Another shutout victory for Belle Vernon
BELLE VERNON – Chris Showman made a great defensive play that led to a goal, then he scored one to help Belle Vernon to a 3-0 victory over Somerset on Wednesday night in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A boys soccer playoffs at James Weir Stadium.
The Leopards (19-1-2) advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament on Saturday at a site and time to be determined. Belle Vernon will play North Catholic (19-2-2) in the round of eight. North Catholic edged Westmont Hilltop 1-0 in the first round.
The game will be a rematch. The Leopards defeated the Trojans, 2-0, in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals on Nov. 3 at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
“No matter who you play in the state playoffs, everybody is here to play and everybody knows what’s on the line,” Belle Vernon coach Tyler Caterino said. “We will refocus and see what we need to do in the quarterfinals.”
Belle Vernon’s last victory in the state playoffs was a 1-0 triumph over Obama Academy of the Pittsburgh City League in the first round of the Class 2A tournament in 2011.
The Leopards dropped a 2-0 match to Harbor Creek in the first round in Class 2A the next season.
Belle Vernon has won its last 10 matches since a 2-1 setback to Mount Pleasant on Oct. 6 in Section 5-2A play. The Leopards entered the WPIAL tournament as a No. 10 seed and defeated No. 7 Beaver, No. 2 Deer Lakes, No. 3 North Catholic and No. 9 Quaker Valley for their first district title in program history.
Belle Vernon goalkeeper Morgan Bunch has earned clean sheets in the last three matches, including 104 minutes of not allowing a ball get past him in the WPIAL final.
Bunch kept Wednesday’s match level in the first half when he dove on the ball to stop a dangerous run from the Golden Eagles’ Hoyt Emert with 20:05 remaining in the opening half. Somerset was able to regain possession in the penalty area, but Belle Vernon’s defense denied a second threat.
“Morgan Bunch is an incredible shot stopper and he is always there for us when we call on him,” Caterino said. “He is only getting better.”
Belle Vernon had a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks in the first half, but couldn’t break through Somerset’s back line to create a shot on target.
Both clubs had six total shots in the first 40 minutes, including a 2-1 edge for the Leopards.
“I think we were a little bit lackadaisical in the start,” Caterino said. “We had a couple of corners we could have cashed in on, but in the second half, we came back to reality and realized that teams aren’t just going to lay down for us.”
The Golden Eagles earned their first corner kick of the match with 33:35 left in the second. Emert was able to get a head on the service, but it went wide right of the net.
Belle Vernon broke through with 31:19 remaining in the second half when Jordan Jerome, who scored the golden goal for the district championship, blasted a right-footed shot from 20 yards out into the upper right-hand corner and past the reach of Golden Eagles keeper Deegan Pile for a 1-0 lead.
Showman won the ball from Somerset, fed Gavin Metzger, who sent a touch to Jerome for the goal.
“Jordan (Jerome) has been huge for us this year,” Caterino said. “He has scored a lot of big goals for us, and I think he is up to 19 now, which is a high number for a Class 2A guy. After having zero last year, he came into camp ready to roll and has stepped up in some really big moments for us.”
Showman was rewarded for his defensive effort when he converted on a penalty kick on a low shot that went to the left of Pile to extend the home team’s advantage to 2-0 in the match.
“Chris is our guy, and he’s an All-WPIAL selection for a reason,” Caterino said. “He can do it on both sides of the ball. His vision is phenomenal and he can find those passes forward, and whenever we are able to get him into more forward positions, he can put the ball in the back of the net as well. Obviously, a penalty-kick goal tonight, but I think he has seven or eight goals on the season, and that was his first penalty.”
Showman was sent to the penalty mark after the Golden Eagles were called for a handball in the penalty area. Showman was glad to score, but the junior midfielder was more happy for the team than himself.
“It doesn’t really matter who scores, gets the assist or whatever goes down on the stat sheet with this group as long as we see the net ripple,” Showman said. “I think everybody just puts 110 percent into the game, and just makes those plays, so it’s not just me. It’s all the guys back there.”
The Leopards earned 10 corner kicks, and had a 16-7 edge in total shots, but weren’t able to convert on any set pieces. Showman’s goal wasn’t the result of a set piece, but the foul did take place after Chris Stairs sent in the corner kick to the front of the box.
Metzger closed the scoring with 45 seconds left.