Planet boys fall in OT
PITTSBURGH — Recent history had Nick Cimini ready to try and erase the two-goal deficit the Mars boy soccer team faced. The Planets managed to work their comeback mojo in the final 28 minutes, rallying to tie the game.
Mars’ run of good luck ended in overtime, when South Fayette senior striker Jordan Smith hit a shot from 25 yards out that gave the Lions a 3-2 win in the WPIAL Class AA boys soccer championship game Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
“I think it really keeps our heads up,” Cimini said. “It was a rough game, but we can look forward to going to states.”
The Planets, who will make their first PIAA appearance since 2012, will open the state tournament against District 9 champion Bradford at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at DuBois Area High School.
Against South Fayette, Mars played its third overtime game of the postseason. Mars rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Montour in the quarterfinals and needed penalty kicks to beat Quaker Valley in the first round.
“They still had confidence when they were down that they can do it,” Mars coach Chris Knauff said. “Having some of those games and pulling out wins builds your confidence and belief.”
Second-seeded Mars (18-3-1) fell behind South Fayette 2-0 when Matt Thomas scored on an assist from Jordan Smith in the 53rd minute.
The Lions (18-3) went ahead seven minutes earlier when senior midfielder Zack Lutz sent a ball into the box that was redirected in by a Mars defender. That forced the Planets to switch to an attacking formation, which they were comfortable with.
Mars didn’t register a shot on goal until the 56th minute.
“We had faith in each other and kept going forward,” Cimini said. “We had a special formation that we worked on in practice and went into. We switched to a 4-3-3, which was more of an attacking formation.”
Cimini cut the lead to 2-1 by pushing a shot from inside the box in with 21:36 remaining. Justin Simakis scored the equalizer with 4:36 remaining.
Simakis headed in a long throw from just in front of the goal line that forced overtime.
“We just attacked more and tried to spread out the field a little bit more,” Knauff said. “We knew we’d give up more chances, but we needed to create more chances.”
In overtime, South Fayette coach Rich Eldridge told his players to utilize their skill. The Lions weren’t trying to protect a lead any more.
“At the break, I told the boys now we’re in a zero-zero game and go back to some of the things we talked about when we prepared for Mars,” Eldridge said. “We weren’t trying to take minutes off the clock, we were trying to put the ball back on the ground and play our brand of soccer that has made us successful.”
Then Thomas’ goal prevented Mars from more playoff magic.
