Tie doesn’t suit Belle Vernon in stunning OT win over Franklin Regional

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | 10:01 PM

Play for the tie.

That was Belle Vernon’s mindset when the game went into overtime.

After all, a tie would be like a win against undefeated Franklin Regional, the No. 5-ranked team in the state and the early frontrunner in Section 3-3A boys soccer.

But the workmanlike effort the Leopards displayed for 95-plus minutes of soccer seemed to deserve more than a scoreless draw.

Finally, in a sparkling few seconds, they were rewarded for it.

Landon Bell scored with 2:57 left in the second overtime to lift Belle Vernon to a 1-0 victory over the Panthers on Tuesday night at James Weir Stadium.

“Play our best and see what happens,” the Leopards’ Logan Metzger said of his team’s approach. “We kept working. This was crazy.”

The goal capped an inspired defensive effort from Belle Vernon (4-4-1, 3-1), which denied the Panthers (5-1, 2-1) time and again with a gritty, grind-it-out approach.

On the winner, Metzger sent in a free kick from 50 yards out. The ball bounced, and Franklin Regional was in position to clear it.

But Gavin Metzger corralled the loose ball and pinged it back in front, where Bell fired it far right past 6-foot-6 goalie Emerson Bush for the golden goal.

It was just the fourth goal allowed all season by the Panthers.

“You’re trying for the win, but when OT came around, we were playing for a tie,” Leopards coach Tyler Caterino said. “Our game plan was to win individual battles and have it add up to a collective. Our guys executed it almost flawlessly.”

In soccer, one team can dominate possession and shots and still lose.

Franklin Regional had posted three straight shutouts. The Panthers outshot the Leopards 16-4 and kept firing.

The Panthers, too, had a tie in mind late. But instead, they were dealt a shocking ending.

“The difference was we weren’t able to get the finishing touch in the final third,” Franklin Regional coach Nick White said. “Sometimes it goes that way. I thought we stayed the course and kept battling. Give Belle Vernon a lot of credit for the effort they put into this game. They defended like crazy.

“They deflected and blocked all night. It was like the secret service or something taking a bullet.”

Said Caterino: “We can beat anybody on any given day when we play our game.”

The Leopards had one legit scoring try in the second half, as Jesse Sobczak ran wide and crossed, but a shot sailed high.

Franklin Regional pelted goalie Morgan Bunch with shots but couldn’t break through in regulation.

Bunch made 12 saves for the game.

Early in overtime, Luca Aguilera’s shot hit the crossbar. Belle Vernon limited the Panthers’ chances in the first extra frame.

“I thought they looked more tired as the game went on,” Caterino said. “I thought that would be us.”

Belle Vernon, which was playing back-to-back games after a 2-1 loss to Yough on Monday, crowded the Panthers early, blocking shots and keeping possessions alive.

But the Panthers made setups and got shots. They outshot the Leopards in the first half 10-2 but had no goal to show for it.

Fabrizzio Costa’s free kick was on frame in the 18th minute but couldn’t give the Panthers early control.

Bunch made seven saves in the opening 40 minutes for Belle Vernon.

Early in the second half, Bunch made a standstill save on a blast from Aidan Alexander to keep it scoreless.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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