Trophies were on the line when VE and West Chester met Friday night in the EPSA Over 30 State Cup Final.  VE scored in the seventeenth minute and held on through most of the second half before adding an insurance goal only to concede seconds later making extra time interesting.
          It was two familiar foes on the cold Bryn Athyn turf battling it out in a rematch of last years final that West Chester came from behind to win 2-1.  VE put out a deeper squad and was confident they could flip the result.  A central midfield trio of Sean Peckham, Adam Bastidas and Steve Neumann controlled play early and Zach Turchi and Derek Antonini looked lively on the flanks.  VE’s early pressure led to a few half chances, and they forced a few saves earning a series of corners.  It was from one of those corners that Greg Shertzer opened the scoring in the seventeenth minute.  West Chester cleared the initial danger but only as far as Neumann who played Shertzer into space where he turned and beat the keeper to the near post, 1-0 VE.
          Mike Reese captained the squad and anchored the back line with Andrew Weyerhaeuser.  The Pair were flanked by Mike Pio on the left and Billy McGuiness on the right.  They limited the WC chances most of the night and what got through Tim Washam cleaned up. 
          McGuiness was a candidate for man of the match with his lock down defense and his creative balls out of the back.  VE should have doubled their lead in the thirty-fifth when McGuinness connected with Toby Abdul who laid a killer one-time ball behind the back line that sprung Antonini.  Derek made good contact, but he was stoned from close range.   The score held at the halftime whistle. 
          After the break VE looked lively and an Adam Bastidas freekick on fifty was the games next best chance.  Bastidas is always dangerous from set pieces, but this time he managed to beat the wall but couldn’t keep his shot under the bar. 
          VE used its depth and got good minutes from the bench.  Alex Graver, who was just back from injury, had several big tackles down the stretch.   Joe McGuigan, Zach Malis and Dylan Gerstenfield spelled the flanks.  It was Malas who had a great chance from another Bastidas free kick in the seventy-fourth when he out climbed everyone at the back post and his header forced a big save.  Bastidas was unlucky not to get a piece of the rebound. 
          VE seemed content to keep the ball and absorb the West Chester pressure to see the game out.  Tim Washam commanded the box and from one of his quick punts VE caught West Chester on the counter.  The ball forced the last defender to challenge Shertzer in the air, but Greg was too strong.  He held him off and won the dual flicking Derek Antonini in on a fifty yard break away.  Antonini kept his cool and slotted home to kill the game off in the eighty-seventh, 2-0 VE.
         Needing a miracle West Chester bombed the ball forward and for the first time on the night VE failed to deal with the danger.  West Chester got a second and a third bite and found the back of the net from the scramble in front, 2-1 VE with just extra time to play. 
         The slap to the face did it’s job and VE locked things down again and got to the final whistle.  With a sigh of relief, 2-1 VE and time to lift the trophy.  Hold that thought the state didn’t have the trophy so we have no real celebration pics. 
         “Great effort from the team,” said Sean Peckham.  “We had sixteen guys for the final and being old that might have been the most important thing.  It’s always great to get another trophy for VE.” 
         The Over 30’s will now start their run for a national title with a USASA Regional Quarter Final Match against NOVA FC the Metro DC / Virgina champion.  The match will take place at 12:30 Pm on the campus of George Mason University.