Jake O’Neill had a long list of people he was playing for.
O’Neill is a senior goalie for the Father Judge High School soccer team, and this year, he was playing to get himself a Catholic League championship.
But that wasn’t the main reason he was playing.
He certainly wanted to win for his team. He desperately wanted to bring home a championship for his coach John Dunlop. Then there were the seniors from last year, and any Crusader who enjoyed a great soccer career, but didn’t conclude the season with a championship.
Oh, then there was the neighborhood, his mom, his brothers, his sisters and every Father Judge soccer fan who was with the team at any point.
So when O’Neill faced a shot from Holy Ghost Prep early in the Catholic League championship, and he made the save, it was the perfect way to get things started.
“I knew that making big saves is a part of the game, and I trust the offense if I give one up to get it back, but that was a big save,” said O’Neill, who lives in Bridesburg. “We were down early last time and fought back and got the tie. But I feel like the save got us momentum and it got the whole team trusting the back line and me.”
Trust was something O’Neill enjoyed long before he made that save, but it was the perfect way to get the Crusaders started in a 3-0 victory over Catholic League newcomer Holy Ghost Prep in the PCL championship.
Adrian Cucalon, Kevin Schmanek and Cullen Barnett scored first-half goals for the Crusaders and it was enough as Judge won its first Catholic League championship since 2013.
The Crusaders made the championship five times since.
“This year was all about the championship, from the first game, that was our goal,” O’Neill said. “First game, we knew coming in there were a lot of good teams in the PCl, but if we played to our ability, we were the best team in the Catholic League. So it means everything to everyone. Especially for JD. He’s such a great coach, he does so much for us, we wanted to get it done for him.”
Dunlop, the first Catholic League coach to win a state championship, didn’t need a title to prove he’s one of the best. And O’Neill knew that.
But he still wanted it for his coach.
“He does so much for us, he’s a great coach, and he’s the reason we’re here,” O’Neill said. “Not just him, our coaching staff. They got us to believe. They knew we could do it. And they made sure we were ready to go against the best teams. It’s hard to win in the Catholic League.”
It helps when you have a great goalie, and that’s something the Crusaders certainly had.
Judge went 8-0-4 in a stacked Catholic League and he recorded five shutouts during the regular season.
In the playoffs, he was even better.
O’Neill went three games without allowing a goal. Those wins came over Conwell-Egan, Archbishop Wood and Holy Ghost, three of the top teams in the PCL this year.
“I was motivated because I didn’t get All-Catholic and I felt I was one of the best in the Catholic League,” O’Neill said. “But it wasn’t just me. It was the entire team, it was the back line, they helped out a lot.”
O’Neill was quick to pass out praise to the 10 men who played in front of him, but by the time the game was over, he was even busier than he was during the game.
Crusader pride was in the air, and before Monday night ended, many reached out to the goaltender to celebrate.
“There were so many people who came back, it meant everything to me,” O’Neill said. “It’s a huge night for me. Last year, it sucked. Especially because we were the underdogs as a fifth seed, we played a very good La Salle team and lost in the championship. Going into my senior year, I knew we had a good chance.
“It’s so hard to win the Catholic League. I’d say the top eight teams always have a shot to win. It doesn’t matter what seed you are in the playoffs. So when we won, we heard from everyone who played here. A lot were here. A lot texted us. This was huge for everyone.”
O’Neill was a wall, but he is quick to point out how many people helped build him up.
“My mom plays a huge role, driving us to practice, making sure I made it to practice every day,” O’Neill said. “She was there. It was 100 percent for her, too. This was mainly was for her. She’s helped so much. My brother Jimmy played at Franklin Towne and West Chester, he’s been a great leader for me. We stick together. I try to do for my younger brother Brody what he does for me. And my sisters, Avery is older, she didn’t play soccer, but she always comes to the games. And my younger sister Vada, she plays soccer, too. They’re all a part of this.”
The Crusaders hope to make a run at a state championship, so they’ll stay busy. And O’Neill is starting to plan for the future.
Dunlop helped him there, too.
“I definitely want to go to college and play soccer,” O’Neill said. “I think I want to study accounting. I had a class as a junior, JD taught it. He’s a great teache, too. He’s helped me so much in school and soccer.
“It’s nice to win it for him. For everyone, really.” ••
