With end of career in sight, Haverford’s Udo-Inyang turns it on to keep Fords alive

HAVERFORD — No matter what happened Saturday, the time remaining in Haverford senior Phil Udo-Inyang’s high school soccer career is measured in days. The mission for the forward is to extend the count at any chance he gets.

So when the Fords, the sixth seed in the Central League playoffs, entered halftime against No. 11 Springfield scoreless despite dominating play, Udo-Inyang wasn’t worried. But he was focused, on making sure the matinee at A.E. Cornog Field wouldn’t become a swansong.

“We knew we were the better team, we just had to finish our chances,” Udo-Inyang said. “So we came out in the second half stronger, looking to get a goal and go from there.”

The forward made good on that promise, scoring twice within a minute, then assisting on Brady Ring’s goal as the Fords ran out to a 3-0 win.

Haverford advances to Tuesday’s quarterfinals and a date with No. 3 Lower Merion.

It’s a time for Udo-Inyang to reflect. He talked with coach Dave Cassanelli this week about the inflection point in his career, when he was cut from the Fords’ freshman team. With time to reshape his priorities, Udo-Inyang took stock. What emerged is a three-year starter and, as a senior, one of the league’s top dangermen.

“I got cut from the freshman team, and that moment kind of woke me up and gave me a different mindset, going into the next three years ahead of me,” Udo-Inyang said. “That turned on the switch and I started working hard. Sophomore year, they noticed me and gave me that chances, and it just took off from there.”

Udo-Inyang started as a sophomore at outside back for a team that made the District 1 Class 4A playoffs. He’s moved further up the pitch, his attacking sensibilities shining. Born in Nigeria, his game has a flair characteristic of the soccer-mad nation, and his ability to read the game and open space for himself and teammates, on the ball and off, operates a level higher than most.

Saturday, when the Fords peppered Springfield with 22 shots, it seemed inconceivable that Udo-Inyang hadn’t scored by halftime. But by the time the second-half clock read 37:15, he’d rectified that, times two.

Springfield earned its first corner of the game 1:40 into the second half, but that only offered Udo-Inyang space. Center back Duncan Riegler head-manned the counterattack, feeding to Mason Baylis on the right wing. Before the Cougars’ defense could recover, Udo-Inyang flashed across the face of his defender, met the low cross near the penalty spot and, with goalie Rory Travers scrambling to his right, deftly placed the shot back to Travers’ left.

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