WPIAL Soccer Playoffs: Comeback of the Centurians (Photo Gallery)

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

The WPIAL Boys and Girls Soccer playoffs have provided some exciting games over the course of the past week and a half, but very few had the dramatics of an 11-goal outburst which also included a remarkable come-from-behind effort from the defending Class 1A boys champs, Greensburg Central Catholic to defeat No. 5 Eden Christian, 6-5, in a WPIAL Class A boys soccer semifinal at West Mifflin.

The Centurians were trailing throughout its semifinal round contest against Eden Catholic until late in the second half.

They were behind 2-0, 4-1, then 5-2 before they began an impressive charge to come all the way back from those deficits.

Eventually they would tie the match, sending it to overtime.

With five minutes remaining in extra time, it was a freshman, Jackson Vacanti, who delivered the game winner from an assist from junior Carlos Denis.

“I knew it was coming to me,” Vacanti told Pittsburgh Tribune-Review‘s Bill Beckner. “I just got ready and put it in. Carlo gave me a great pass. Amazing.”

“Our whole team doesn’t want to lose. They’ll do whatever it takes.”

Ed Thompson Photo Gallery 

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Remarkably, GCC, was without its leading scorer, Mason Fabean, who was sitting out the match due being sent off with a red card late in the quarterfinal win against Springdale.

Look at that dang getting in that pile of players!! 😎😎😎😎 https://t.co/et6aZblV5t

— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) November 3, 2021

Greensburg Central Catholic will now face Winchester Thurston (18-0-1) for the title at 8 p.m. Friday at Highmark Stadium.

The teams have met in the last two title games.

Back at Highmark: WPIAL Soccer Boys and Girls Championships 2021 schedule is set