The York Catholic players and coaches were well aware that anything could happen in overtime, so it was best to avoid the extra session against Christian School of York in the District 3 Class A quarterfinals.

With the rain coming down at Northeastern High School, the Irish had little time to spare before a potential overtime when J.D. Hackos saw a ball off the foot of teammate Josiah Schendel coming toward him.

Hackos knew what he had to do and headed the cross into the Crusader net with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, keying York Catholic to a 2-1 victory.

"When I saw that ball I was like, 'This is going in, no matter what,'" Hackos said. "I am thinking (about) running across the field to celebrate with my teammates. That was such a perfect ball that my eyes lit up. It's a great feeling.

"Every defense slips up, every keeper slips up. That stuff is going to happen, so it is key we won there."

The No. 4 Irish improved to 12-5 and advanced to Wednesday's semifinals against Camp Hill, which knocked off Harrisburg Academy, 2-0, on Saturday.

No. 12-seeded Christian School of York's season ended with a 13-8 record, impressive considering the Crusaders have just 14 players and gave York Catholic all it could handle.

"It's a team game and it took every single one of them to make that team," CSY coach Luke Adams said. "We lost a few games early on, we were 1-4. It was will power and wanting to be decent."

"That's a good team. Their defense was tough

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and they hustled," Irish coach Milner Sosa said of the Crusaders. "We had to struggle to the last second to win it."

Sosa's group had trouble penetrating a stellar CSY defense. When the Irish did get close, something happened to negate a chance.

The Crusaders found their legs, but missed on a couple of chances before Tyler Woodring lined up for a free kick from 45 yards out and struck a beauty high into the Irish cage, tying the game with 8:19 left.

"When they scored, I was like, 'Another overtime game.' We lost one before and (knew) anything could happen," Hackos said. "I was playing my hardest from then on to make sure we didn't lose."

Woodring nearly tied the game earlier when he played a beautiful cross that barely eluded a teammate. Moments later, he ripped a shot on goal that Irish keeper Kevin McLane punched over the end line for a corner kick.

The game-winner was the second goal of the game for Hackos, who opened the scoring midway through the first half by driving into the CSY penalty area and roofing a bad-angle shot over Crusader keeper Dalton Forbes.

Much of the play slowed after that as a steady rain, which started in the first half led to a downpour early in the second and affected both teams offensively.

The playing surface also caused the Irish some grief, which Sosa said is something his squad must work on as the rest of the district play and a potential state tournament run will be played on turf.

"We didn't play well," Sosa said. "That is the second game we played all year on the turf. For some reason, it's too fast for us. We have to adjust. I don't know how yet, but we will talk about it the next couple of days."

  

YORK CATHOLIC 2, C.S. YORK 1
C.S. York -- 0   1 -- 1
York Catholic -- 1   1 -- 2

   First Half -- 1. YC, J.D. Hackos, 20:40.
   Second Half -- 2. CSY, Tyler Woodring (free kick), 8:19. 3. YC, Hackos (Josiah Schendel), :35.
   Shots On Goal -- CSY 3, YC 10.
   Corners -- CSY 3, YCP 6.
   Goalies -- CSY, Dalton Forbes (8 saves), YC, Kevin McLane (2 saves).

* * *

Lancaster Country Day 2, Fairfield 1: In Hershey, Grant Keenan and Chris Andrews scored goals in the final 10 minutes of play, and the Cougars (18-2) eliminated the Green Knights (10-8-1) from the District 3 Class A boys' soccer tournament with a quarterfinal victory at Hershey High School.

Chris Woodward scored the Knights' lone goal when he headed in an assist from Cody Johnston.

Fairfield played without senior striker Sam Kern, who led the team with 19 goals on the season. Kern missed three games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury and reaggravated it in the Knights' district opener on Wednesday night.
  

LANC. COUNTRY DAY 2, FAIRFIELD 1
Fairfield -- 1   0 -- 1
Lanc. Country Day -- 0   2 -- 2

   First Half -- 1, F, Chris Woodward (Cody Johnston), 1:37.
   Second Half -- 2. LCD, Grant Keenan, 9:48; 3. LCD, Chris Andrews, 2:22.
   Shots On Goal -- F 8, LCD 8.
   Corners -- F 3, LCD 5.
   Goalies -- F, Sean Murray (6 saves); LCD, Cole Turula (7 saves).
snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060