On the weekend before Thanksgiving in 2010, the Hampton Talbots boys soccer team defeated Archbishop Wood 1-0 for the PIAA Championship at Hersheypark Stadium. 11 years later, the Talbots are in an almost identical position. Hampton will play the same team, in the same stadium, and on the same weekend of their 2010 season. From 2009 through 2011, Hampton made the final four of the PIAA tournament each year and capped off their season with a state title in 2010. Their challenger that year was none other than the Archbishop Wood Vikings. Archbishop Wood has succeeded in the Philadelphia Catholic League with numerous titles across all sports and is the former high school of tight-end Kyle Pitts, the 4th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The Vikings boys soccer team won the PCL in 2004, 2010, 2014, and now 2021 but have never been victorious in the state title. Once again, Hampton is trying to keep it that way.

The Talbots are still riding high with a 17-0 record and have beat back their competitors. Hampton started the season with a statement win on the road against the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Mars. The Talbots kept rolling to win their remaining regular-season games and clinched the 2-seed in the WPIAL playoffs. Hampton faced West Allegheny in the WPIAL Championship, and the Talbots found themselves as the underdog. Hampton’s goal in the second half was all that they needed as they held West Allegheny to a clean sheet. Both Hampton and West Allegheny won their next two games in the PIAA playoffs to face in the PIAA semifinals. With a bid to the PIAA Championship at stake, the Indians were beyond eager to strike revenge on the Talbots. Hampton took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but West Allegheny forced overtime. Both teams fell short of the net in both 15-minute overtime periods to force a shootout. Hampton found themselves down 2-3 in the 4th series, and West Allegheny still has two more goal opportunities. The Talbots needed two stops and a score to stay alive, and they proceeded to do just that. The Talbots won in the 2nd shootout, and Newman Stadium erupted in jubilance for the blue & gold. After Hampton’s two victories, MaxPreps ranked the Talbots as the #1 high school soccer team in Pennsylvania and #5 nationally. This Saturday, the Talbots seek to run it back and hang another PIAA banner in the high school gym.

Hampton’s Journey to Hershey:

WPIAL First Round, Oct 23: vs. Penn Hills (W 8-0)

WPIAL Quarterfinals, Oct 27: vs. Moon (W 1-0)

WPIAL Semifinals, Nov 1: vs. Franklin Regional (W 1-0)

WPIAL Championship, Nov 6: vs. West Allegheny (W 1-0)

PIAA First Round, Nov 9: vs. Hollidaysburg (W 6-0)

PIAA Quarterfinals, Nov 13: vs. Franklin Regional (W 2-0)

PIAA Semifinals, Nov 16: vs. West Allegheny (W 2-1, 6-5 PKs)

PIAA Championship, Nov 20: vs. Archbishop Wood (6:30 pm)