Colbert’s golden goal gives Bentworth WPIAL championship
Bill Hughes / For the Observer-Reporter
The WPIAL champion Bentworth boys soccer team poses for a photo after defeating Charleroi 3-2 in overtime Friday night to win the Class A championship Friday night.
Bill Hughes / For the Observer-Reporter
Bentworth players celebrate with the trophy after beating Charleroi 3-2 in overtime in the WPIAL Class A boys soccer championship game at Highmark Stadium on Friday night. It is the first WPIAL championship in boys soccer for Bentworth.
PITTSBURGH – The Bentworth and Charleroi High Schools are less than nine miles apart, and the athletic programs have been neighboring rivals for decades.
Bentworth rallied from a two-goal deficit to win its first WPIAL Class A boys soccer championship after Ryan Colbert scored the golden goal with 3:20 remaining in the first overtime for a 3-2 victory Friday night at Highmark Stadium.
“The goalie came out and made a save and it popped right to my foot,” Colbert said. “I swung at it and I hoped it went into the back of the net. To win, this feels great. Our program has never made it this far and no one else expected us to win.”
Both squads were seeking their first WPIAL championship in boys soccer. Charleroi (19-1) was the top seed and Bentworth (18-2) the seventh.
The Cougars, who were the top seed, won the first two matchups between the Section 2 rivals.
“This feels great, and it is unchartered territory for us,” said first-year Bentworth coach and 2011 graduate Nick Malarbi. “This is the first time our team has ever made it this far and to be part of this and the WPIAL champions, it is just amazing. No one thought we would make it this far.
“We’ve had a special relationship with Charleroi. There are a lot of friends on the team. It’s an honor to share this field with them.”
Charleroi coach Jon Ducoli admitted the loss hurts, but realizes his team must be ready for the state playoffs that begin Tuesday. Charleroi will play District 6 champion Richland. Bentworth will face District 10 champion Seneca. Sites and times will be set by the PIAA over the weekend.
“This stings, but we can’t go back and change the outcome,” Ducoli said. “But I give Bentworth credit. They made the plays they needed to make to get back into the game, and they made one more play than we did.”
Arlo McIntyre got the Cougars on the scoreboard with 10:04 gone in the match when he scored on a penalty kick after Charleroi was awarded the shot when Bryce Large was taken down in the goalkeeper’s box.
Both teams had a handful of chances to score in the first half, and the Cougars doubled their lead when Dylan Klinger scored with 3:59 to go before halftime.
Landon Barcus played the ball to Large, and he set up Klinger with a touch pass to the backside of the goalie’s box.
In the first half, Charleroi took 14 shots to Bentworth’s four, and the Cougars took all five corner kicks before the intermission.
Mazon made four saves in the first half while Bentworth’s Diontae Hays made three.
With 16:40 left in regulation, Ryan Moessner scored on an assist from John Scott to make the score 2-1, and the momentum shifted.
“You try to preserve the lead and we fell into their game play,” Ducoli said. “After they scored that first goal, momentum was on their side.”
Bentworth tied the match with 4:08 to go when Andrew Vipperman scored off an assist by Colbert. On the shot, Vipperman dove and ran into the right post as he scored the goal.
Regulation ended with the match tied 2-2, and it was only fitting for the teams, with both coming off overtime wins in the semifinals, to need extra time to decide the championship.
The Cougars entered the match 5-0 in one-goal matches and the Bearcats were 2-1.
“It was a blessing and a curse,” said Malarbi referring to his team being the seventh seed. “I think the WPIAL looked at this and knew it could be the final, and it motivated our players.”
Charleroi finished with 20 shots while Bentworth took 17.