Springdale boys soccer scores late for playoff win over Sewickley Academy

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 4:24 PM

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Springdale senior Colton Gent’s job, whether he is on the track or soccer field, is usually pretty simple.

Gent is told to run fast.

When the Dynamos boys soccer team needed to win a race Saturday at Franklin Regional High School, Gent pulled away to extend the Dynamos season. Gent pushed a shot past Sewickley Academy goalkeeper in the 76th minute to help sixth-seeded Springdale score a 2-1 win in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

“I was hoping to get the ball through and make a play,” Gent said. “I wanted to create space. I was looking for the one-two and to punch it in.”

Gent, who has the Springdale school record in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, was Springdale’s third-leading scorer during the regular season. Dynamos coach Mario Liberati believes Gent is able to create scoring opportunities quickly.

“Any time the ball is near him, he’s dangerous,” Liberati said. “Any time he gets around the ball, I’m reassured and our coaches are reassured that something is going to happen. Once he gets going, he is hard to stop.”

The Dynamos will play the winner of OLSH and Freedom in the next round at a site and time to be determined.

No.11 Sewickley Academy (8-9-1) didn’t make life easy on Springdale. The Panthers took the lead in the 21st minute when Nicolas Day got on the end of a corner kick and pushed it into the back of the net.

The Panthers’ tall front line nearly scored on several set pieces in the first half, hitting the crossbar twice.

“We were trying to use the players we have with their height up top and heading ability to finish those dead ball situations,” Sewickley Academy coach Joel Stewart said.

At halftime, Springdale (14-4) trailed by a goal and was desperate for answers. Liberati thought the Dynamos were lucky to only be down by a goal.

“We had to adjust and win our battles,” Liberati said. ‘“We had to man up one-vs.-one and take it personally. We had to win our battles. We talked for 40 minutes, our season could be over. What are you going to do about it?”

Springdale’s sustained pressure resulted in a high number of chances in the second half. Patrick Wylly was able to even the score for the Dynamos in the 51st minute. He was fouled in the box and then converted a penalty kick.

Following Wylly’s goal, the Dynamos kept pushing the ball forward hoping to find a winner.

“We weren’t able to find feet and keep the ball,” Stewart said. “We didn’t try to change anything tactically.”

Gent was able to get on the end of a pass late in the game and beat Sewickley Academy defender Will Straka to the ball. Gent’s shot from about 8 yards helped Springdale move on.

Gent said Springdale weathered a lot of adversity to make it this far.

“We had our starting defensive man down for four weeks. We pushed through,” Gent said. “It’s playing through adversity. We built through it and played through it.”

Tags: Sewickley Academy, Springdale