North Allegheny finishes season sweep of Seneca Valley girls soccer after controversial play at the net
MCCANDLESS TWP, Allegheny County — It took all of 22 seconds.
After Seneca Valley girls soccer standout senior goalkeeper Sydney Postler collided with North Allegheny forward Bella Montgomery and was helped off by trainers, the Tigers finally touched the scoreboard in the 71st minute of Monday night’s WPIAL Section 3-4A matchup at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.
“They played a through ball, and Sydney came out and there was a collision,” Raiders coach Mark Perry said. “We thought it was a little intentional, and the refs only gave it a yellow (card). It obviously had an impact on the game.”
Postler sat on the back of a cart, having her leg examined, as the hosts’ Amari Ruffus banged in a Kieran Shannon feed for the only goal in a 1-0 Raiders loss. Alexis Koliscak subbed in at goal for Postler during that time.
“They know, just like we would know … you’ve gotta right away test (the backup),” Perry said. “And we didn’t handle it very well defensively, and they put in a goal.”
It was the Tigers’ first shot on frame of the second half. About two minutes earlier, Seneca Valley sophomore midfielder Mylie Libby’s attempt thwacked off the post.
Postler returned to the contest in the 74th minute.
“She'll be alright,” Perry said. “She’ll be a little bit sore tomorrow, but Wednesday night’s senior night (against North Hills), so I think she’ll be able to play.”
She had some help earlier in the night when in the 14th minute Shannon’s try kissed the left post and rolled back out. In the 29th minute, Postler dove to her left to get in front of Addison Vrabel’s shot.
“They had a goal in the first half,” Perry said. “That ball was clearly in the goal, and the refs didn’t see it, so it probably ended like it should.”
Seneca Valley (7-2-3, 4-2) lost both of its regular-season clashes with North Allegheny 1-0. Had the two sides worked to a draw in Monday night’s tilt, the Tigers (11-2-1, 5-0) still would’ve been in the driver’s seat for a section crown.
NA has won four straight against the Raiders, including last year’s WPIAL championship game.
“We welcome the chance to play them a third time,” Perry said. “This was like a playoff game, and we’ve got a couple of weeks to work and get ready for them. … We haven’t scored against them. With their offense and as good as they are, for us to only give up two goals, you would think we should be able to put some in.”
