Conestoga’s Costin stands out amid area’s best

By Neil Geoghegan
ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com
@NeilMGeoghegan on Twitter
TREDYFFRIN >> In the midst of outstanding teammates, competing in a great league and district, and among all of the premier players across the state and nation, Brady Costin stands out.
And in a game like soccer, where most of the attention goes to the goal scorers, Costin’s position is center back in the heart of the defensive zone. And yet, the Conestoga senior still managed to set himself apart from all of those high-scoring strikers and midfielders.
“The accolades typically go to attacking players or midfielders,” said ’Stoga head coach Dave Zimmerman. “It’s pretty rare that a defender gets such recognition.
“One of the reasons is Brady’s offensive capabilities. That kind of production from a center back is extremely rare. Maybe from an outside back, because they can get up into the attack, but not a center back.”
During the 2023 season – in which the Pioneers went 24-0-1 and won league, district and state titles – Costin was a lock-down defender who also added six goals and 13 assists. As a result, he was named the Central League MVP, and earned All-Southeastern Pennsylvania and All-State honors. In addition, he was the tabbed Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Coaches Association, and is on the All-American Team recently released by the United Soccer Coaches.
And now you can add Daily Local News Player of the Year to the list.
“It is awesome for me and the program for the recognition I’m getting,” said Costin, who lives in Wayne. “You see the attackers score the goals and get all the credit, so it’s nice to see that flipped.
“But none of it would have been possible without my coaches and teammates, and my parents taking me to and from everything and supporting me.”
The plaudits are weighty, but what Costin did in 2023 is no less impressive. He was the linchpin of a defense that surrendered just nine goals in 25 outings, and more than half of those were while he was not on the field because ’Stoga was up big and substituted for him. And here is a mind-boggler: opponents managed just a single goal in the run of play.
“Costin covered up any mistakes Conestoga made,” said West Chester Henderson head coach Chas Wilson.
“The number of goals that were scored while he was on the field in the run of play – not on set pieces but when you are actively defending a team that is trying to attack you – is the better measure of the kind of defender he is,” Zimmerman added.
Nearly 6-foot-2 with long legs, he was regularly a disruptive obstacle for every opposing attack. When asked to pinpoint the reasons why, Costin talked about anticipating and reacting quickly with force.
“I have good recovery speed and I read the game pretty well,” he said. “I am a big part of our defense, but there are five of us back there and they’ve all been incredible.”
Zimmerman added: “He’s got long legs, so he’s very good at picking the pocket of attackers. And even when it looks like he’s beaten, I don’t know how he does it, but he can recover.
“His hand-foot coordination is very good, and he has skills he doesn’t get to show very much. You don’t expect a center back to dribble and take guys on, but he can do that too.”
What Costin did this fall was the culmination of an outstanding four-year career. He started them all since 2020, and Conestoga amassed a record of 83-4-1, and two state crowns, in that span. That is a winning percentage of .948.
“That’s ridiculous,” Zimmerman said.
“That’s definitely an unreal stat, but it’s not possible without 10 teammates,” Costin added.
It is, without question, the most successful career in the program’s storied history. And much of his senior year Costin dealt with a chipped bone in his right foot.