Devil stun Warriors for first trip to district boys' soccer semifinal

A stunning victory last week has the Greencastle-Antrim High School boys’ soccer team for the first time in the history of the sport at the school headed to the District 3-AA Championship semifinals Thursday.

The Blue Devils went into the quarterfinal game against the monkey on their back, Gettysburg. Unable to defeat the top-seeded Warriors of late, G-A was definitely the underdog coming in as the eighth seed.

This group was out to change its fortunes. Capitalizing on solid long throw-ins, the Blue Devils scored in the first half on a shot from Ryan Burgess and the second half by Steven McFetridge. Zach Faulkner had the assist on the McFetridge score that knotted the score.

Devil defense certainly played its part, turning Gettysburg back in the second half and riding the coverage of keeper Josh Spoonhour. With just nine seconds to play in regulation, senior Paul Herman chose the perfect time to score his first goal of the season. Herman was looking for a rebound off a Faulkner shot and got his opportunity. The goal sent Gettysburg home with a 16-3 record and lifted the 15-5 Blue Devils to the semifinals.

G-A led in shot son goals, 6-4, while Gettysburg had the edge in corners, 6-3.

Weather issues have played with the district schedule, but the Devils are now set to play 13th seeded Lancaster Mennonite (15-7) at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Cumberland Valley Eagle View Middle School. Tulpehocken (17-6) and Pequea Valley (20-2) are in the other semifinal. The top three advance to the state tournament, so a loss in the semis still means a chance to play for a state berth.