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FINAL: Seneca Valley 6, Lower Merion 0 (PIAA Boys Soccer Class 4A Championship)

Photo courtesy Seneca Valley Athletics (Twitter)
PIAA Soccer Championship Saturday
FINAL: Boys Class 4A:  Seneca Valley 6, Lower Merion 0

Match Day Updates 

FINAL: SENECA VALLEY 6, LOWER MERION 0

60′ – SENECA VALLEY 6, LOWER MERION 0

Evan Howard scores on his own rebound and its 6-0 Raiders,

53′ – SENECA VALLEY 5, LOWER MERION 0

** Note — for Gavin Loya — he already had two assists on the night, now gets the fifth goal for the Raiders!

HALF – SENECA VALLEY 4, LOWER MERION 0

Beaux LIzewski scores just before the half

31-  SENECA VALLEY 3, LOWER MERION 0

Another Seneca Valley goal comes in the 34th minute. Terrific build up on counter ends on the left end line with Max Mercotte scoring the third goal of the match for the Raiders.

Preview: Seneca Valley (21-1-1) vs Lower Merion (23-1-0)  

Seneca Valley has rolled through yet another impressive season under the guidence of Head Coach George WIlliams, with one exception, a stunning 1-0 loss to rival Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Boys Class 4A Championship game at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, November 5th.

After that match, Williams didn’t have a lot to say (see full interview here). But when asked about getting his team to refocus on the PIAA tournament, he got right to the point.

“We’re not done,” Williams exclaimed, then walked away.

Two weeks and three games later, the Raiders appear to be on a mission to continue to make amends for their one hiccup this season, as they’re on a mission to capture its second PIAA Championship crown.

What do you need to know about Seneca Valley that you probably haven’t already read here on Pittsburgh Soccer Now?

They are deep. They play with speed on the wings. They have two of the best midfielders in the state.  And they are tough to score upon.

The Butler County school won its first-ever PIAA title in 2020, even after many years of fielding very strong teams and Williams accumulating over 300 wins. They also had PIAA runner-up finishes in 2015 and ‘21.

In the semifinal round, the Raiders got some sweet revenge against the team that beat them in last year’s PIAA championship game with a 2-0 win over District 1 runner-up Conestoga. Max Marcotte and Gavin Loya scored for the Raiders.

Seneca Valley won the 2020 PIAA title with a 2-1 victory over Neshaminy in overtime.

Senior forward Will Bruno, senior midfielders Connor Oris and Beau Lizewski and Marcotte earned All-WPIAL honors. Lizewski was named the Class 4A player of the year.

The Raiders will have to face a team in Lower Merion that is very tough to score upon. LM posted 18 shutouts this season and allowed only eight goals in 24 games, advancing to the PIAA state championship final for the first time since 1988 with a 1-0 win against District 11 champion Parkland Nov. 16 in the PIAA 4A state semifinal at Spring-Ford High School. It was the Aces’ fifth consecutive shutout.

The Aces (23-1), who last won a PIAA boys’ soccer state championship in 1987.  It was Lower Merion’s Sam Nyenka who scored the lone goal against Parkland.

PSN’s Seneca Valley Boys Soccer Past Coverage 

‘Super Gritty’ Pine-Richland slows down Seneca Valley en route to a stunning WPIAL Championship victory

Seneca Valley beats North Allegheny in overtime thriller to stay unbeaten

Double-Prex: Seneca Valley tops Peters again, 3-1, to capture back-to-back WPIAL titles


The match will conclude a second day of PIAA championship games at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg.  SV is the only WPIAL (District 7) school remaining at the State playoffs, as Moon girls won while Freedom girls and Winchester Thurston boys came up short on Friday.

PIAA Soccer Championship Friday: Moon girls conquer the state again with 2nd half comeback

 

 

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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