Zach White, Jacob Prex spark Seneca Valley boys’ comeback win in WPIAL soccer semifinals vs Fox Chapel
COLLIER TWP — Trailing on the scoreboard is something Seneca Valley boys soccer is not used to.
Entering Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 4A semifinal playoff game against Fox Chapel, the Raiders had been behind just once all season — in a section clash Sept. 15 with North Allegheny in which the Tigers scored less than a minute into the game and held on for a 1-0 victory.
SV’s response this time was much different, and it saved the Raiders’ season.
Zach White and Jacob Prex scored goals in the second half, erasing a 1-0 halftime deficit, as the Raiders topped the defending WPIAL champion and No. 6 Foxes 2-1 at Chartiers Valley High School.
“Fox Chapel threw a lot at us in that first half, and we were making uncharacteristic mistakes,” SV head coach George Williams said. “I was concerned, but we were able to shake it off.”
The No. 2 Raiders (16-1) will take on No. 5 North Allegheny, which upset undefeated No. 1 Norwin 1-0 in the other semi, for the district title at 8 p.m. Friday at F.N.B. Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Wilder Jacobson’s goal following a free kick from Sharif Zureikat in the fourth minute of play held up for the Foxes until the 43rd minute, when Prex lined up to take a free kick just 6 yards from Fox Chapel’s net.
With several Fox Chapel players parked just in front of the goal, Prex played the ball to White, who was standing near the left post. He got his right foot on the ball and it caromed into the back of the net to tie the game.
The free kick was warranted when Foxes goalie, Max Fortun, put his hands on a ball that was played back to him by a teammate.
“He can kick it in that situation, but he can’t pick the ball up,” Williams said.
The goal sequence worked so well, one would think the Raiders had practiced it.
“Not once,” White said. “He (Prex) gave me a look, and I knew he was playing it to me.”
Said Williams: “They thought Jacob was just going to take a shot, and I think it caught them off guard when he passed it.”
Just over 15 minutes later, White returned the favor, connecting on a pass to Prex, who got behind a defender and beat Fortun for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Fortun made seven saves while SV goalie Kyle DeMaster made five stops, the last coming with a punch save on a shot off the foot of Zureikat from 40 yards in the 79th minute.
DeMaster also thwarted a Fox Chapel scoring opportunity when he came off his line to short-circuit what appeared to be a pinpoint centering pass from Jacobson in the 71st minute.
The Foxes (12-5) defeated SV in a shootout in last year’s title game.
“I had one of the missed penalty kicks in that game,” Prex said. “I think about that every time I step on the field.”
