Hampton boys top Franklin Regional, return to WPIAL Class 3A final
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Monday, October 30, 2023 | 9:42 PM
Hampton’s Hudson Struble kisses goalkeeper Gavin Guinn on the head after Guinn made a leaping save against Franklin Regional during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton goalkeeper Gavin Guinn makes a punch save against Franklin Regional in a WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Luke Fiscus scores against Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Xavier Ware celebrates with Luke Fiscus after Fiscus scored against Franklin Regional during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Luke Fiscus battles Franklin Regional’s Benjamin Poole for possession during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Aiden Cole (left) celebrates with Coleman Docherty after scoring against Franklin Regional during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker makes a save next to Hampton’s Xavier Ware during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Franklin Regional’s Jovan Sankoorikal heads the ball in front of Hampton’s Oliver Spinola during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Oliver Spinola battles Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon for possession next to Coleman Docherty during their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Aiden Cole heads the ball against Franklin Regional during a WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton goalkeeper Gavin Guinn celebrates after defeating Franklin Regional, 2-0, in their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Hampton’s Conner Killmeyer hugs goalkeeper Gavin Guinn after defeating Franklin Regional, 2-0, in their WPIAL Class 3A semifinal on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at North Allegheny.
Music thumped and blared from the Hampton locker room as Luke Fiscus was about to be interviewed after the game.
“Want me to go in and turn that down?” the Talbots senior midfielder asked.
And break the mood?
Fiscus and his teammates had the volume on full blast most of night against Franklin Regional in a WPIAL Class 3A soccer semifinal Monday night.
No. 2 seed Hampton advanced to the WPIAL finals for the second time in three years with a 2-0 victory over No. 11 Franklin Regional at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” said Fiscus, the only returning starter from the 2021 WPIAL and PIAA championship team. “Ever since we won the first one, we’ve been wanting to get back.”
Hampton (17-2-1) advances to play No. 8 South Fayette (11-4-3) or No. 5 Montour (14-4) for the title at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Highmark Stadium.
Franklin Regional (12-8), which upset No. 6 Mars and No. 3 Moon, will play the loser of the other semifinal in the third-place game Wednesday at a time and site to be announced with the winner qualifying for the PIAA playoffs.
Hampton has beaten the Panthers three straight times in the postseason, with wins in the 2021 semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.
“Franklin is a very talented team, and they beat some good teams to get here,” Hampton coach Matt McAwley said. “They are always dangerous on set pieces and find ways to score. Our plan was to disrupt their wings. Our outside backers and midfielders did a great job of doing that.”
Spry on the attack from the start, the Talbots slipped in a goal in the eighth minute off a set piece.
Senior midfielder Oliver Spinola bent a corner on frame, and senior defender Aiden Cole emerged for the kick-in that pinged off his right knee.
“We kept creating chances, and we wanted to test their keeper early,” McAwley said. “It doesn’t matter what it hits (on the body) as long as it goes in.”
Franklin Regional built a number of counters but could not convert against sophomore keeper Gavin Guinn.
“It took us longer than we’d have liked to settle in,” Franklin Regional assistant coach Andy Saporito said. “Their long ball early was very effective. We were able to get the ball out wide as the game went on.”
Saporito coached the Panthers in the absence of second-year head coach Lukas Petersen, who had to sit a game after receiving two yellow cards in the quarterfinals.
Saporito said the Talbots’ first goal “had eyes.”
The second one had a vapor trail.
Fiscus put his speed on display on a breakaway, scoring in the 55th minute to make it 2-0.
“Ridiculous speed,” McAwley said of Fiscus. “He was hungry. He had (32) goals during the regular season but hadn’t scored in the last two playoff games. It’s good to see him find the net.”
Fiscus was relieved when the second goal went in.
“I missed a couple open chances in the first two games,” he said. “It felt good to get one there.”
Both teams had chances in the second half. Senior forward Coleman Docherty nearly grazed the post on a wide shot after a one-on-one breakaway in the 76th minute.
Junior Jovan Sankoorikal was stuffed by Guinn with 25 seconds remaining on a terrific save.
“Give credit to Hampton,” Saporito said. “They were well organized and well coached.
“We have to stay positive. This was big-time experience for our younger guys and for our seniors, they have a chance to go back at it again. We’re get back to work.”
Junior Noah Walker played well in his second playoff start in a row in net for the Panthers, filling in for senior Aryan Selokar (concussion). He tied Guinn with six saves.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Hampton
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