It’s been 11 years since the Spring-Ford boys soccer brought home a Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship, and on Oct. 17 the Rams did just that, winning 5-4 on penalties against Norristown, with the regular score being 1-1, in the league championship game.

With a rough start to the season, the boys finished 7-6-5 overall and 6-2-4 in the PAC. Winning all seven games in PAC deciders and with the surprising help of four ties, Spring Ford topped the Liberty Division thus qualifying for the PAC semifinals.

Spring Ford entered the PAC playoffs ranked second, opening the tournament against 2023 PAC champions Upper Merion (No. 3).

The boys in blue had an amazing start, scoring two goals off of set pieces by Ben Resnick and Luke Rouyer in the first 20 minutes. However, in the last moments of the second half a questionable call led to a penalty kick for Upper Merion that was converted, making the score 2-1 at half.

After falling behind in the second half, Billy Collins tied the game with a top corner goal in net. A stalemate in two overtimes meant penalty shootouts. This time, the Rams got their revenge from last year’s defeat in the semifinals as attacker Patrick Clemens scored the deciding goal to punch a ticket for the final.

Two days later, against a promising Norristown team, the Rams ended an 11 year drought of a PAC Championship.

“We’re used to these kinds of games,” says Rams coach Jeremy Sharpe.

A 25-yard volley struck by midfielder Thiago Bernery leveled the game after an early Norristown goal. Another stale two overtimes meant a round of penalties again. This time it didn’t end in twelve rounds only in the standard of five as Cayden Folkes slotted the ball in the upper left corner of the net to give the Rams its long desired title.

The Rams’ season unfortunately ended in the District Tournament in a 1-0 loss to Haverford.