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JRK Memorial Boys Soccer Tournament: Day 1

Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s team will be starting the High School/WPIAL soccer season by providing featured coverage and as a sponsor of the tournament where six boys varsity matches will played at Pine-Richland High School this weekend.

You can keep up with all of the tournament action as we’ll be on hand for the action and we’ll be bringing coverage via various PSN platforms (see the full schedule below).


TOURNAMENT DAY 1 UPDATES

Final: North Allegheny 0, Moon 0  (Match Report) 

Final: Pine-Richland 1, Franklin Regional 0

Final: Winchester Thurston 5, Penn-Trafford 0

Follow here for the latest updates from Pine-Richland Stadium and the Ram Cage, as John Krysinsky will be on hand for the early game at Noon (Moon vs North Allegheny), then will be joined by Matt Popchock for the 5 p.m. games.


FINAL: PINE-RICHLAND 1, FRANKLIN REGIONAL 0

PSN’s Audio Broadcast with Matt Popchock on the play-by-play (see below)

11′ — GOAL – PINE-RICHLAND – Finn Kichi with the putback

HALF — PINE-RICHLAND 1, FRANKLIN REGIONAL 0

FINAL — PINE-RICHLAND 1, FRANKLIN REGIONAL 0


WINCHESTER THURSTON 5, PENN-TRAFFORD 0


FINAL: MOON 0, NORTH ALLEGHENY 0 (2OT)  

12 Noon – Moon and North Allegheny have kicked off.

15′ — Through first 15 minutes, pretty evenly played match. Moon earns first corner, and ball to middle of box provides a clean header chance for Dominic Corrado, but

NA”s GK Dante Accamando with easy save.

17′ — Great save by NA’s keeper, Dante Accamando, extending and making fingertip save on a point blank chance from Moon’s Davi Jansson. 

28′ — Moon keeping knocking on door. After foul outside box, they nearly connect on free kick, but Ryan Hildenbrand’s ball in just misses Chris Brancato, who got through his run unmarked. 

30′ — Manuel Montero, NA’s new coach (replacing longtime HC Bobby Vosmaer), gets a warm welcome to #WPIALSoccer after contesting a call, is booked for a yellow card.

HALF – Moon 0, North Allegheny 0

Moon with seven shots, three on frame and have carried much of the possession too. NA’s keeper Dante Accamando has been solid, and they’ve found a few chances but only two shots and one on frame.

45′ (2nd half) — Long ball over to Hildenbrand, and it’s between the Moon forward and NA’s keeper, Accamando, who comes off his line to deny a shot attempt. Solid play by the junior GK.

55′ — Moon gets through again splitting center back (looked like Hildenbrand), this time shot saved by Dante Accamando who extends his left hand in nick of time.

57′ — NA now lines up a free kick from 45 yds. Brendan Angermeier times run perfectly — delivers looping and well placed header with pace that forces Moon keeper Zachary Shutak to elevate and punch over bar. Things picking up and going back and forth now.

65′ — Things continue to open up, now NA ‘s Zach Nash gets behind Moon defender, and hard shot toward center of goal is knocked away by GK Zachary Shutak, who quickly got back into position for save.

74′ — NA continuing to turn up the attack. This time Luke Brady’s shot from just inside left side of box bends but doesn’t beat Moon keeper Shutak who grabs it.

79’ — It’s all NA in the closing moments getting a corner — comes from Ben Christian for Luke Brady, who’s been everywhere the past few minutes — header on goal is saved.

END OF REGULATION: NA 0, Moon 0
Moon gets a corner in dying seconds but it’s well defended by NA — and we’re headed to some bonus extra time soccer here at Pine-Richland!
Scary for a second there for Moon as Shutak comes off line to play ball and its slips through his hands, but thanks to defenders shielding NA attackers, they are able to quickly recover.
88′ (1OT) – Crazy sequence for NA with about three shots in 10 seconds, one hitting the bar — but Moon survives.
FINAL (2OT):  North Allegheny 0, Moon 0
A battle of atrition ends in nil-nil draw.

Kickoff show on FB Live!

 


PINE-RICHLAND TOURNAMENT INFORMATION 

Here’s what you need to know:

WHO:   Six WPIAL Boys Varsity Soccer Teams

  1. Pine-Richland (host)
  2. North Allegheny
  3. Franklin Regional
  4. Penn-Trafford
  5. Moon Township
  6. Winchester Thurston

WHAT:   Pine-Richland Boys Soccer Tournament

WHERE:   Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, PA

Matches played on the Stadium Field and the new Ram Cage Field

WHEN:   Saturday, August 27, 2022 and Sunday, August 28, 2022

Match Schedule:

Saturday August 27th

  • 12pm (North Allegheny vs Moon) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Pine-Richland vs Franklin Regional) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Winchester Thurston vs Penn Trafford) RAM CAGE

Sunday August 28th

  • 12pm (Franklin Regional vs Moon) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Pine-Richland vs Penn Trafford) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Winchester Thurston vs North Allegheny) RAM CAGE

JV games are in between games throughout the day.


