FINAL: Bentworth 1, Sewickley Academy 0 (WPIAL Girls Soccer Class 1A Final)

WPIAL Girls Class 1A Final

FINAL: No. 2 Bentworth 1, Sewickley Academy 0

Highmark Stadium — 8 p.m.

PSN Coverage Team –John Krysinsky, Reporting — Ed Thompson, Photography

WPIAL Championship History (Class 1A)

Post Match Summary

The Bentworth Bearcats earned the school’s first-ever WPIAL Girls Soccer title, with Brielle Dillon hitting the game-winner in the very late stages of the second half, beating Sewickley Academy, 1-0, on Thursday night at Highmark Stadium.  

It was a tale of two halves in the WPIAL Girls Soccer Class 1A Final between Bentworth and Sewickley Academy — but for 78 minutes neither side could find an elusive goal.

While Sewickley Academy controlled play through the first half, as the rain intensified in the final 45 minutes, so did Bentworth’s attack.

Bentworth’s Head Coach Tyler Hamstra opted to keep more numbers behind the ball in the first half, with Sewickley Academy obliging to the tune 8-2 shots and 7-0 corners advantages.

However, in the second half, Bentworth opened things up and started to press forward more intently.

Both teams had quality chances in the second half.

Dillion was there for the Bearcats’ first real quality opportunity in the 58th minute, but a diving save Sewickley Academy keeper Gabrielle Edmunds kept the match scoreless.

Brielle Dillon gets forward with just enough space — sends low shot to near post but — inexplicably — the shot goes through legs of Sewickley Academy keeper Gabrielle Edmunds.  Assist to Madelyn Jones.

Two minutes later, Bentworth’s Isabella Moyer’s free kick from the right side banged off the bar.

In the 64th minute, Sewickley responded with a quality chance from a corner kick, which connected with forward Makenzie Dice, who redirected a bouncing ball that headed over the goal line, but Bentworth’s keeper, Julia Brandau reached out to make the biggest of her 11 saves, to keep the match scoreless.

Sewickley continued to turn up the pressure.  Another ball played to the left side of the goal box drew a crowd, but Emma Eannarino got a foot on the ball only to be denied by Brandau.

With both sides pushing and open space there for the taking, the breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute.

On a counter, after getting a pass from Madelyn Jones, Dillon burst forward into the right side of the attacking third with just enough space, getting an angle on closing defender, but found room to send a low shot to near post.

Inexplicably, Dillon’s shot skimmed through the legs of Sewickley Academy keeper Gabrielle Edmunds.

With just a little more than a minute to respond, Sewickley Academy couldn’t find an answer, leaving Bentworth to celebrate the program’s first-ever title.

Look for more detailed recap and reaction to come from Highmark. 

Post Match Interviews

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Match Updates

2nd half

78′ — GOAL!!!!! BENTWORTH GETS THE GO-AHEAD GOAL!

Brielle Dillon gets forward with just enough space — sends low shot to near post but — inexplicably — the shot goes through legs of Sewickley Academy keeper Gabrielle Edmunds.  Assist to Madelyn Jones.

68′ — Now Sewickley continues to turn up the pressure.  Another ball near left crowd on edge of left goal box — and it’s Emma Eannarino there to take the shot but Brandau shields the chance and takes the ball away from danger.

64′ — WHAT A SAVE!! On the line.  SA corner right to the middle of box — headed by Dice — looked like it was bouncing in but Dice got her hand out and denied goal.

60′ — BAR HIT! Free kick for Isabella Moyer — from nearly the same spot as 10 minutes earlier — this time rings off the bar!!

58′ — Bentworth gets forward quickly — and Brielle Dillion with the Bobcats best chance — but a diving save by SA keeper Gabrielle Edmunds keeps the match scoreless.

56′ — SA’s Sarah Merryman getting forward again on the left side — cross in for Makenzie Dice who is contested, then gets off a weak shot that’s handled by Brandau

Free kick for Isabella Moyer — goes just over bar!

 

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Match Updates

2nd half

78′ — GOAL!!!!! BENTWORTH GETS THE GO-AHEAD GOAL!

Brielle Dillon gets forward with just enough space — sends low shot to near post but — inexplicably — the shot goes through legs of Sewickley Academy keeper Gabrielle Edmunds.  Assist to Madelyn Jones.

68′ — Now Sewickley continues to turn up the pressure.  Another ball near left crowd on edge of left goal box — and it’s Emma Eannarino there to take the shot but Brandau shields the chance and takes the ball away from danger.

64′ — WHAT A SAVE!! On the line.  SA corner right to the middle of box — headed by Dice — looked like it was bouncing in but Dice got her hand out and denied goal.

60′ — BAR HIT! Free kick for Isabella Moyer — from nearly the same spot as 10 minutes earlier — this time rings off the bar!!

