PSN’s Featured High School Game
presented by Steel Town Auto Sales and Advanced Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
South Fayette vs West Allegheny
(WPIAL Boys 3A non-section match)
at West Allegheny High School, Saturday, September 8, 11 a.m.
2nd half notes:
Early After Fiordilino cuts inside defender, ball is knocked away, then Dragisich unleashes a shot from 24 yards that forces a save from SF’s keeper Rodgers.
South Fayette earns a corner as Gavin Eldridge gets forward and ball is knocked out. West A counters after corner cleared away. But SF does a nice job to slow down Jaxon Ervin who runs into wall of defenders. (52′)
South Fayette have been playing deeper in second half — bunkering in and waiting for counter chances now. West A still trying to penetrate wall of white shirts (63′)
The Lions finally get a few chances going forward, as Chad Eldridge gets consecutive shots from 20 and 17 yards out — and each time putting it over bar.
Bit of a wild sequence there — as Rodgers comes way out to clear ball away — and goes to WA’s Blunkosky who redirects it on goal from way out — but SF’s defender Sanders clears ball heading toward goal away
(70′)
With under seven mins remaining — @WestABoysSoccer earns a corner as ball is poked away from Nathan Dragisich and goes out end line. Johnny Dragisich takes well played corner -but no one there to connect
(76′)
GOAL – WEST ALLEGHENY – 1-0 (77′)
Evan Blunkosky breaks the tie!
Short free kick in box from Farelli — couple of bounces and it was Blunkosky who beats SF keeper Rodgers for the goal!
1-0 WA
1st half notes:
West Allegheny came out in the early going using the width — primarily on the right side to forward to create a few chances.
Evan Blunkosky was on the receiving end of a few of the early advances. In the second minute, South Fayette’s keeper Daniel Rodgers beat him to a through ball. Blunkosky created a shot from the edge of the box in the fourth minute, with a left-footed chance that Rodgers dove to his right to secure.
As the first half wore on, South Fayette started to get more comfortable and began to connect more passes to create a few chances.
Held in check for much of the half, West Allegheny’s Nathan Dragasich was working in the role of play maker – in the 35 minute took a ball in to the top of 18 — finding Fletcher Amos on the right side. Amos’ ball in was deflected — and shot from distance sails over bar hitting football post crossbar
SOUTH FAYETTE STARTING XI
0 – Daniel Rodgers (GK)
2 – Josh Heineman
3 – Zachary Weis
6 – Michael Gates
8 – Ethan Bollinger
10 – Gavin Eldridge
11 – Chad Eldridge
12 – Max Snodgrass
18 – Jackson DeWitt
20 – Colin Martinic
22 – Ethan Sanders
WEST ALLEGHENY
2 – Nathan Dragisich
6 – Benjamin Farelli
7 – Gavin Chappel
9 – Fletcher Amos
10 – Gabe Haines
11 – Antonio Fiordilino
17 – Jaxson Ervin
19 – Braden Wurst
21 – Evan Blunkosky
22 – Justin Shayltar
PSN Coverage team
Matt Gajtka – play-by-play on Facebook Live (on Pittsburgh Soccer Now Facebook page)
Ed Thompson – photography
John Krysinsky – reporting