of whiffed it and went near post, but the goalie guessed back post. Which is kind of lucky.”

Thirteen minutes later, the teams were even at two. It came on a throw-in, a Perrins’ flick-on and a loose ball that found its way to Palermo. He buried it.

The senior had come up big in a similar spot last spring, when he scored the overtime winner in Haven’s run to the PIAA Class 2A lacrosse final.

“He had a big day,” Perrins said. “Something about semifinals and states and him.”

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Strath Haven’s Nick Palermo goes in on Archbishop Wood goalie Connor Ford for a game-tying goal Tuesday night at West Chester East. The Panthers would go on a 3-2 victory in the PIAA Class 3A state semifinal game. (Pete Bannan/Digital First Media