Coneybeer, Belle Vernon still kicking
BELLE VERNON — After a 2-2 regulation finish and two overtimes, with both teams hitting the crossbar multiple times and the goal posts several more times, it was only fitting that Monday’s WPIAL Class 2A first-round boys soccer match between fifth-seeded Belle Vernon and 12th-seeded East Allegheny went to penalty kicks.
And it was even more fitting when both of the teams made three out of five penalty kicks.
As per rules, it was set for sudden-death kicks and Belle Vernon, the Section 3 champion, won the thriller in the sixth round of kicks.
With a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks, Belle Vernon (15-2) earned a 3-2 win and advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face fourth-seeded Avonworth (15-2-1), a 4-0 winner over McGuffey.
With the PK shootout tied at 3-3, Belle Vernon called on Jackson Coneybeer, and he answered with a goal that gave the Leopards a 4-3 advantage.
Belle Vernon goalkeeper Bryce Burkhart, exorcising demons from a year ago, stopped Josh Nellis’ attempt to give the Leps the win and their first-ever PK shootout win at home.
“I thought Bryce could come out really big on this and have confidence,” Belle Vernon coach Alan Yeschenko said of his keeper. “Penalty kicks have never been good here (at James Weir Stadium) and I think every year we have missed the first penalty kick, and it continued today.
“It was really good to see the boys stay collected and finish their job. It was exciting for me to see Bryce get some saves after there was something he didn’t want to let go.”
Yeschenko knew Monday night was going to be tough for his team.
“We expected this type of physical game and we talked to the boys about this style of play,” he said. “We haven’t had to play a full 80 minutes outside of (a few games).
“To add another 30, I am impressed with our effort.”
Hayden Simonetta scored from 20 yards to give EA (11-4-1) a 1-0 lead with 23:04 to in the first half, but BV’s Trevor Kovatch tied the match just under seven minutes later on a penalty kick.
Belle Vernon was awarded the PK because EA goalkeeper Dustin Harrier ran over a Leopards player who attempted to play the ball in the goal box.
The Leps took control of the match in the second half, and they peppered Harrier with several shots on goal.
With 9:02 left, Brandon Yeschenko scored to give the Leopards a 2-1 lead. However, it was short-lived as EA’s Nicky Balana tied it again with 7:12 to go.
The contest remained knotted at 2-2 and headed to overtime with “Golden Goal” rules.
The teams played two scoreless 15-minute overtime periods, although it appeared for a moment Bahana gave the Wildcats, the third-place team from Section 1, the win with 10:20 to go in the first overtime, but he was called for being offsides.
For the penalty kick shootout, both head coaches picked five players to take kicks.
After Belle Vernon’s Brandon Yeschenko missed the first kick, EA’s Ryan Nichol gave the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.
Kovatch tied it up with his kick, but EA’s Caden Savinda gave the Wildcats a 2-1 edge.
BV’s Logan Metzger and EA’s Joe Connors missed in the third round, and Belle Vernon’s Evan Metz tied it at 2-2 with a goal to start the fourth round before Colin Goldstein gave EA a 3-2 lead.
Burkhart, the BV goalkeeper, stepped up next and scored to tie it at 3-3, and then he stopped Ryan Rupert’s attempt to win the shootout and match with a diving stop.
Burkhart finished with seven saves on 12 EA shots while Harrier made 11 saves on 17 Belle Vernon shots.