Nov 2, 2016 3 min read

BALDWIN – In a season of firsts, the Bentworth High School girls soccer team came up short on a final attempt at a program first – making the state playoffs – when it lost 4-2 to Vincentian Academy in the WPIAL Class A third-place consolation game Wednesday night at Baldwin High School.

“I definitely think that the gas tank is depleted mentally and physically,” said Bentworth head coach Tyler Hamstra. “But I am proud of how the girls fought back and gave it their all.”

Bentworth still had enough left to battle back from a 3-0 deficit and close to within a goal late in the match.

Vincentian’s Lauren Donnelley opened the scoring with 24:21 to play in the first half, and the junior scored her second goal with 21:40 to play in the half to double the Vincentian lead.

CeCe Liguori extended the Lady Royals’ lead to 3-0 with a goal with 13:58 to play in the first half, but Bentworth, the Section 2-A champion, would not give up.

Freshman Jocelyn Timlin took a 40-yard crossing pass from freshman Paige Marshalek and beat Vincentian junior goalkeeper Ella Kozel to make the score 3-1 with 3:41 left before halftime.

Hamstra talked about his halftime adjustment and the effort of sophomore goal keeper Cande Kossel, who made 11 saves.

“I dropped Paige farther back because I thought she could better quarterback us, and she started the attack better from back there,” Hamstra explained. “I have said all season that Cande is the best goalie in Class A and she kept us in the game despite us making defensive mistakes.”

The score held at 3-1 into the second half until Bentworth pulled to within a goal with 32:59 to play. The Bearcats’ Rori Scheiber scored after she rebounded a Marshalek direct kick.

Bentworth had numerous chances to score the tying goal as much of the contest was played deep in the Vincentian territory. The Royals, however, scored the insurance goal with only 11:21 to play on a breakaway by sophomore Elizabeth Gormanto.

The win sends Vincentian (15-3-2) into the PIAA tournament Tuesday against the District 9 champion.

The season ends for Bentworth, which finishes with a 17-3 record that includes the first two postseason victories in program history and its second section title.

“We are so young,” he said. “This experience means a lot for the program. This freshman class will carry us now that the seniors are gone, and now that we are one of the top teams, we will get everyone’s best battle.”

Bentworth will return eight starters next season.