SLIPPERY ROCK — Brockway's knack for getting to loose balls helped keep Tuesday's PIAA Class A boys soccer semifinal playoff scoreless for over 89 minutes.

Ryan Augustine's ability to reach one — and what he did with it — sent the Trojans to the state final.

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic's sophomore striker booted a rebound into the back of the net with five minutes, 20 seconds left in overtime to give the Trojans a 1-0 victory over the Rovers at Slippery Rock High School.

The final shot came from five yards out amid a crowd of players in front of Brockway goalkeeper Austin Moore.

“Braiden Wills played a nice through ball to Joe Kearney and he got a good shot off, but their goalie somehow turned it away,” said Augustine. “I didn't give up and got to it. I was really happy when I saw it go in. Brockway was a good opponent, but we felt all night that we were the better team.”

CWNC (23-1) will meet Camp Hill, which clobbered Masterman 6-0 in the other semifinal, in Saturday's state championship game at 1:30 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium.

The Rovers provided Aaron Kelly's Trojan squad with a formidable hurdle to reach the title game.

“They were definitely the fastest and most physical team we've played this year,” he said. “We had to adjust our play to it.”

CWNC managed the better scoring chances in the first half, but a couple of saves from Moore along with a bevy of deflected shots from Brockway defenders kept the Trojans off the scoreboard.

“We knew all about their speed,” said Rover coach Rich Esposito of the Trojans. “They're a team that doesn't hold onto the ball long, they like to shoot. We just told our guys to stay at home and minimize their scoring chances and I thought we executed well.”

“I felt eventually we'd get a chance that we'd put in,” said Kelly.

But before that goal came, CWNC had to withstand a spirited rush from the Rovers in the second half.

Brockway earned its first corner kick of the game in the 54th minute and though CWNC goalie Keaton Jennings didn't have to make his first save until the 66th minute, play was much more even than in the first half.

“The first half, North Catholic had more possession. We just couldn't get the numbers we needed,” said Esposito. “It was usually 4-on-1 in their favor. In the second half, we threw another guy on top.”

Jennings snagged a corner kick out of the air in the 76th minute and made a diving save on a shot from 15 yards from Brockway's Clayton Heckman five minutes into overtime.

“It was a well-played game,” said Kelly. “Both teams are exhausted and both played their hearts out. Fortunately, the ball bounced our way in the end.”

Moore made seven saves for Brockway, Jennings three for the Trojans.

It was the first loss of the season for the Rovers (20-1), who became the first-ever District 9 boys team to reach the state semifinals.

“A state semifinal that goes into overtime,” said Esposito. “It was great stuff tonight, not just for Brockway, but for all of D9 soccer. We gave 'em a good game.”