Oct 24, 2018 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Paige Marshalek had the feeling Wednesday night that no matter the deficit or the odds Bentworth’s season would not end in the WPIAL Class A girls soccer quarterfinals against Bishop Canevin.

That strong determination turned into action on the field as Marshalek was able to take control of a long pass from Rori Schreiber and score the game-winning goal at the 9:05 mark of the first overtime to give Bentworth a 3-2 triumph over Bishop Canevin at Waynesburg High School.

“Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without the rest of the team,” Marshalek said. “The midfielders just play a great game and really possess the ball for us. Rori gave me an amazing pass and I put a good touch on the ball to control it. I knew I had to step up and deliver for my team.”

The Bearcats (16-2) will be making their second appearance in the semifinals in the last three seasons. In 2016, Bentworth lost to Shady Side Academy.

“It was a well-played game,” Bentworth coach Tyler Hamstra said. “I thought we controlled the play in the first half. This game was full of momentum swings and both teams had their spurts. I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”

Trailing 2-1 with 20 minutes left in the second half, Hamstra moved Schreiber from defense to offense and the lineup change instantly paid off.

With more pressure in the offensive end, the Bearcats were rewarded with a corner kick. Lindsay Davis placed a perfect corner in front of the net and Jocelyn Timlin went up high and put the header in with 15:02 left. The goal was Timlin’s 45th of the season.

The Crusaders (11-4-1) came out attacking to start the contest and registered three shots in the opening five minutes. The Bentworth defense and goalkeeper Candalaria Kossel were up to the task. Kossel finished with seven saves.

After the Bearcats established some offensive chances on the counterattack, Bentworth took a 1-0 lead when Marshalek blasted a free kick from 20 yards out with 20:38 left in the first half.

In the final two minutes of the first half, the Crusaders the score at 1-1 when Caroline Colantorio registered goal off of a penalty kick.

Bishop Canevin grabbed its first lead of the game when Lauren Kirsch buried a rebound shot off of a free kick from Colantorio with 20:15 left in the regulation.

“Moving Rori to offense really changed the complexion of this game,” Hamstra said. “Our young girls on the defense did a tremendous effort without Rori. We were the bigger team and we brought the right intensity tonight. If teams try to single out Jocelyn, then I think Paige just naturally steps up and takes over.”

Bentworth, the No. 3 seed, will play No. 2 Greensburg Central Catholic, an 8-1 winner over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, in the semifinals Saturday at a time and place to be determined.

“It means the world to get back to the semifinals,” Marshalek said. “We were there our freshman year and it feels so good to get back there. We play in a tough section and we just came together late in the second half. We are super excited to get back to the semifinals.”