Theboy’s soccer team's loss Tuesday to Mercyhurst Prep in the PIAA semifinal round crushed its hopes of clinching clinch a third state championship in the last 15 years.
Although the team’s ultimate goal escaped its reach, Sewickley Academy Head Coach Uwe Stender said the Panthers still had plenty to feel good about this season. The team ended its season 15-6-2 overall.
“Only one team could make it to the finals, somebody had to lose,” Stender told Patch.
Find out what's happening in Sewickleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I’m really proud of them. They grew a lot and gained a lot of confidence this year,” he said. “Every game, no matter the score, they never gave up.”
Stender, who also coached the school’s two state champion teams in 1997 and 2007, said he hopes players and fans alike will remember that to be one of the top performing teams in Pennsylvania is an achievement in itself.
Find out what's happening in Sewickleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Out of all the teams in the state, to be one of four left at the end is a tremendous success,” Stender said. “They won right there.”
