Timlin scores 4 goals as big 3 dominate in Bentworth win
DUBOIS – Despite the three-plus hour bus ride, and despite the cold, windy conditions, the Bentworth girls soccer team was ready.
The Bearcats were ready and eager for their PIAA Class A first-round matchup against Brockway Tuesday evening at DuBois Area High School.
“There was no letdown for us today,” Jocelyn Timlin said. “I think we all took a nap on the bus ride and were really contained on the bus. As we got closer, the energy and the nerves started to begin. But it was good nerves. We just couldn’t wait to get off the bus and win this match.”
The Bearcats scored the opening two goals, and then closed out the match with the final three markers in a 5-2 victory over the District 9 champion Rovers.
Three days ago, Bentworth lost the WPIAL final to Freedom, 8-2, but coach Tyler Hamstra knew his team would come out fast in the state playoffs.
“We were ready for this one,” Hamstra said. “We brought the right focus tonight and the girls just enjoyed themselves. Not a lot of teams get to make it this far. We regrouped from the loss to Freedom and the girls were ready to make more Bentworth history.”
The Bearcats (18-3) received huge games from their big 3: Timlin (four goals), Paige Marshalek (goal, assist) and Rori Schreiber (two assists).
“Jocelyn and Rori are just so fun to play with,” Marshalek said. “They are really smart and we are usually always on the same page on the field. We bring the right energy into games. We always have a good mindset going into games and we push each other.”
Candalaria Kossel was also strong in net for Bentworth with eight saves.
Bentworth will play Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
Marshalek started the scoring at the 36:36 mark, and just 35 seconds later Timlin scored a breakaway goal to double the Bearcats’ lead to 2-0.
The Rovers (16-1) countered with a pair of goals, by Channel Britten and Morrigan Decker, in a span of 2:33 to tie the score.
After both squads traded chances, Timlin put Bentworth up for good at 3-2 with three minutes left in the first half. She scored on a header off a stellar throw-in by Marshalek.
“We missed on a couple of throw-ins early,” Timlin said. “The wind was blowing really hard and the ball took some crazy bounces. We didn’t get frustrated and stuck with it. On the goal, the ball just landed in front of me and I just put a touch on it.”
Timlin wasn’t done on the offensive end. She registered two more goals in the second half. Assists on the goals went to Caitlon Marton and Schreiber.
“When we get games like this from Jocelyn, Paige and Rori, we are going to be tough to beat,” Hamstra said. “They dominated the ball and dominated possession. They stood out today and this is what you expect from your top-level players in the playoffs. They took over the game.”
Timlin has 51 goals on the season and 110 for her career.
Brockway recorded 10 shots in the second half, but most of their chances were outside shots that Kossel could easily handle.
“We clamped down on defense in the second half,” Hamstra said. “We marked some of their scorers and just kept everything in front of us. We we more patient and at times we waited for them to make a mistake, and then capitalize off of it. We communicated well in the back end.”
This is only the third time in Bentworth history that a team in any sport has advanced in the PIAA postseason. The 18 wins in a season are also a program-high for the Bearcats.
“It’s just so special for our seniors and juniors,” Marshalek said. “We have put in a lot of time and it’s awesome to see that hard work pay off. The underclassmen have really come on for us and they bring the same energy into games. It’s just special to make history with this team.”