Another WPIAL title team at South Fayette
Jordan Smith celebrates after firing in the game-winning goal for South Fayette against Mars, 3-2, in the WPIAL Class AA boys’ soccer championship game.
Matt Thomas (13) for South Fayette puts a shot on goal against Mars goalkeeper Dale Glavin during the WPIAL Class AA boys’ championship match.
South Fayette’s Zach Ali (2) and Colin Martincic (12) battle a Mars player for the soccer ball during WPIAL Class A boys’ championship action.
South Fayette captains Jordan Smith, Zach Lutz, Christian Dedi and Mitch Ford hoist the WPIAL Class AA boys soccer championship trophy after beating Mars, 3-2, in overtime. Smith scored the game-winning goal with 7:35 left in the extra period.
PITTSBURGH – South Fayette High School can add another championship to its crowded trophy case.
Like the rise of its football program that came close before earning gold and boys basketball winning the 2012 state championship, it took time and patience for the boys soccer team to etch itself into the WPIAL history books.
The Class AA title came after the Lions saw a two-goal lead erased in a 15-minute span, but the ending was fitting for a team that saw its state title hopes end in overtime of the PIAA semifinals last fall.
South Fayette senior striker Jordan Smith drilled a shot from 25 yards into the top-right corner of the net with 7:35 remaining in the first overtime to help the fourth-seeded Lions defeat second-seeded Mars, 3-2, for the program’s first WPIAL championship.
After a 4-13 record in 2011, Lions head coach Rob Eldridge led South Fayette to the WPIAL title match in 2013, four consecutive trips to the WPIAL semifinals and last season’s PIAA semifinal appearance.
“South Fayette in general, as a school district, has a pretty solid championship culture,” Eldridge said. “Our football program has been a success, our basketball program won a state championship in 2010 and these guys are all close friends with those guys. It’s about all the work these kids have done, even the 4-13 team. This game is for them, too.”
South Fayette (18-3) will face Thomas Jefferson (18-2-1) – the fourth-place team from the WPIAL – in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Mars (18-3-1) will play Bradford – the District 9 champion – to open the state playoffs.
The Lions’ championship was made possible on a play when Smith defied his coach’s advice. After watching the two-goal lead evaporate with South Fayette trying to play direct offensively, Eldridge told his players, particularly Smith, to keep it on the ground and use his skill to maneuver around Mars’ big defenders.
On a hunch, he decided not to listen. After a turnover, South Fayette went on the counter-attack as junior defender Jeremy Zura stole the ball in the Lions’ end and passed it to Smith at midfield. Smith dribbled upfield and with cushion between him and a defender, he drilled a deep shot that went over the goalkeeper’s left shoulder.
“I’m just happy it went in,” Smith said. “My coach was telling me to dribble a little bit more, and if I would have missed that shot I probably would have gotten yelled at, but it went in so that’s all that matters.”
The Lions weren’t doing much celebrating after Mars fought back to tie the match with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. A throw-in from 30 yards landed in the box, where Planets defender Justin Simakas headed it in to tie.
Mars got its first goal when Nick Cimini snuck a shot under the crossbar with 21:36 left in the second half. The Planets did not have a shot on goal until the 56th minute
“I was very proud of our effort. I thought the boys worked so hard, but we’re disappointed we didn’t get it,” Mars head coach Chris Knauff said. “South Fayette is a great team and I’m happy with the way we played. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way.”
Precise passing and speed up top helped the Lions counteract Mars’ size on defense, and it was that formula that gave the Lions a two-goal cushion.
Smith sped down the far sideline, drawing a defender away from the front of the goal, and fired a cross inside the 5-yard box, where junior midfielder Matt Thomas directed the ball into the back of the net in the 11th minute of the second half.
Just seven minutes earlier, senior midfielder Zach Lutz sent a cross in front of the net that went off a Mars defender and into the net for the 1-0 lead.
“It really stunk to finish short the past few years, but we finally put it together,” Smith said. “We knew this was a championship team. Finally winning it all feels great.”