June 8 (1969)

Mike Seerey (pictured later in his career) scores the game’s opening goal and assists on two others as St. Philip Neri gains the semifinals of the U.S. Junior Cup playoffs with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Schwabens in Chicago. St. Philip Neri, the defending Junior Cup champion, opens a 2-0 lead by halftime on goals by Seerey and Joe Hamm. Bob O’Leary and Pat Leahy tally in the second half. The semifinal will be scheduled for Los Angeles against Los Angeles Latin-American. But Latin-American will forfeit for lack of a home field, advancing St. Philip Neri to the final in Baltimore against Tom’s Produce on June 29. The teams will play to a 3-3 draw after regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, sending the game to penalty kicks before 1,800 boisterous Baltimore fans. Rules at the time specify the teams take turns on single rounds of PKs, with the victory going to the first team to win a round. Leahy will make St. Philip Neri’s first attempt and Baltimore’s James Novak will miss, giving the St. Louis club its second consecutive Junior Cup. Many of St. Philip Neri’s players will go on to college and professional careers, and Seerey will win consecutive Hermann Trophies as the top player in college soccer while at St. Louis University. Leahy will become the New York Jets’ placekicker from 1974-91 and will retire as the third-leading scorer in NFL history.