Moessner’s OT winner sends Bentworth to title game
Mark Marietta
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Elated teammates surround Bentworth’s Ryan Moessner (10) after he scored in overtime to earn the Bearcats a 2-1 victory over Burrell in the WPIAL Class 1A semifinal.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Bentworth’s Ryan Mossner kicks the winning goal past Burrell defender Billly Kowalkowski (22), earning the Bearcats a 2-1 victory in overtime of the WPIAL Class 1A semifinal at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Bentworth's Ryan Moessner (10) watches his shot as it skips past Burrell goal keeper Ryan Croushore, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the first half.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Burrell goalkeeper Ryan Croushore stops Bentworth's Andrew Vipperman (23) at point-blank range in the secind half.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Bentworth's Coltyn Lusk, top, clashes with Burrell's Hayden Herbulock (33) at midfield.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Burrell's Luke Postupack (24) drives toward to goal that tied the score 1-1.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Bentworth's Aiden McMurray (7) and Burrell's Cam Wagner (13) vie for control at midfield in the WPIAL Class 1A semifinal at Peters Township.
MCMURRAY – Ryan Moessner is small in stature, but the Bentworth sophomore proved he can play with the big boys in scoring both of the Bearcats’ goals, including the game-winner, in a 2-1 overtime victory over Burrell in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class A boys soccer playoffs Monday night at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on the campus of Peters Township Middle School.
Bentworth will be making its first appearance in the championship finale. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 8 p.m. Friday at Highmark Stadium. The Bearcats will play the winner of Charleroi (18-0-0) and Seton LaSalle (15-2-1). The result was not available at press time.
“At the beginning of the year, I told the kids they were a special group, and to accomplish this feat is amazing,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “At the end of the day, I thought the rainy and cold weather helped. We got to play some old-school soccer, and that is something Bentworth is used to playing.
“The girls program qualified for the WPIAL title game in 2018, and now in 2023, we are back. Obviously, we know Charleroi, but Seton LaSalle used to be in our section, so we know what they are capable of.”
Burrell (14-4-0) can qualify for the state tournament by winning Wednesday’s consolation final. The site and time have not been determined.
“We still have an opportunity to qualify for the state tournament, which is big for our program,” Burrell coach Andrew Kariotis said. “This one definitely stings, but we have made it further than any time. We just fell a little short today. I am proud of my guys for battling back to force overtime.”
Bentworth (17-2-0) carried a 1-0 lead into the second half with Moessner scoring 14 minutes into the game on his team’s first shot on target, but Burrell sent the match into overtime on Luke Postupack’s tally with 2:51 left in regulation.
Burrell carried the momentum the first five minutes of overtime, but Moessner capitalized on the Bearcats’ first opportunity, as he took a pass from John Scott and buried the shot of the left post with 9:51 left. Moessner has 29 goals this season.
“Ryan is a special player,” Malarbi said. “It’s tough when you go through all-section voting, and a kid like Ryan Moessner finishes middle of the list or down low. Ryan is a kid that can play at any classification, and I have a couple of kids like that, but Ryan is a special talent. People look at him and say he’s too small but soccer is changing.”
Moessner, who is listed on Bentworth’s roster at 5-foot-5, is eager for the championship game. The Bearcats entered the tournament as the seventh seed, but defeated the second and third seeds after defeating OLSH in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals.
“We really didn’t think we should have been the seventh seed, but it is what it is,” Moessner said. “We are glad to be in the position that we are in and have a lot of faith in each other no matter what type of adversity comes our way.
“I can’t really even remember the first goal I scored, but on the second one, John (Scott) played it perfectly right in front of me. I have never scored a bigger goal in my life. I’ve never had anything in my life happen like that.”
Burrell’s first shot on target came with 10:25 remaining in the first half, but Jayson Ireland’s shot on goal was stopped by Bentworth goalkeeper DJ Hays.
Ireland broke free with 6:55 left in the first half and earned a corner kick without getting a shot off. The Bearcats’ backline cleared the corner out of danger before Burrell could get a shot off.
Hays stopped a second Burrell shot on goal with 6:15 left and the Buccaneers had a shot sail over the cage with 1:15 remaining to preserve the 1-0 advantage at halftime.
Hays made six saves and Bentworth’s backline of Dillan Colbert, Gaige Davenport, Isaac Reynolds and Andrew Vipperman prevented Burrell’s forwards from getting any space.
“We knew with a team that possesses the ball very well, the best thing we can do is to try and stay tight, and that is what we worked on all week,” Malarbi said. “We were having midfielders and outside backs staying tight and trying not to let them turn. I think we did really well for the most part.”
Burrell goalkeeper Ryan Croushore stopped three shots.