D-11 Soccer: Zamudio’s goal lifts Shenandoah Valley by North Schuylkill
Shenandoah Valley's Ayden Zamudio, back, is hugged by teammate Joan Menjivar after scoring the game's only goal in the Blue Devils' 1-0 win over North Schuylkill in a District 11 Class AA boys' soccer quarterfinal Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Stadium (Photo by Justin Reed / Skook News).
SHENANDOAH — Ayden Zamudio had a day he’ll never forget Wednesday.
It’s a day that will live in the Shenandoah Valley history books.
Hours after helping the Shenandoah Valley boys’ cross country team win the District 11 Class A championship with a fifth-place finish overall, Zamudio scored the game’s only goal in the Blue Devils’ 1-0 victory over North Schuylkill in a District 11 Class AA boys’ soccer quarterfinal.
The senior striker scored at 70:25 off an assist by Joan Menjivar, giving the Blue Devils their first-ever District 11 soccer victory in the first-ever District 11 playoff game played at Shenandoah’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
In its second year of existence as a varsity soccer program, Shenandoah Valley remained unbeaten at home.
“We pride ourselves on playing well at home,” Shenandoah Valley coach John Burke said. “Our seniors, and everyone on this team, have never lost on this field. We played two games here last year, nine this year, never lost on this field. So those seniors are going to walk away never losing in soccer on this field, which is awesome for them.”
For Zamudio, the day began with a bus ride to DeSales University for the District 11 Cross Country Championships. Zamudio finished fifth in the Class A boys’ race in 18:30 as the Blue Devils swept both the boys’ and girls’ team titles and earned trips to states.
Minersville’s Kolin Long and Schuylkill Haven’s Anna Schaeffer were Class A individual champions, while Zamudio’s Shenandoah Valley teammate Robert Espinal was second. For a recap of the District 11 Cross Country Championships, visit https://www.t102sportsnow.com/2024/10/23/district-11-cross-country-3-boys-qualify-for-states-in-class-aa/.
As Zamudio and his teammates celebrated winning the District 11 team title, his mother quickly reminded him he had a soccer game to play.
“I felt the energy as soon as I got off the bus,” Zamudio said of the cross country meet. “My cross country team, we knew we were winning districts, we got so hyped. We saw the scoreboard, it was amazing. My mom was there, and as we were celebrating my mom was like, ‘Ayden, Ayden, come on we have to go to the soccer game.’ ”
Zamudio said he got to Shenandoah Valley (the Class A boys’ XC race started at 3:40 p.m., the soccer game at 6:30 p.m.) about 3 minutes before kickoff. He got about 2-3 warm-up kicks in before the game started, then battled cramps throughout the game.
The Blue Devils (18-2) controlled the action for most of the first half, outshooting North Schuylkill 4-2. Zamudio, Menjivar, Johnny Burke and Sam Mentusky each had shots for Shenandoah Valley, but couldn’t get one past North Schuylkill senior keeper Kaden Onuschak, who was outstanding from start to finish.
The Spartans (12-9) had the best scoring chance as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Wyatt Zendrosky maneuvered around Shenandoah keeper Caleb Campos on the right wing, but his dribbler hit off the right post and kicked out of bounds as time expired.
“At the end of the day it’s going to come down to whoever capitalizes on the opportunities they are presented with,” North Schuylkill coach Jarrid Todd said. “Ayden Zamudio, great player, he was able to do that tonight.
“I thought we had some great chances, we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
Shenandoah Valley continued to press in the second half, collecting four shots and four corner kicks before finally breaking through with just under 10 minutes left.
Menjivar started the play in the middle of the field and got the ball on the right wing to Zamudio, who got free from a defender and blasted a shot to the left of Onuschak and into the net for a goal at 70:25.
MORE PHOTOS: For more photos from Tuesday’s District 11 Class AA boys’ soccer quarterfinal, visit www.skooknews.com
“We knew that as long as we kept that number on the other side of the scoreboard at zero, we were going to keep possession, do our thing and one will fall,” Coach Burke said. “We didn’t have a ton of shots, but I knew once Ayden got to that right side and kept it below the crossbar … he hit it hard.”
The victory advances Shenandoah Valley to Tuesday’s District 11 semifinals against Notre Dame-Green Pond, a 4-0 winner over Palmerton, at a site and time to be determined.
For Zamudio, getting the soccer win was the perfect capper to an amazing day.
“It feels amazing knowing that we’re going to leave something off to the younger generation, we’re making a name for ourselves, everyone is going to know Shenandoah Valley,” he said.
District 11 Boys’ Soccer
Class AA Quarterfinals
At Shenandoah
North Sch. (12-9) 0 0 — 0
Shen. Valley (18-2) 0 1 — 1
SV – Zamudio (Menjivar), 70:25
Shots on goal: North Schuylkill 5, Shenandoah Valley 9. Corner kicks: North Schuylkill 2, Shenandoah Valley 7. Saves: North Schuylkill (Onuschak) 8, Shenandoah Valley (Campos) 4.
