DeLaSalle freshman Jimmy Farah (13) takes control of the ball from Holy Angels senior Hugh Bernhagen. Photo by Mark Hvidsten

Joey Farah could not stay on his feet any longer. The senior fell to his knees as his teammates and coaches wrapped their arms around him following DeLaSalle's game with Holy Angles.

Farah appeared to be sad and broken down after a tough loss but he was far from upset as this night belonged to Islanders and their senior star, who shared his tears of joy with his teammates following an emotionally draining victory.

Farah scored the game-winning goal with 4:02 remaining in overtime, lifting DeLaSalle over Holy Angels 4-3 and closing out a tense Tri-Metro Conference clash Tuesday at DeLaSalle High School.

"There were times Joey (Farah) got frustrated this season because he wasn't scoring," head coach Adam Pribyl said. "That is why you see the emotion, because he has worked so hard and he wanted this."

Farah’s hard work has helped the Islanders to a 12-0-0 record this season and lead DeLaSalle to the No. 6 ranking in the Minnesota State Coaches Association's poll Class 1A poll.

Farah has nine goals this year after scoring two goals against the Stars (10-2-1), No. 2 in Class 1A and the Islanders' conference rival.

His game-winning goal in overtime exemplified the effort he has played with all season.

Farah took a pass just across midfield and, with one touch, blew past a Stars' defender, taking the ball into the box where he drilled a tough shot into the lower left corner of the net.

"Their guy was putting too much pressure on me and I knew that if I could just get one touch on it, I could get by," Farah said. "From there, I just wanted it more. I beat three guys and had a bad angle to shoot at.

"I wanted it and we as a team wanted it. They have guys that probably have more skill than we do, but you are not supposed to beat three guys and score from that angle. That just showed how much we wanted this."

Michael Wageman also scored twice for the Islanders, giving the junior 16 goals this season.

Wageman, who had a front row view of Farah’s overtime goal, said he can appreciate the skill and determination of his teammate.

"It was just an awesome goal," he said. "Couldn't have come from a better guy. When it went in, it was just an awesome feeling."

DeLaSalle dominated play from the start of the game but could not hold onto a 2-0 lead as Holy Angels stormed back with three unanswered goals in the second half.

The Stars took the lead with 8:51 remaining in the game when the Islanders inadvertently headed the ball into their own goal while defending a Holy Angels’ free kick.

Farah stepped up to keep his team from getting down.

"I looked at our backline and told them it was alright," Farah said. "I told the others that it would be alright. I could just see it in everyone’s eyes that we were going to pull through."

DeLaSalle pulled through one minute later as Wageman scored the game-tying goal.

"That goal right there just showed you how much we wanted this to happen," Pribyl said. "We've been close before in years past, but this team is different. Michael wanted it. Joey wanted it in overtime and our team just wanted this game a lot more, I think."

First Report

Senior Joey Farah scored the game-winning goal with 4:02 remaining in overtime to give DeLaSalle a 4-3 victory over Holy Angels in a Tri-Metro Conference clash Thursday at DeLaSalle High School.

Farah and junior Michael Wageman finished two goals apiece for the Islanders (12-0-0), ranked No. 6 in the Minnesota State High School Coaching Association's Class 1A poll.

 

Hugh Bernhagen, Ben Becker and Christian Deaconson each scored for the Stars (10-2-1), ranked No. 2 in Class 1A.

The Islanders are on the road Saturday to take on Minneapolis Washburn, while Holy Angels will be at home against Richfield.

Spotlight Game Coverage