Nov 9, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 5 min read

GROVE CITY — Bentworth averaged over seven goals per match in the regular season and had an average of 5.7 in its first three playoff contests, but that average has dropped off significantly in the Bearcats’ last three postseason matches.

Bentworth won its second straight WPIAL title on penalty kicks after playing 110 minutes of scoreless action before a 1-0 victory in the first round of the PIAA playoffs before battling Mercyhurst Prep in the Class A state quarterfinals at Forker Field in Grove City.

Saturday’s tilt was the third straight one-score game for the Bearcats, who came out on the winning side in defeating the Lakers, 1-0, to qualify for the state semifinals in boys soccer for the second straight season.

Bentworth, who improved to 21-0-0 this season, will play District 5 champion McConnellsburg, who blanked Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) on Saturday, 2-0.

The Bearcats defeated OLSH in penalty kicks, 5-4, to win their second straight WPIAL title on Halloween. The penalty shootout was tied at three after the first five shooters before Bentworth prevailed, 5-4, in the seventh round of the shootout.

“At this stage of the game, every match is going to be tough,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “Another shutout for us, so that’s good that we keep the ball out of our net. In the playoffs, you must have a good defense to carry you. Obviously, I would have liked more touches in the offensive third, but as long as you put the ball in the back of the net and keep it out of yours, you win the game.”

Of the 125 goals Bentworth has scored this season, 44 have come from Ryan Moessner, including Saturday’s tally with 28:46 remaining in the first half. The play began with a throw-in before Andrew Vipperman’s cross was corralled by the junior, who buried a strike to the left of Mercyhurst Prep keeper Lorenzo Baker on the Bearcats’ first shot on target.

Moessner, who has 87 career goals, expected another tough, physical game, but believes last year’s playoff run prepared Bentworth for this season.

“I can’t even remember half of what happened on the goal,” Moessner said. “Andrew was able to get past his guy and cut it back. I called for a leave, Adam (Moessner) left it, and I was able to finish it with a good strike.

“The game was nerve wracking. I thought everyone on our team did a great job. Our first state playoff game was pretty physical, but I thought this game was more back-and-forth and had more physicality.”

Malarbi, his staff and team’s hope is that Tuesday’s result is different than last year’s as the Bearcats were ousted by Charleroi, 2-1, to deny a trip to Mechanicsburg and the state final. This season’s title match is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Eagle View Middle School.

“The goal is to get to the state final,” Malarbi said. “We want to get something with PIAA on it. Last year, we made school history in getting to the state semifinals, and we have done it again this season, but we want to keep it going and get to Mechanicsburg.

“We know it’s going to be a battle. McConnellsburg beat OLSH, who gave us a run for our money, so we expect a game just like this.”

Bentworth didn’t record another shot on target in the first half, but had a shot go wide of the cage with 30:15 left in half and a header went over the cage at the five-minute mark. The Bearcats earned two corner kicks.

The Lakers (16-7-0) had five shots on target in the first 40 minutes, but they were all stopped by DJ Hays, who made eight saves for the clean sheet. Hays robbed Marcelo Freyre at 35:45 in the first half.

Moessner won a corner kick two minutes into the second half and put a shot on target to the left of Baker, who made the save to keep the deficit at one.

Both teams combined to earn nine corner kicks in the second half with Mercyhurst Prep holding a 5-4 edge, but Bentworth’s backline only allowed three shots on target.

“We watched some film, and we knew they were a good squad offensively,” Mercyhurst Prep coach Jake Gamble said. “We had our chances but we just didn’t capitalize. In games like this, it comes down to who takes one or two opportunities, and today, they finished theirs, and we didn’t. We knew what we were going up against, and they are a solid team all the way around.”

The match was physical, and it escalated in the second half that led to a yellow card being shown to a Laker player with 5:43 remaining.

Gamble and Malarbi weren’t surprised by the physicality.

“It makes the referee’s job harder,” said Malarbi in reference to the game’s physicality. “Between the crowd, the coaches, the bench and the players on the field, it’s tough. These games are always emotional. I’m glad we get three officials. I’m glad they have headsets. I think those are steps in the right direction for trying to at least communicate on the calls.”