Oct 26, 2016 3 min read

McMURRAY – As good as a soccer team can play defensively, sometimes it takes just one breakdown to end a season.

Such was the case for the Bentworth boys team, as the Bearcats were eliminated from the WPIAL Class A playoffs following a 1-0 loss at the hands of defending state champion Sewickley Academy Wednesday night in a quarterfinal game at Peters Township High School.

“Just one mistake on the night, and that was it,” said Bentworth head coach Gary Amos.

“I guess in the playoffs that’s all it takes.”

The defeat marked the second straight season the Bearcats (15-4-1) lost in the quarterfinals.

Bentworth acquitted itself well against the Panthers (16-4), holding the champs to just one shot on goal in the first half while generating a handful of chances of its own.

But the second half was a different story.

Panthers coach James Boone adjusted his formation after halftime, and Sewickley Academy began dominating the game, generating more and more opportunities against senior goalkeeper Will Bashioum, who kept the Bearcats in the game.

Bashioum made 12 saves in all, including 11 in the second half, as the Panthers pressed for the game’s opening goal.

“We put one of our inside midfielders outside to create some more opportunities to go wide,” said Boone. “I told the guys to spread them out.”

Many of Bashioum’s saves were routine, as the Bentworth defenders did an excellent job blocking shots and forcing the Panthers into shooting on goal when they could, and Bashioum was well positioned most of the time. His best save of the night came in the first half when he tipped a free kick just over the crossbar on a shot by Ben Mulholland.

“They’re a good team, and their record shows that,” said Boone. “I was very impressed with how they played.”

But as the second half progressed, it seemed a Sewickley Academy goal was just a matter of time, and the breakthrough finally came as overtime began looming on what started as an innocent-looking play.

With 11 minutes to play in regulation, Mike Napoleone found a crack in the staunch Bentworth defense and exploited it, dribbling past a couple of defenders and firing a low shot that eluded Bashioum into the far corner for the game’s only goal.

Try as they might, the Bearcats couldn’t generate much attack in the second half as the Panthers clamped down following the goal. Bentworth did hit the crossbar with a shot in the 24th minute and had another opportunity following a great cross just elude a player later in the first half, but those were the best chances on the night.

“We thought we would get a goal or two,” said Amos. “We told the kids they could play with anybody, and that’s been the case. We told them to keep their heads up. I’m really proud of the guys.”