Bentworth beats Waynesburg for 3rd time to reach WPIAL finals
By Jerin Steele
Staff writer
jsteele@observer-reporter.com
McMURRAY – They’re going to be doing the Bearcat twice at Highmark Stadium this week.
Bella Moyer scored with the 37th minute and No. 2 Bentworth secured a 1-0 win over section rival and 11th-seeded Waynesburg in the WPIAL Class A girls soccer semifinals Tuesday night at Peters Township’s Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
The win comes a night after the Bentworth boys clinched a third-straight trip to Highmark Stadium with a 2-0 win over Beaver County Christian in their semifinal.
Moyer’s twin brother Billy plays for the boys team, so both will get a chance to play and watch each other in a final.
“I’m excited to cheer him on and for him to cheer me on, because it really means a lot when he cheers me on,” Moyer said. “I’m sure it means a lot to him when I cheer him on too.”
The Bentworth girls (18-1-1) face top-seeded Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL Class A final at a date and time to be announced.
Waynesburg’s impressive, upset-filled run through the WPIAL bracket came to an end, but its season is not over.
The Raiders (10-5-2) play Springdale in the consolation match Thursday for a berth into the state tournament.
Waynesburg had beaten Winchester Thurston and Seton LaSalle to reach the semifinals.
Bentworth claimed a spot in a championship match for the first time since 2018 and will go for its title. Waynesburg was seeking a trip to a final for the first time since winning in 2017.
The Bearcats swept the Raiders in section play, winning 2-0 and 2-1 and completed the three-game sweep with a huge help from the late first half goal by Moyer.
Moyer received a short pass in the 18-yard box from Megan Keturakis. The pass gave Moyer a chance for a clean shot and she hit it into the top right corner of the net.
“I just hit it one-time and tried to keep it away from the goalkeeper and it went in,” Moyer said. “It was in slow motion for me. I was just thinking ‘please go in.’ I’m thankful it did.”
It was the first real chance in the game. Bentworth had put in several long shots on goal, but they were routine for Waynesburg keeper Peyton Cowell.
Waynesburg’s Rylei Rastoka put in a couple long shots toward Bearcats keeper Julia Brandau that she claimed with ease.
With nine minutes remaining in the first half, Emily Rafferty arrived at the stadium after playing in Waynesburg’s volleyball match against Avonworth. The Raiders fell in five sets to the Antelopes.
Rafferty ran to the Waynesburg sideline with her pink cleats in hand and after lacing them up went to midfield to check in. She entered the game with six minutes remaining in the first half.
Waynesburg came out in the second half with purpose and got an early chance when Kolbi Rastoka got a shot on target, but Brandau was in good position to make a save.
The Raiders’ best chance to tie came with 15 minutes remaining when Rylei Rastoka put a corner kick into the box and it was headed toward goal, but the attempt hit the crossbar and bounced out.
“I almost cried there for a second,” Brandau said. “I was so thankful that the crossbar was there.”
Prior to the Waynesburg corner, Bentworth had a chance to double the lead when Brielle Dillon was fouled from 23 yards out. Moyer put a shot toward goal but it sailed high over the crossbar and through the football uprights behind the net.
With four minutes remaining, Ava D’Allesandro put a shot on target, but Brandau made the save. That was Waynesburg’s final good chance to tie the match.