Boys Soccer: Conestoga revels in feeling of first state title since 2011, tops Elizabethtown in PIAA final

HERSHEY >> As the final seconds ticked off in Conestoga’s 1-0 win against Elizabethtown for the PIAA Class AAAA boys’ soccer state championship Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium, the Pioneers (25-1) reveled in the feeling of their first state title since 2011. Conestoga senior midfielder Blaise Milanek said, “All my emotions started kicking in. I realized all the hard work we did the entire year, since last August, had paid off. All the memories from last year [losing in the state semifinal] came flooding back, and I realized this time we won it all. It’s beautiful.”

Pioneer junior forward Chris Donovan, who scored the game-winning goal with 18:48 left in the game, said while holding a large Hershey bar, “I was astonished, overwhelmed, when I realized we had just taken the biggest prize we could win.”

Conestoga senior defender Gabe Harms, who couldn’t stop smiling, said, “My first thought when the game was over was that we achieved the goal I set for myself when I walked into Conestoga High School my freshman year. And to win this title in front of 3,000 fans is the best feeling in the world – it makes you feel like a professional soccer player.” Pioneer senior midfielder Mason Miller said, “My first thought was just reminiscing [about my Conestoga soccer career]. I’m just taking in the moment.”

This was the third state title for Conestoga, who also won it in 1988 and 2011, the latter one under current head coach David Zimmerman. This year’s team had a trio of players – Milanek, Miller and Harms, known by their teammates as “The Three Amigos” – each of whom had played at least two dozen post-season games in a Conestoga uniform.

Zimmerman said, “When the game ended, I felt tremendous relief. The first day after our tryouts, we set a goal for ourselves to win the state title. This isn’t something I normally do. And it’s tough when there’s high expectations, there’s a lot of [self-imposed] pressure to live up to them.” Conestoga pretty much dominated possession against Elizabethtown (22-5-1) Saturday evening, keeping the ball deep in Bears’ territory much of the game, including the last couple of minutes. And they made numerous shots on goal, and Elizabethtown junior goalie Austin Denlinger, who made more than a dozen saves in the Bears’ riveting state semifinal win, stopped 13 Conestoga shots Saturday evening. But Donovan’s shot got by him in the second half, and it was all the Pioneers needed.

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