Bentworth nets overtime winner, claims 1st PIAA soccer title

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 6:49 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi had plenty of discussions with sophomore Adam Moessner about different ways to score goals. The Bearcats expected their young center back to be in a position to deliver plenty this season.

With Bentworth seeking a state title, Moessner employed a soft touch to make history.

Moessner got on the end of a high-bouncing ball and found a way to push a shot past Delaware County Christian keeper Carter Dill to deliver the school’s first state title with a 1-0 overtime win in the PIAA Class A final Saturday at Northeastern York High School in Manchester.

“It’s a skillset, playing the bouncing ball,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “You are using the top of your foot to put it in. He didn’t have a chance to wrap his foot around it. To do that going toward the net, knowing you may be hit by the goalie, that’s crazy for a sophomore in a state final. It’s pure class from him at that moment.”

Moessner’s goal was his 51st of the year and completed a wild season for the Bearcats. Bentworth finished 25-0 and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 180-9.

The Bearcats turned the tables from last season when they lost to Lancaster Mennonite, 1-0, in overtime in the final.

Malarbi had spent time before the championship game trying to see where the program could rank historically. The Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association website shows Lower Dauphin as the winningest boys team in the modern era, competing a 28-0 season in 2016.

Lewisburg (2015), Seton LaSalle (2008) and Downingtown (1989) also completed seasons with 25-0 records.

“We dominated good teams,” Malarbi said. “I told the kids it was impressive we could play every game like that.”

Adam Moessner nearly won the game for Bentworth late in regulation. He was on the end of a pass from his brother, Ryan, and put a strong shot toward the corner. Dill punched it away and it deflected off the far post with less than two minutes remaining.

Bentworth’s preparation was detailed enough that Malarbi felt like the Bearcats anticipated the setup for the winning goal. Ryan Moessner played a ball forward that took a high bounce.

Adam was charging toward the Knights net to put pressure on the defender going to field the ball when he headed it into the air.

The ball carried toward the net, with Moessner pouncing on the loose ball and pushing a shot to the left of Dill. The soft shot was able to get past Dill’s leaping effort.

“It bounced at an awkward height,” Malarbi said. “It was similar to what we saw on film where it was a team that was prone to making mistakes on that ball. When the ball went over his head, that’s what we thought could happen.”

Tags: Bentworth