Tulpehocken making return trip to district soccer title after another shutout (updated)

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

Some goalkeepers look different. It’s a presence more than anything. The way they walk around the cage. It seems like the ball will never get past them.

Tulpehocken’s Brayden Evans is one of those keepers.

“Brayden is special,” coach Trevor Brown said. “It’s his demeanor. Everyone knows it and everybody feeds off it. He is the guy back there.”

Third-seeded Tulpehocken held off No. 2 High Point 1-0 in the District 3 Class 1A boys soccer semifinals at Exeter Saturday. Tyrese Sanchez scored the goal. Evans and one of the best defenses in the county made it stand.

Tulpehocken (16-4-2) will try to defend its district title against No. 1 Camp Hill, a winner over West Shore Christian, at Hersheypark Stadium Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

The Trojans are quietly putting together a historically stingy season. This was their 15th shutout, which is four behind the school record set by the 2001 state championship team.

All of those clean sheets require a team effort. Evans is the last line of defense. The foursome in front of him usually keeps the ball from getting that far.

Josh Risser, Owen Harris, Weston Campbell and Gael Velazquez have been the picture of reliability in the defensive third. Risser and Harris started for last season’s district championship team. Campbell and Velazquez are sophomores being thrown into the fire. Campbell stepped in when Jorge Aguirre suffered an injury early in the season.

“There are some games when I have to work,” Evans said “But it’s not many. Our defense is extremely solid. I’d say it’s one of the best defenses out there.”

Tulpehocken has allowed nine goals in 22 games. Only two other Berks teams entered play Saturday with fewer than 20 goals allowed: Wyomissing (16) and Muhlenberg (19).

There’s no arguing with the numbers. If the Trojans can put one home, they like their chances.

“We just keep churning out these shutouts,” Brown said. “When you have confidence in each other and you have Brayden behind you, that gives you even more confidence.”

There was one scare.

High Point’s Andrew Cox, one of the few 100 goal scorers to ever pass through Berks, nearly added to his total in the first half. Cox’s strike from just outside the box dinged off the crossbar. The Eagles were that close to changing the course of the game.

“It was rough,” Evans said. “I was not expecting one from the 18 out. He hit it and it was well struck. It beat me. I know it did. Thank God it didn’t go in. We were lucky on that one.”

Cox had a few long-range looks at the net in the second half that were corralled by Evans.

High Point (15-3) will play the loser of the Camp Hill-West Shore Christian semifinal for a PIAA tournament berth. The Eagles have never reached states.

Sanchez scored his second goal of the season off a pass from Campbell midway through the first half. That was the one for Tulpehocken.

Evans and the backs made sure one was enough.