Abington Claims First State Soccer Title as Coach Garber Steps Down

MANCHESTER – In a historic moment for the Abington boys soccer program, the team secured its first state title with a commanding 3-1 victory over West Chester Henderson in the PIAA Class 4A championship match on March 15, 2024. This achievement not only marks a significant milestone for the Galloping Ghosts but also coincides with the announcement that longtime head coach Randy Garber will step down after 32 seasons.

Garber expressed pride in the accomplishment, stating, “This is huge. The last (Abington) team to win a state championship was 41 years ago in (boys) lacrosse. Before that, the (boys) basketball team won a title in 1974. Those are the only two until today. It’s a long time coming and it means a lot.” Following the victory at Northeastern High School in York County, Garber confirmed that he will pass the reins to his top assistant, Isaac Pitkow.

A Season to Remember

The match signified a bittersweet end to the season for Abington (22-2-3 overall), who had an impressive run through the PIAA tournament, outscoring their opponents 12-3 across four games. Senior forward Cooper Blynt opened the scoring with a 25-yard strike midway through the first half, followed by teammate Christian Hinkle, who extended the lead to 2-0 just seven minutes later. By halftime, Jazafith Vasquez added a third goal, heading in a volley from Owen Gesing.

Goalkeeper George Hooven noted the team’s determination throughout the season, saying, “We knew this was one of his last seasons so our mindset was that we had to do it now.” Their aggressive start set the tone, as Abington dominated possession early in the game, leaving Henderson (21-3-3 overall) struggling to find their rhythm.

Despite the final score, Henderson’s head coach Chaz Wilson remained optimistic about the season, stating, “The season as a whole is a win. Nobody expected us to be here. It stings a lot right now, but in the grand scheme of things, these boys learned a lot and proved a lot to themselves.”

Turning Points in the Match

Henderson faced challenges from the outset, struggling to match Abington’s energy and physicality. Wilson admitted, “I didn’t prepare our guys for this. Until you are in this setting in the championship game, you can talk about what it’s going to be like as much as you want, but if you haven’t felt it before, it can surprise you.” The Warriors did manage to break the shutout with a penalty goal from Jack Overton with less than four minutes remaining, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

Despite the loss, Overton reflected positively on the season, saying, “It was such a great season. This group is going to be so good next season even though Dylan (Arrison) and myself won’t be back. I’m sad right now but I am excited about next season.”

The match statistics revealed a competitive edge in corner kicks favoring Henderson, who had a 5-1 advantage. However, Abington outshot the Warriors 7-6 in shots on goal, demonstrating their effective offensive strategy.

As the team celebrated their historic victory, Garber hinted at the possibility of returning to Abington in a supportive role, saying, “I wanted to leave him with an excellent team, and we started seven juniors, 14 overall, for this tournament, and only four seniors.” With the future in capable hands, the Abington community is set to embrace a new chapter in its soccer history.