PSN TOURNAMENT COVERAGE / ACTIVITIES: 

PSN Team:

  • Reporting / Interviews:   John Krysinsky @johnkrysinsky
  • Broadcast / Reporting / Interview:    Matt Popchock @pghsoccernow
  • Photographer:   Ed Thompson  @thompsonfoto12

Saturday, August 27

Saturday, August 27

  • 11:30 a.m. – P-R Tournament Day Kickoff on Facebook Live with John Krysinsky (Pittsburgh Soccer Now Facebook page)
  • 12:00 Noon – Follow @PghSoccerNow @JohnKrysinsky for updates on Twitter + Tournament Day 2 Blog on Pittsburgh Soccer Now
  • 2 p.m. (approx) – Postgame show on Pittsburgh Soccer Now (immediately following Noon match) at Media Center table between Fields
  • 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet at Pittsburgh Soccer Now team members at table in front of Stadium
  • 5 p.m. – Audio Broadcast with Matt Popchock on Pittsburgh Soccer Now YouTube Channel; Follow @PghSoccerNow @ThompsonFoto12 for updates on Twitter
  • 7:15 p.m. (approx) – Postgame interviews at Media Center with Matt Popchock (5-10 minutes after 5 p.m. matches)

PINE-RICHLAND BOYS TOURNAMENT VARSITY TEAM CAPSULES 

Pine-Richland Rams

Class 4A, Section 1

Head Coach: Jordan Wiegand

2021 Record   6-9-2

With Colin Zvejnieks, Ben Rishel and Cale Klaff back, P-R has solid senior leadership returning (in total they’ll have seven returning seniors) as they’ll look to get off to a good start this season in their tournament.  While Head Coach Jordan Wiegand, in his 4th year with the program, has used a lot of underclassmen in his first three years, this will be the most veteran group he’s had in his tenure at P-R.

The Rams defeated North Catholic, 3-0, and drew Winchester Thurston in last year’s tournament.

North Allegheny Tigers

Classification:    4A

Section:              1

Head Coach:   Manuel Montero

2021 Record   15-6

For the first time in decades, North Allegheny will have a new boys soccer coach! Montero inherits a boys’ soccer program that has reached the WPIAL playoffs 12 consecutive seasons, including two WPIAL titles and a state semifinal appearance in that span. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Montero most recently was a men’s and women’s assistant coach for the last five seasons at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. He has also served as head coach at Westmont High School (2017-2019), Cristo Rey High School (2016-2017) and June Jordan High School (2013-2016), all in California. He has also coached for San Francisco United, Almaden FC, and most recently, the De Anza Force Club.

Key player to watch for the Tigers will be senior defender Aidan Dyga.

Penn-Trafford Warriors  

Classification:    3A

Section:              4

Head Coach    Sotiri Tsourkis

2021 Record     9-8-0

Player to watch is senior Brady Paliscak. The Warriors, who will have six returning seniors, will be moving down in classification this year, and it will be very interesting to see how they fare in the same section with the likes of neighboring Franklin Regional and Plum, two programs that have been strongholds in Class 3A.

Franklin Regional Panthers

Classification:    3A

Section:              4

Head Coach    Lukas Petersen

2021 Record   17-5-0

Franklin Regional has been one of the elite programs in the WPIAL over the last five years, but the Panthers have a new coach this fall in Lukas Petersen.

A former Pitt men’s soccer assistant who played professionally in Austria, Petersen took over rather late in the game — Aug. 1 — after Thomas Louisy resigned in June for family reasons.

The Panthers have to be in the title conversation again in Class 3A despite the graduation of superstar forward Anthony DiFalco, the three-time All-American who is at Duquesne.

Senior leaders Colton Hudson and Jake Kimmich return for the Panthers, along with junior goalkeeper Aryan Selokar, who was solid in last year’s postseason as the Panthers (17-5) reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.

Here’s a few quotes from the Trib:

“The first season is always a bit challenging,” Petersen said. “I am coming into an already successful program, but I also want to put my mark on it. I expect to create a strong team chemistry and help prepare these young men for success on and off the pitch. The boys and I are still getting to know each other. Not allowing complacency to set in and forming a strong and positive team dynamic will be crucial in maintaining the success this program has had in the past.”

“I have full confidence in our new coach, and I think that he will bring the best out of every player on the team,” said Hudson, who had 18 goals and 17 assists last season. “And although Anthony was obviously a huge loss to the program, I feel that we have the players to step up this year and fill in that loss.”

Moon Tigers

Classification:    3A

Section:              2

Head Coach     Earl Pannebaker

2021 Record  16-3-0

Player to watch will by senior Ryan Kopay, who can put the ball in the back of the net as a dangerous attacker, has committed to DI University of Akron. The Tigers bring back six seniors to a squad that had only two section losses in 2021 (both to West Allegheny).  Their only other defeat was 1-0 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals to eventual WPIAL and PIAA champs, Hampton. With West A likely in somewhat of a rebuilding season, this could be their season to make a run at both a Section title and WPIAL/PIAA tournaments.  The first match of the tournament vs North Allegheny will be an excellent test for both sides!

Winchester Thurston Bears

Classification:    1A

Section:              3

Head Coach      Adam Brownold

2021 Record 23-0-1 – PIAA & WPIAL Champions

The last time the Bears did not win a match came in the Pine-Richland tournament a year ago, when the drew the hosts in a match that ended after regulation in penalties.  But when the teams decided to go to PK’s for a fun activity.

Get the Frock Out: Winchester Thurston Boys Grab WPIAL Gold from GCC

PIAA Soccer Championship Saturday: Winchester Thurston and Hampton boys, and Mars girls capture State titles

They could be even better this season, as they return two of their top players, seniors Alex Hauskrecht and Oliver Daboo and a total of 12 seniors. Playing up in competition this weekend will be helpful for the Bears will mostly be relegated to playing Class 1A competition the rest of the season.

 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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