Riverside Wins First WPIAL Boys Class A Soccer Crown in Double OT Win Over GCC

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 3, 2012 | 9:38 PM

The Riverside Panthers needed two halves and almost two overtimes to defeat the Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 2-1 to win their first WPIAL Class A Boys Soccer Championship.

Austin Ridgely scored with 6:44 left on a free kick from just outside the penalty area to give the Panthers their first ever championship and the first title ever for a Beaver County school. The Panthers were outshot 18-5 in the contest. Riverside entered the tournament as the #10 seed, the Panthers won 4 one-goal games to claim the title.

Greensburg Central Catholic had a goal waived off in the opening half as Riverside keeper Kyle Robertson mishandled a shot attempt but was able to keep the ball from fully crossing the goal line and maintaining the scoreless tie, but GCC would not be denied as Tyler Dunton scored from 10 yards out after a long chance by

Devon Nguyen hit the cross bar and could not be handled by Riverside keeper Kyle Robertson in the 32nd minute, giving GCC a 1-0 lead.

Riverside was held without a shot in the first half but they had a great opportunity 90 seconds into the second when Trevor Moser just missed on a crossing pass by Logan Ridgely. Greensburg Central Catholic had two opportunities in a 2-minute span, Justin Nolfi's header hit the side of the cage, and Adam Tucker missed high and wide.

The Panthers got the tying goal on what looked like a harmless free kick from almost at midfield. Jared Harden bounced the kick short of the goal line, on the hop, Anthony Meneice headed it past David Kossol, making a 1-all game in the 47th minute.

Riverside had the next opportunity, Meneice set up Moser but he could not connect fully, Kossol making the save.  Greensburg Central Catholic had a late chance with Nguyen taking a free kick from just outside the penalty area, but his attempt was headed away and the teams headed to overtime. GCC outshot Riverside 16-4 in regulation time.

Greensburg Central Catholic got the only two shots of the first overtime, Jack Fagen was headed away by a Riverside defender with 3:45 remaining and Riley Slike with a header in the box, but Robertson made a one hop save to send the game to a second overtime.

The Centurions had a corner kick sail across the field by Dakota Randolph with 4 1/2 minutes gone in the second extra session, midway thru, and Jack Fagen crossing attempt was tipped by Robertson, he made the save on the second attempt to set up the overtime winner for the Panthers

Riverside is now 16-4-1 overall, Greensburg Central Catholic is 15-5-1, both team will enter PIAA play on Tuesday. With the Panthers' win, they also become only the fourth team to ever win a Class A Boys title.

Scoring Summary:
Riverside Panthers    0 – 1 – 0 -1 =2
Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 1 – 0 – 0 – 0 =1

1st Half:
GCC:  Tyler Dunton  32:12

2nd Half:
R:  Anthony Meneice  47:13

1st Overtime:
(No Scoring)

2nd Overtime:
R:  Austin Ridgley 101:16

Tags: Greensburg C.C.