KINGSTON — Talk about a playoff debut.
Wyoming Seminary striker Luke Johns continued his impressive freshman campaign for the Blue Knights Thursday night, but turned it up a notch in his first-ever postseason match.
It didn't take long for Johns to put his stamp on the game. He scored his first of five goals just 22 minutes into the match, giving the Blue Knights a lead they would never relinquish.
No. 4 Wyoming Seminary used four first-half goals to take down No. 12 Nanticoke, 7-0, in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals, setting up a rematch from last year's district final against top-seeded Scranton Prep on Monday.
"I had fantastic balls given by Edge Miller and Reggie (Grayek) and Duncan (Lumia) and Colin (Sung) — they played fantastic. And our defensive corps really stood firm," said Johns, who scored five goals for the first time in his career. "I was just relaxed the whole game, took my time and made good passes.
"It was a good day today. I had a good day in school. I had a good lunch. It was a good day."
Wyoming Seminary head coach Rev. Charles Carrick can't help but admit how impressed he's been with his freshman.
He wasn't expecting Johns to make such a large impact so early into his career — finishing the regular season with double-digit goals — but as Johns progressed throughout the fall he became more involved in the offense. Then the five-goal effort to power the Blue Knights into the semifinals was icing on the cake.
"He showed great skill in the beginning of the season, but he's just made very, very nice progress," Carrick said. "It's been just a beautiful learning curve for a freshman. Nice composure."
The turning point in the game came with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Fresh off a Trojans turnover in front of their own net, which led to Johns' second goal of the game, Wyoming Seminary was deep in the Nanticoke zone once again. This time it was Sem's leading scorer, Edge Miller, with the ball.
Miller was dribbling through the box only to get tripped, leading to a penalty kick. He converted.
Sporting a 3-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the half, the Blue Knights quickly got the ball back after Nanticoke's kickoff. And who else but Johns ended up with the ball.
The freshman scored on a breakaway to complete his first-half hat trick and give the Blue Knights a 4-0 lead with 7:14 remaining in the period.
"We talk about taking the wind out of the sails of another team and I think that was the moment. Especially in the postseason, you just want to keep playing and keep playing hard," Carrick said. "Right now we're setting up and now we wiped that away and now we get ready for Prep on Monday."
Thursday night's impressive win got Wyoming Seminary back on track just in time.
Coming off a 2-1 loss to Meyers in the regular-season final, the Blue Knights were able to work some kinks out the last two games, posting a pair of shutout wins to open the postseason. The last time Wyoming Seminary faced Scranton Prep, it was in the 2016 district championship, a game the Blue Knights lost in overtime.
Now they'll get a chance to even the score, on the road once again. Gametime is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. on Monday.
"I'm pumped for this game," Johns said of Monday's semifinal." I'm really looking for to it. I just want to beat them, you know? Just get there. Get to the finals."
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 2A TOURNAMNET
Wyoming Seminary 7, Nanticoke 0
Nanticoke`0`0`—`0
Wyoming Seminary`4`3`—`7
First half — 1. WS, Luke Johns (Edge Miller), 17:52; 2. WS, Johns, 10:08; 3. WS, Miller (penalty kick), 7:34; 4. WS, Johns (Reggie Grayek), 7:14. Second half — 5. WS, Miller (33:22); 6. WS, Johns (Colan), 26:12; 7. WS, Johns (Miller), 13:51.
Shots — NAN 3; WS 21. Saves — NAN 9 (Trahjan Krupinski); WS 2 (Ryan Anderson). Corner kicks — NAN 2; WS 3.
Wyoming Seminary midfielder Luke Johns drives toward the Nanticoke goal, with Trojans goalie Trahjan Krupinski ready to defend. Johns scored on the play.
http://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ws_nan1_faa.jpgWyoming Seminary midfielder Luke Johns drives toward the Nanticoke goal, with Trojans goalie Trahjan Krupinski ready to defend. Johns scored on the play. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Seminary forward Jack Davis sends his shot over the goal as Nanticoke goalie Trahjan Krupinski looks on.
http://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ws_nan2_faa.jpgWyoming Seminary forward Jack Davis sends his shot over the goal as Nanticoke goalie Trahjan Krupinski looks on. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Seminary striker Luke Johns reacts with a smile after scoring his fifth goal of the game.
http://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ws_nan3_faa.jpgWyoming Seminary striker Luke Johns reacts with a smile after scoring his fifth goal of the game. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Nanticoke goalie Trahjan Krupinski looks on after Wyoming Seminary midfielder Edge Miller converts a penalty kick.
http://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ws_nan5_faa.jpgNanticoke goalie Trahjan Krupinski looks on after Wyoming Seminary midfielder Edge Miller converts a penalty kick. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Wyoming Seminary striker Luke Johns takes a shot during the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinal against Nanticoke at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston Thursday. The freshman scored a career-high five goals.
http://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ws_nan4_faa.jpgWyoming Seminary striker Luke Johns takes a shot during the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinal against Nanticoke at Nesbitt Stadium in Kingston Thursday. The freshman scored a career-high five goals. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Johns' career night powers Sem to semis
Source: Luke Johns scores career-high 5 goals to power Wyoming Seminary into district semis
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