End of road for Raiders
WEXFORD — The Seneca Valley boys soccer team turned in a memorable season, but the ending is one the Raiders would like to forget.
Peters Township scored a goal in each half to claim a 2-0 victory in a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal playoff Thursday night at North Allegheny's Newman Stadium.
The Raiders, who captured the Section 2 title, finished the year with an overall record of 15-3-1.
Indians' goalkeeper Max O'Hare was forced to make six saves, but his team's defense thwarted most of SV's scoring opportunities.
“They played a great defensive game,” said Raiders' coach George Williams of the Indians, “but we also made some mistakes. We just didn't execute.”
“We saw Seneca play earlier this season,” said Peters Township coach Bob Dyer. “They are a disciplined and athletic team, but we played them straight up tonight.”
Peters got on the scoreboard in the 17th minute of play. Junior midfielder Rylen Faloni lined up for a free kick to the left of SV's net. His ball was perfectly placed and was headed toward the right side of the goal by Mario Mastrangelo. Raiders' goalkeeper Colton Smith got a glove on the ball, but it slipped from his grasp and into the back of the net.
Smith, a senior who made five saves Thursday, totaled 10 shutouts this season, a program record.
“It's a tough way to end his high school career,” said Williams. “I'm sure he's going to be hard on himself, but that ball got by 10 of our guys before it came to him.
“We knew Peters was a dangerous team on restarts,” he added. “We tried to tighten things up, but we had a lapse and they made us pay for it.”
SV had a few good scoring opportunities in the first 25 minutes of the second half, but the Indians' defense clamped down and O'Hare had to make just one save in that span.
The Raiders fell behind 2-0 when Troy Eskew got behind the defense and beat Smith to the keeper's left in the 68th minute.
Seneca didn't go quietly. Joe DeAugustino's free kick from 25 yards out with just under 10 minutes left in the game was tipped over the crossbar by O'Hare, resulting in a corner kick.
But that set piece, like the two corner kicks awarded to the Raiders in the final minute, was easily defended by the Indians (15-3-2).
“Both teams had opportunities tonight,” said Dyer. “We took advantage and Seneca didn't. That's what it came down to.”
The 2013 season saw the Raiders go undefeated in section play for the first time in program history. They also put together a 14-game winning streak, another record.
“It was a record-setting season and these guys made it happen,” Williams said.
