BETHEL PARK — Justin McAtee did everything he could to extend the season for the Seneca Valley boys soccer team.

He dived to deflect shots. He jumped high in the air to pull crossing passes. He sucked up everything that came into the box.

But even he couldn't defend a perfectly placed penalty kick.

Robert Heuler scored on a PK that trickled into the bottom left corner of the net with 12:22 remaining in the second half for the only goal in a 1-0 win by Bethel Park over Seneca Valley in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs on a windy Saturday afternoon.

"He played an outstanding game," said Seneca Valley coach George Williams. "To only let a penalty kick in was outstanding. I can't say anything more about him. He kept us in the the game in the second half."

The first half was evenly played with both teams having few opportunities to score.

But as a howling wind kicked up in the second half right into the face of the Raiders' attack, the Hawks dominated the tempo.

And McAtee dominated right back.

The goalkeeper made 10 saves in the game. All four in the second half were difficult ones.

McAtee was also aggressive in the goalie box, drawing the praise of Bethel Park coach Mike Galietta.

"He played tremendously," Galietta said. "He was the player of the game for them for sure. Anything in the air coming into the box was his."

The wind, though, turned out to be Bethel Park's 12th player in the second half.

McAtee punts were blown back at him. Long passes by Seneca Valley were whisked off course by the brisk wind.

"It was weird; That rarely happens here in this stadium," Galietta said. "I've been coaching here for seven years, and I've coached in other stadiums that have been like wind tunnels, but that never happens here like it did today."

Seneca Valley (9-8-1) had three strong shots in the match against Bethel Park keeper Andy Chongaway, but all three were turned away.

Raiders' freshman Ryan Vilella, booted a shot that nearly impaled Chongaway. Drew Williams and Ryan Mershimer also had strong scoring chances that were for naught.

Seneca Valley had just five shots on goal in the entire match and just one in the second half.

Once Bethel Park (15-3-1) moved ahead 1-0, the Hawks' defense moved more defenders back to make the Raiders' task even more difficult.

"After they got the lead, they were really protecting it," Williams said. "We tried to move guys up, but it was hard, particularly with the wind."

The Raiders played Bethel Park earlier in the season, losing 2-0. But the score was misleading. Williams pulled his starters in that match at halftime with the score tied 0-0.

Seneca Valley had a game the next day and wanted to rest its starters.

Because of that, Galietta was expecting a low-scoring match.

"I've been on both ends of this," Galietta said. "Anyone who has coached has. It's rough to lose ones like this."