Fox Chapel fought back from a pair of one-goal deficits, including scoring the equalizer with 51 seconds left in regulation, and won a penalty-kick shootout to defeat Central York in a PIAA Class AAA boys soccer first-round match at Chambersburg on Tuesday evening.
Trailing 3-2 in the shootout, the Foxes’ Nathan Wecht and Yardin Solomon converted their final two shots, and goalkeeper Jakob Dunn stopped the final two Central York attempts to secure a 4-3 advantage and the win.
Koto Furuhata scored the Foxes’ first goal in the 32nd minute to level the contest at 1-1 and was fouled in the penalty box area in the final minute of regulation to set up a Jung Hong penalty kick.
Hong converted the kick to send the match into overtime. Hong and Furuhata also converted their kicks in the shootout.
In the final seconds of the first overtime saw one of the most head-scratching sequences — and questionable officiating decisions of the season.
Furuhata laid off a perfect pass to Hong in stride to get behind the last Central Valley defenders. Furuhata was fouled as he made the pass, and Hong finished the attack by shooting the ball into the goal as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the first overtime.
The PIAA officials, however, called the foul, and didn’t let the play go on, even as Fox Chapel clearly were moving forward with advantage and in possession.
Speaking with Erik Ingram, Fox Chapel Head Coach, after the match, he said the officials offered no explanation for the call.
Fortunately for the Foxes, they will continue their season after a resilient win.
Here are the rest of the Boys Scores from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review round-up…
CLASS AAA
Canon-McMillan 1, Cathedral Prep 0 (SO) — Keeper Christian Snatchko scored the deciding goal in the shootout as Canon-McMillan (19-3) earned a PIAA Class AAA first-round victory. Alex Ablak and Nick Sodini also scored in the shootout.
Seneca Valley 5, State College 1 — Griffin Mathew scored twice, and Matt Saluga, Macen DiPaolo and Zach Turley added goals to lead WPIAL third-place finisher Seneca Valley (16-2-1) to a PIAA Class AAA first-round win.
CLASS AA
Mars 5, Bradford 0 — Andrew Diefenbacher scored twice, and Andrew Dominjanni, Cory Ferguson and Justin Simakas also tallied goals to help WPIAL runner-up Mars (19-3-1) to a PIAA Class AA first-round win over the District 9 champion at DuBois. Mars will play South Park in the quarterfinals.
South Park 4, Harbor Creek 1 — Howie Ball, Nick Schwarzel, Christian Payne and Dan Irwin all found the back of the net to help WPIAL third-place finisher South Park (19-2-1) to a WPIAL Class AA first-round win over the District 10 champion.
CLASS A
Mercyhurst Prep 5, Avonworth 0 — District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep ended the season for Avonworth (15-5-3) in the PIAA Class A first round.
Seton-La Salle 3, Berlin Brothersvalley 0— Leo Wilson scored two goals and Chris Stack scored once to help WPIAL champion Seton-La Salle (18-5) earn a WPIAL Class A first-round victory over the District 5 champion at Hampton. Morgan Samuel made three saves to earn the shutout.
Sewickley Academy 5, Karns City 0 — Matt Teitelbaum’s hat trick helped WPIAL third-place finisher Sewickley Academy (19-3) earn a PIAA Class A first-round victory over District 9 champion Karns City. Sewickley Academy will play Mercyhurst Prep in the quarterfinals.
**NOTE** There were numerous postponements across the PIAA playoffs last night due to bad weather, and those games will be played Wednesday. None of those games included WPIAL teams.
PIAA QUARTERFINAL games are scheduled to be played on Saturday, November 14. Times and locations are still to be determined.