58′ — Bentworth gets forward quickly — and Brielle Dillion with the Bobcats best chance — but a diving save by SA keeper Gabrielle Edmunds keeps the match scoreless.

56′ — SA’s Sarah Merryman getting forward again on the left side — cross in for Makenzie Dice who is contested, then gets off a weak shot that’s handled by Brandau

50′ — Bentworth has turned the tables of the match. It’s a bit more back-and-forth in the early stages of the second half.

Free kick for Isabella Moyer — goes just over bar!

46′ — Makenzie Dice gets a clear chance but soft, low rider is easily handled by Brandau.

1st half 

End of Half — Sewickley on the front foot for most of the match but can’t find that last quality moment despite seven corners and four shots on frame.

39′ — SA’s Claire Karsman drives a low shot toward the inside right post which is pushed away by Julia Brandau.

37′ — Somehow Brielle Dillon powers her way into the box with a number of defender squeezing in on her — and pokes it ahead but Edmunds picks it up for the save (if you want to call it that)

32′ — SAVE!!  Julia Brandau with the quick reaction stop.  Best chance for Sewickley Academy of the match.  Emma Eannarino with a left-footed chance inside the left side of box.

27′ — that’s a second time Bentworth draws foul near midfield in past five minutes.  This time it was Brielle Dillon on the ball drawing the contact.  Isabella Moyer sent a free kick in the box that tricks up SA keeper Edmunds as she can’t secure the ball but her defenders come to aid, clear the ball away from letting Bentworth win the second ball.

23′ — Bentworth gets forward on the right side — cross in for Meridith Allender who gets a touch but can’t deliver a solid chance and it’s easily handled by SA keeper Gabby Edmunds

19′ — Nice build-up for Sewickley Academy — but Brandau comes slightly off her line to deny a shot. SA had one runner on the left completely unmarked

14′ — Bentworth GK Julia Brandau comes to the near post to punch away high ball but goes out past the line — setting up another corner for SA

12′ — SA continues to keep match tilted in its favor — earning a 4th corner.

7′ — Sewickley with a pair of corner kick opportunities.

5′ — Bentworth carrying most of the possession early, but SA very well organized behind the ball

Match Preview

GIRLS 1A Bracket 

Rosters: Sewickley Academy | Bentworth

How They Got Here

• Sewickley Academy — def Ellis School, 7-0; def Carlynton, 2-0, def Springdale, 2-1
• Bentworth — def Freedom, 3-2; def OLSH, 2-0, def Waynesburg Central 1-0

If this year’s Class 1A Girls Soccer Final is anything like it was a year ago, we’ll be in for a treat.

If you recall, last year’s eight-match District Championship weekend whirlwind began with Springdale-Winchester Thurston high scoring affair, where the Dynamos outlasted the Bears, 5-3.

Judging from our recent Coaches Corner survey about top teams in this classification, most coaches agreed that this classification was there for a lot of teams to take.

However, in the end, the top two seeded schools made it to Highmark.

The top-ranked team is Sewickley Academy, who have been the closest to being a very dominant team this season at this level, losing only once (to Class 2A neighbors, Quaker Valley) while going unbeaten in section that includes a talented Seton LaSalle side.

The top-seeded Panthers earned a return trip to the semifinals by shutting out Carlynton. SA were the stronger team in the second half — getting both goals in the final 20 minutes of the game. Emilia Carrabba scored off a corner kick by Claire Karsman. Makenzie Dice scored the insurance goal. Gabby Edmunds recorded a clean sheet with six saves.

Sewickley completed its quest in getting to Highmark Stadium with a 2-1 defeat of Springdale.  In that match, Emma Eannarino’s first half long distance strike and freshman Sarah Merryman’s slow poke finish proved to be enough to take out the defending Class 1A champs.

Bentworth’s longtime coach, Tyler Hamstra, reaped the benefits of having an experienced squad, as the Bearcats had a heck of a regular season.  One coach pointed out: “Bentworth has a solid group of Seniors and should make a run this year” and another added “Bentworth spreads the field well and passes well.”

In Bentworth’s semifinal match against Waynesburg Central, Head Coach Tyler Hamstra felt it would be important for his squad to get off to a good start.

‘”The Girls played their best half of the season. Really controlled play and chances — and we kept with it,” Hamstra said.

The early push paid off for the Bearcats, when Bella Moyer converted on her chance after recieving a quality ball from Megan Keturakis.

Holding a one-goal lead, Bentworth stayed in command to close out the match and secure the girls program’s second-ever trip to Highmark.

“We played well in the 2nd half,” Hamstra added.

We were organized and saw the game out well.  We’re so excited to get back to Highmark for the 2nd time. The girls had to work so hard all year long. Every game was tough. They really deserve it — they’re great kids.”