Bentworth completes 3-peat, Bearcat sweep with win over OLSH in WPIAL soccer finals

By: Adam Brewer
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 10:43 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

To say there was a lot of pressure on the Bentworth boys soccer team would be an understatement heading into their WPIAL Class A championship game Thursday night at Highmark Stadium.

The top-seeded Bearcats were looking for a three-peat. They were also looking to beat No. 2 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the finals for the second straight season.

And oh yeah, they were trying to make it a clean sweep at Highmark after the Bentworth girls team won the program’s first WPIAL title earlier in the evening.

A lot of pressure, but Bentworth can handle it.

Behind goals by prolific scorers Ryan and Adam Moessner in the first half, Bentworth was able to edge OLSH, 3-1, for a third straight district title.

“It was a crazy start for us because we were all rooting for the girls,” Bentworth third-year coach Nick Malarbi said. “They got that late goal, and we kind of had to turn things around quick. But we were ready for the game. The win was a factor, but we were ready for the three-peat. What a historic feat.”

The three-peat is the first by a boys soccer team since Quaker Valley won three in a row in the early 1990s.

“Not a lot of teams get a chance to go for three in a row,” Ryan Moessner said. “This is a special group with a lot of special talent. We didn’t feel a lot of pressure tonight because we have been on this stage before. We were completely loose and love playing in front of our fans.”

The Bearcats (21-0) will now continue their postseason run with a PIAA first-round contest against the District 10 champion on Tuesday.

The Chargers (17-1) suffered a loss in the finals for the second year in a row and the third time since 2011. OLSH, which will start PIAA playoff action against the District 6 champion, lost to Bentworth last fall in a shootout.

After a failed corner kick by OLSH, Bentworth quickly turned the tide, as Ryan Moessner was able to break free from the defense and tallied the opening marker just 2:33 into the contest.

The goal was Moessner’s 54th of the season and 141st of his career, as younger brother Adam assisted on the opening goal for the Bearcats.

“We like to attack early and dictate the game,” Ryan Moessner said. “Obviously that opening goal was huge. We took that early momentum and played our game. We knew OLSH was a good team. We kind of figured we will see them in the finals again. We had to attack them early.”

The Chargers collected their first scoring chance when Isaac Tarbuk found some space in the attacking zone and uncorked a shot from the middle of the field from about 30 yards out that Bentworth’s keeper Issac Vipperman made a fingertip snag on.

After a couple of chances by the Bearcats, OLSH flipped the momentum and mounted some strong possession that ended with a hard shot by Andre Kolocouris that went high into the back of the net with 15:38 left in the first half.

Six minutes later, the top seed flexed its composure and grabbed the go-ahead marker when Adam Moessner gained separation from the Chargers’ defense and buried a close-in shot that made it 2-1.

The goal was his 46th of the season, and it was assisted by Caden Hackinson.

Both squads compiled six shots in the opening half, but Bentworth carried a 2-1 advantage into halftime.

Ryan Moessner tallied the insurance goal 2:19 into the second half with a blistering shot. The marker was assisted by Billy Moyer.

The Bearcats battled the elements in the second half and kept the Chargers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. Vipperman earned the win in between the pipes for Bentworth and recorded three saves.

After going up 3-1, the Chargers did turn up the pressure and generated some late chances, but the Bearcats’ backline stood tall and held onto the huge postseason triumph.

“Our defense stood up in that second half,” Malarbi said. “Those defensive guys for us face the Moessner brothers every day in practice. They were ready for all the talent that OLSH had for us. The back four was so stout, and they have so much confidence in each other.”

For the season, Bentworth has only conceded seven goals in 21 games.

“It was a physical game and we battled around some early fouls,” Adam Moessner said. “We are excited for states, and we will be ready for another run. We came out of halftime with a lot of energy, and it feels good to get another championship.”

Tags: Bentworth, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart