Scranton Prep edges Holy Redeemer in District 2 Class 2A boys soccer finals

SCRANTON — First-year head coach Rob Dougherty did not want his Holy Redeemer players to run over across the field to their family and friends before he could teach them one more valuable lesson in a season seemingly full of them.

Like he has had to do all season, Dougherty put an emotional campaign capped by an emotional loss into perspective. The Royals could hang their heads all they want, but they had reached a level of success never achieved by any other Holy Redeemer team.

Holy Redeemer lost 2-1 to a short-manned Scranton Prep team Friday in the District 2 Class 2A boys soccer championship.

The season began with Dougherty’s wife Doreen, the beloved principal of Holy Redeemer High School, dying in late August. The Royals (17-3-1) grieved together as a team, won a Wyoming Valley Conference for the first time in seven seasons, and became the first Holy Redeemer team to compete in a district championship game.

“Truly, this team has gone through a lot this year,” Dougherty said. “They rallied around each other. There were a couple of players that had personal losses and personal struggles. We got through everything as a family and a team. They’ve accomplished a lot this year.”

A championship seemed to be written in the stars after a red card forced Scranton Prep to play with only 10 players on the pitch for the final 59 minutes of the game. Holding on to a one-goal lead, the starting Scranton Prep goalkeeper was booked with a straight red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

A ball was played forward to create a one-on-one breakaway chance. The Cavaliers keeper clipped the Royals’ striker following a successful deke. Holy Redeemer senior Mark Atherton went to the left side on a penalty kick to even the score at 1-1 in the 21st minute.

Scranton Prep (17-3) scored the game-winning goal in the 66th minute. On a transition play, Tony Nguyen played a ball to the left corner of the box. Daniel Palonis made three touches to center the ball and hit a 14-yard strike right with his right foot.

“When Prep scored that second goal, that deflated our sails a little bit,” Dougherty said. “We got down and played a little more erratic and nervous until we calmed down.”

Scranton Prep scored first in the ninth minute. Owen Christianson played a ball out to the right edge of the 18-yard line. He delivered a pass to Tony Nguyen in the middle of the box. Nguyen corralled the ball off his chest and placed the ball inside the far-left post.

Holy Redeemer keeper Tyler Tarnalicki made an incredible play in the 76th minute to keep the Royals within one goal. Pressing forward, Tarnalicki sent a ball into the box from the center line. The ball took a Prep bounce, and a Cavaliers defender punted it for a Hail Mary attempt at the goal.

Tarnalicki, who was 40 yards from goal when it sailed over his head, sprinted back and dove forward to push the ball away inches from the goal line.

“That was all heart,” Dougherty said. “I wasn’t sure he was going to get to it and he finally got to it. That it didn’t end up in a corner kick is even more impressive.”

District 2 Class 2A Championship

Scranton Prep 2, Holy Redeemer 1

Holy Redeemer`1`0 — 1

Scranton Prep`1`1 — 2

First half — 1. SP, Tony Nguyen (Owen Christianson), 9th minute; 2. HR Mark Atherton (PK), 21st. Second half — 3. SP Daniel Palonis (Nguyen), 66th.