Bentworth boys headed back to PIAA title match
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
McMURRAY – One day, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart soccer team will find a way to defeat Bentworth.
But Tuesday night was not that time.
Buoyed by an own goal in the first half, Bentworth came away with a 2-1 victory over OLSH in the PIAA Class A semifinals played at Peters Township Middle School. This was the fourth win by the Bearcats over OLSH in the past three seasons.
The win also sends Bentworth into the PIAA finals for the second consecutive year, against Delco Christian on Saturday.
“It’s definitely special. I’m beyond blessed to be able to coach this team,” said Bentworth head coach Nick Malabri. who is a Bentworth graduate. “I love our community. In 2011, we were happy just to win half our games. Now, the style of soccer we play, the amount of work we put in off the field, we’re going to take this in and enjoy it.”
The beginning of the end for OLSH came at the 32:49 mark when a backwards pass got past OLSH’s goalkeeper and landed in the net.
“Every time we try a backpass, we hesitate. All it takes is a few feet and you don’t react right away, the ball is past you and you can’t save it.”
The game-winning goal came on Adam Moessner’s 50th goal of the season. It was a pretty pass that set up Moessner, who unleashed a wicked shot that didn’t stop until it hit the back of the net.
“The ball came across and I just took a touch,” Adam Moessner said. “I was one-on-one with the defender and put it inside.”
It’s a good thing.
Moessner’s goal came at the 27:36 and was key because 23 minutes later, Hunter Smith sent a scramble for the ball across the goal to make it 2-1.
“I think that puts us at nine goals allowed for the year,” Malabri said. “It’s kudos to all my defenders. They played great tonight.”