Bentworth boys, South Fayette girls seek 1st state title
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
By Jerin Steele
Staff writer
jsteele@observer-reporter.com
It will be at a different venue, but the destination is the same as last year for the Bentworth boys soccer team.
The Bearcats are in the state championship for a second consecutive season.
Everything will be new for the South Fayette girls, because it’s their debut in a state final.
One thing the two have in common is they are both seeking their first PIAA title.
The South Fayette girls will have the first crack. They play Radnor in the Class 3A girls soccer state title, 1 p.m. Saturday at Northeastern High School in Manchester.
The Bentworth boys follow with their matchup with Delco Christian in the Class A boys championship game at 4 p.m.
Since 2022, the state soccer championships were held at Eagle View Middle School adjacent to Cumberland Valley High School, but because of renovations at Eagle View, the games have been moved to Northeastern.
Bentworth lost 1-0 in overtime to Lancaster Mennonite in last year’s state final.
The Bearcats are banking on their experience from last year and the high-powered offensive tandem of the Moessner brothers, Ryan and Adam, to bring home the trophy.
“The experience from last year definitely helps regardless of whether it’s a different venue or not,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “Even the small stuff like the travel out and hotel to pregame and preparation is all familiar and that helps. Even though we lost six seniors from last year, a large core of the team was a part of that state final.”
Delco Christian, won the state title in 2023 and beat a Washington County team, Charleroi, in that final.
The Knights have not given up a goal in this state playoff run. They beat Masterman 4-0 in the first round, Camp Hill 2-0 in the quarterfinals and Wyoming Seminary 1-0 in the semifinals. Jude Sacks netted the lone goal in the semifinals.
“The first time I watched Delco was in 2023 when they won the state title against Charleroi,” Malarbi said. “We followed that game, because Charleroi knocked us out in the state semifinals. I’ve known the name Delco for a while. Then, Camp Hill, Lancaster Mennonite … they are big names out east. We’re going to respect the fact that they are in the final and understand that this will not be an easy game.”
South Fayette has used a couple comebacks to secure its spot in the state championship. The Lions were down 3-0 to Cocalico in the state quarterfinals and rallied to win 4-3 in overtime. They also were down 1-0 to DuBois in the semifinals, but reeled off six unanswered goals to cruise to a 6-1 win.
Mia Deramo scored twice in the win over DuBois, which was an impressive display considering the Beavers had knocked out the other two WPIAL teams in the bracket, including Fox Chapel, who beat South Fayette in the WPIAL championship.
The Lions have been on a rampage since losing in the WPIAL final, which denied them a three-peat.
Now they can end their season with state gold.
“It would mean everything to me,” Deramo said. “Finishing my high school career that way would be awesome. Leaving a mark like that is something that you never forget. I just love these girls, so to win it with them would be special.”
Radnor is in the state finals for a third time and first since 2021.
The Raptors lost in 2021, but won the 1999 Class A championship. Oddly enough that win came against Charleroi just like Delco Christian’s.
All three games for Radnor in the state playoffs were 1-0 victories. They beat Susquehannock in the first round, Abington Heights in the quarterfinals and Lower Dauphin in the semifinals. Ailsa Gilmour scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute in the semifinals.
While seniors like Deramo and Quinn Miller and goalie Caitlyn Thompson will suit up for South Fayette for the final time, freshman Sylvi Rossi is just getting started.
She had a huge goal just before halftime that gave South Fayette a 2-1 lead against DuBois and as one of the strikers, will be key again on Saturday.
“It’s pretty incredible to experience this as a freshman,” Rossi said. “Our team has never experienced this, so the fact that all of us can go do this together for the first time in our school history is pretty amazing.”