Preview: Chartiers-Houston stands in way of Bentworth’s section dominance

PSN Featured Match Preview:

WPIAL Girls Class 1A, Section 4

Chartiers-Houston (10-5, 8-1) at Bentworth (13-1, 9-0)

Wednesday, October 9; Bentworth Stadium (Ellsworth, PA)

Reporting: John Krysinsky  

Audio Broadcast on PSN Facebook Live

Photography: Ed Thompson 

Bentworth girls soccer program will be celebrating senior night when they face section rivals Chartiers-Houston on Wednesday.

Bentworth’s path in being a legit WPIAL title contender each of the past three or four years has begun by taking care of business in section, and each of the past four years, it’s been Chartiers-Houston who’ve stood in their way.

“They’re a good team,” Tyler Hamstra, Bentworth coach said of his section rivals.”They’re the reason why we didn’t win the section title two years ago. “Even though they’ve struggled in some non-section matches this year, they always give us a tough game.”

Char-Houston will do everything it can to slow down the more athletic and talented Bentworth side.

“It will probably be a physical match, it usually is,” Hamstra said. “They’ll do what they can to make things harder for us. We’ll have to look to break them down.”

Having made its first-ever appearance in the WPIAL final last year, losing to Freedom, Bentworth  are positioning again for a deep run, as they’re led by two seniors, Paige Marshalek and Joceyln Timlin, who’ve each scored more than 100 goals in their impressive high school careers.

Each brings a different element to the attack, as Marshalek is a big, tall, athletic center forward who’s constantly dangerous in and around the box, while Timlin is a pacy, creative player who has also accounted for more than 100 assists in her high school career.

“They’ve been one of, maybe the best, one-two punches, in WPIAL history,” Tyler Hamstra, Bentworth coach said. “Usually you don’t get to bring back so many quality players after making a WPIAL final, especially at a small school like ours, but we’ve been fortunate. We have an opportunity to have another deep run.”

Hamstra was sure to point out that his program is in this position again not only because of the top two talents, but because of a solid senior class.

“We started six of them when they were freshman, and they’ve all really elevated this program,” Hamstra said.

With both teams pretty much taking care of business against other section opponents this season, they’re eyeing this match to make a statement in section supremacy.

Bentworth holds a decided edge, having beaten Char-Houston, 4-0, in their match on September 18.

That’s C-H’s only loss in section this season.

A win on Wednesday, and even with two section matches remaining after Thursday, and Bentworth will have another section title firmly secured.

“There’s a little more pressure this year, but we have experience, and we’re welcoming it,” Hamstra added. “It won’t be easy though, especially against Chartiers-Houston. That last match we pulled away from them, but they’re usually closer no matter what the records are, as it’s a big rivalry.”

Bentworth, who beat Greensburg CC in last year’s semifinals, are looking to keep the momentum rolling in what’s been another impressive season.

With one non-section, 5-3 loss to 2A Waynesburg Central, Bentworth have won seven straight, and haven’t surrendered a goal since September 21, when they beat 2A Trinity, 3-2.

Chartiers-Houston, coached by Bob Acor, have won three straight heading into this match, including stepping up in class to beat Uniontown 3-2 on Monday.

Down 2-0 at halftime, C-H rallied as Ashley Horvath scored twice including the game=winner and Lexi Durkacs scored as well.

The road back to the WPIAL finals won’t be easy for Bentworth, but on senior night, they’ll have an opportunity to take care of step one, securing another section title.

Beyond that, the possibilities are open for another deep run.

“We want the biggest, and cleanest path as possible to the semifinals, and from there, anything can happen.”

But first, they’ll have another challenge from Chartiers-Houston awaiting on Senior Night.

BENTWORTH ROSTER

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON ROSTER