The 2026 Soccer Season has ended with a title!

Our Varsity Soccer team defeated OLPH/OLF/St. Madeline's (or "OLA," for Our Lady of Angels) in the Championship game on Sunday, November 8, at Cardinal O'Hara High School.  After an undefeated season, including a previous 5-2 win over OLA, the Knights found themselves in a dramatically tight battle all night long!  A late Danny Hewitt goal in the first half put St. Thomas up 1-0.  But the game got even tighter when OLA tied the game midway through the second half.

Both teams traded chances and close calls, but neither could find the decisive goal.  So, with regulation ending in a 1-1 tie, the teams headed to Golden Goal (sudden death) Overtime!  Two 15:00 overtime periods saw the same intensity.  The game almost ended on an effort from Gabe Schuck, but his attempt hit the bottom of the crossbar, bounced out, and was cleared away.

With no Golden Goal, the teams headed to decisive Penalty Kicks.  St. Thomas sent out five players: Rocco Catanese, Stephen Gana, Vinny Spinogatti, Dan Hewitt, and Jackson Gorman.  Tommy Graham was the keeper assigned to keep OLA at bay.  All five players from St. Thomas displayed incredible calm and confidence, and each one scored their goal without any doubt.  Despite Tommy Graham choosing the right direction on the first two OLA PKs, all five opposition goals also found the back of the net.

The rules dictate that if there is no winner after the first five rounds, the subsequent rounds will become sudden death.  And under that pressure, Nick Prior stepped to the line and, without hesitation, blasted his shot into the corner of the net to give the Knights the advantage.  And that advantage would prove to be the difference maker as the next OLA kicker sent his attempt over the crossbar!

There was a moment of confusion as not everyone realized it was sudden death.  But as the reality set in, the St. Thomas bench charged the field and celebrated at midfield for the first St. Thomas Soccer championship in 18 years!

Congratulations to your 2026 Division 2 Undefeated Regional Champions!

Roster:

Brooke Halpin

Caden Anastasia

Charlee White

Daniel Hewitt

Fiona McEvilly

Gabe Schuck

Grace McGinn

Henry McGinn

Jack Eisenman

Jackson Gorman

Jacob Leopold

Megan Stephano

Michael Shields

Nicholas Prior

Owen Hardy

Paige Volkwine

Penny Catanese

Rocco Catanese

Stephen Gana

Thomas McGinn

Tommy Graham

Vincenzo Spinogatti

Coaches:

John Shields

Steve Spinogatti

Kari Shields