COLLIER TWP — It had the feeling of a game that would be decided by just one goal.

For the Seneca Valley boys soccer team, it was a goal that never came.

Upper St. Clair's Steven Machi scored in the 49th minute of play to lift the Panthers to a 1-0 win over the Raiders in a WPIAL Class AAA semifinal at Chartiers Valley High School Tuesday night.

The Raiders, who were playing without their leading scorer, injured junior forward Ryan Vilella, had their best chance in the 79th minute.

Junior forward Anthony Crivelli's boot from the right of USC's goal was blocked by Panthers' goalkeeper Joe Conlon.

The ball caromed back toward Crivelli, but was headed out by a USC player.

“If you give up a goal, you have to be able to answer it and we were almost able to do it,” said SV coach George Williams. “Ryan is a big player for us and this was a big game. We certainly missed him, but we have a talented group and were confident we could (win) tonight.”

The first half ended scoreless, though the Panthers (16-1-2) forced the majority of the action into SV's end.

Raiders' goalkeeper Brian Pudlo made six of his eight saves in the first 40 minutes, while Conlon had to make just one stop in that span.

The Panthers have a unique advantage in freshman Garrett Blake, whose throw-ins resemble corner kicks.

In the first half, Blake unleashed six of his towering throws deep in SV's end, but the latter's defense and Pudlo denied the Panthers each time.

“That's their biggest weapon, that throw-in,” said Williams. “We were able to defend it well every time.”

But the Raiders could not defend a pinpoint pass from Ethan Dysert early in the second half.

Several Raider defenders stood between the junior and SV's net, so Dysert worked the ball to the left of the goal, then put his foot into a pass that sailed to Machi, who was waiting on the other side of the field.

Machi wasted no time putting a shot on goal, one that eluded Pudlo's reach and tucked itself in the top left corner.

“It was a great effort by their players, though we were slow to get pressure on the ball as it came across,” said Williams.

“He's got five or six goals now,” Panthers' coach Uwe Schneider said of Machi's tally for the season. “He's scored in some big games for us.”

USC, which had allowed just 11 goals in its previous 18 games before Tuesday, snuffed out most of SV's late scoring chances before Conlon made the big save on Crivelli's late attempt.

“We were organized and didn't panic,” Schneider said of his defense. “After we scored, we knew (SV) would throw more guys up top and I thought we handled it well.”

The Raiders won their third section title in four seasons this year, finishing with an overall record of 14-7.

“I'm proud of this group, not just for the way they played tonight, but for the whole season,” said Williams. “We went down fighting.”

Note: USC will face section foe Peters Township, a 2-1 winner over Central Catholic, in Saturday's WPIAL final.