March 26, 2003
Class AA. Ryan Gunderson and the rest of his Holy Ghost Prep teammates sensed the time was running out on their amazing season. Five minutes, four minutes, three minutes remaining …. when the Firebirds’ Josh Steacker intercepted a pass and split the West Chester Henderson defense to score a game-tying goal last night in the Flyers Cup Class AA championship game. Three minutes later, Steve Biasini scored the winning goal to complete the comeback, lifting the Firebirds to their first title with a 4-3 victory over West Chester Henderson in sudden-death overtime at the Grundy Recreational Center in Bristol. Holy Ghost will play in the state championship on Sunday at Ice Line in West Chester at 1:15 p.m. against the Penguins Cup champions Peters Township, which is shooting for a third straight state title. “Seven years ago, when we began this program we were 4-17-3, and believe me, those are numbers you remember,” said Holy Ghost coach Brian Tibbels, whose team is 28-1-3 overall this season. “It was scary there for a time, especially the way their goaltender was playing. But we knew coming in how tough Henderson would be. We just wanted to weather that first period.” A first period that turned into a second period, which turned into the closing minutes of the third. Shot after shot appeared to bounce off Henderson goaltend- er Mike O’Neill, a junior who steered away 24 shots during regulation, some in spectacular fashion. But gradually, Holy Ghost wore down the Warriors. Senior Ryan Gunderson, the tournament MVP, got the Firebirds on the board after they trailed, 2-0. Gunderson beat O’Neill high on his right side. O’Neill came up with a few more fine saves, until the third period, when Holy Ghost’s pressure started to break down Henderson’s defense. Trailing, 3-2, Steacker picked up an errant pass and split two Warriors defenders to beat O’Neill to his lower right side with 2 minutes, 16 seconds left in regulation. “It was just one bad bounce,” Henderson coach Rich Hribal said. “We got caught once and you can’t do that against a team like that. Other than that, we did everything right.” Biasini concluded the very dramatic game with a slow shot that slid past O’Neill to the right side for the game-winner.
West Chester Henderson…….1-1-1-0–3
Holy Ghost Prep……………..0-1-2-1–4
Goals: WCH-Kevin Neeld, Scott DiRico, Lou Annas. HGP-Ryan Gunderson, Josh Steacker 2, Steve Biasini.
Saves: WCH-Mike O’Neill, 24. HGP-Andrew Golin, 23.
By Joe Santoliquito
The Philadelphia Inquirer
