Johns’ goal caps another Bentworth comeback
FOX CHAPEL – There’s something about the Bentworth soccer teams and rallying this week.
A night after the Bearcats’ boys team came back from a two-goal deficit, the girls team did the same thing Thursday night at Shady Side Academy.
Joa Johns scored the game-winning goal with a 40-yard bomb into the net in the 69th minute to propel the defending champion and fifth-seeded Bearcats earned a 3-2 win over the No.4 Bulldogs in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals.
“We’ll probably have some Washington County doctors prescribing high blood pressure medication for the parents and the coaches this week,” Bearcats coach Tyler Hamstra joked after the match.
It was stressful for the Bearcats (17-2), but they advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals and will play top-seeded Sewickley Academy, a 1-0 winner over Carlynton. It’ll be a rematch of last year’s WPIAL championship, which Bentworth won 1-0. Shady Side Academy finished 9-7 after moving down from Class 2A to A this season.
Johns placed a perfectly struck shot from the right side from 40 yards out for her first playoff goal. As the ball arced toward the goal, Shady Side keeper Maura Sample tried to time her jump, but the ball went over her fingertips and into the net.
“I was just thinking that I needed to shoot it and if I missed Tyler (Hamstra) was going to yell at me, because I didn’t take a touch,” Johns said. “My mind just told me to shoot it and my foot laid perfectly on it. It’s probably the best shot I’ve ever had. I just keep looking straight at the ball, because I had a feeling it was going to go over her head.”
It was the final nail in a furious comeback for the Bearcats.
Shady Side Academy led 1-0 at halftime and Reese Kearns doubled the lead on a rebound in the 43rd minute.
Bentworth had not generated a shot on goal prior to being down 2-0, but kicked into gear offensively afterwards.
Brielle Dillon scored on a breakaway in the 54th minute to cut the lead to 2-1.
Then, Brielle’s twin sister, Brynn Dillon got the tying goal in the 62nd minute. The goal came off a corner kick that Belle Moyer served in, Brielle flicked on and Brynn directed a header into the net. It was Brynn’s first goal of the season and first career playoff goal.
Brynn’s responsibility is anchoring the midfield, but she was happy to contribute a crucial goal.
“Honestly it was big for me, because my sister (Brielle) is usually the one scoring,” Brynn said. “You always see her name in the paper, but for her to assist the goal and me put it in was special. I knew it was coming soon, because I’ve been working hard at it.”
Shady Side Academy’s first half goal was a blistering shot from Augustine McCargo from 25 yards. It was a high riser that Bentworth goalkeeper Julia Brandau had no chance to get to.
The Bulldogs had the majority of the possession in the first half, but Brandau was strong in goal.
She made five saves, including stopping a point-blank attempt by MacKenzie Foster off a corner kick by Sofia Petersson.
The Bearcats are one step away from defending their title at F.N.B Stadium and they proved Thursday that they’ll be a tough out no matter who they face the rest of the way.
“We didn’t go down without a fight last year and we weren’t going to do so this year,” Brynn said. “A lot of people had to step up for us tonight. We were dominated in the first half, but I think one of the great things about this team is that we’re not going to give up for anybody.”