Riverview earns 1st berth to boys soccer playoffs since 2019

By: Michael Love
Saturday, October 5, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The Riverview boys soccer team started this season 0-4 overall and 0-3 in Section 4-A play.

The Raiders were coming off a tough 1-0 loss at rival Springdale and were looking for a spark.

That spark came in the form of a 3-1 win over Class 2A Burrell two days later.

Riverview went on to win six games in a row through a 2-1 nonsection victory over Sewickley Academy on Sept. 28. The streak lifted the Raiders to 6-5 overall, 3-4 in the section, and firmly put them in the section’s fourth and final playoff berth to the WPIAL playoffs.

Riverview will take part in the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

The Raiders hoped to extend their run to seven wins in a row as they were to host Springdale last Thursday in the team’s annual night game at Riverside Park.

“The team has really been focused on eliminating late mental errors, but probably the most important thing is we finally had our full roster,” Riverview coach Mickey Namey said. “Prior to Burrell, we were playing without five of our players, leaving us with just 13. We have four golfers who are double rostered, and (junior) Eben Ulrich, a junior firefighter for the Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department, was at fireman training.

“(The full roster) changed up everything for our team from our physical presence and depth to, more importantly, our attitude. It let us move players back to their natural positions and play with more confidence. In our first four games, (senior) Chris O’Toole had two goals. Once he was back at striker, he scored in the next six games for 10 goals.”

Riverview rallied in the second half against Sewickley. O’Toole scored off a Nico Lascola assist to tie the game, and senior Carter Loughren scored the game-winner off a Kyle Scheutz cross with under two minutes left.

Namey noted the strong defensive effort of Carter Baldwin, Carson Bodnar, Matt Orbin, Kieran Pisoni and keeper Quinn Fisher. The Raiders surrendered just five goals during the six wins heading into the Springdale rematch.

“The defense has been a strong area for us,” Namey said. “Once we had our full lineup, we were able to switch back to a more familiar formation, and the defense started to jell. Carson Bodnar and Drew Hunter switched positions which helped us generate more offense, taking pressure off the defense as well. Both played outstanding during this stretch along with the whole back line.

“Quinn Fischer has kept his All-WPIAL form, making two huge saves at Trinity Christian with under five minutes left. We’ve cut our goals-against in half this year as well as shots which shows the overall improvement of the defense.”

The win over Sewickley Academy didn’t come without a price, as Hunter, a senior captain, suffered a knee injury midway through the game. Namey said he was scheduled for an MRI on Friday.

Namey, before the MRI, said he hoped that it wasn’t anything too serious and Hunter, after some rest, will be able to suit up for the playoffs.

“Drew has been one of the pillars, with Chris and Quinn, who have carried this program the past four years,” Namey said.

“It’s definitely hard to replace his skill, leadership and the calming presence he has on the field.”

Riverview’s 3-2 win over Trinity Christian on Sept. 26 clinched the playoff berth. It also avenged a 4-2 setback to Trinity from the section opener three weeks earlier.

All five goals, including the three from the Raiders by Loughren, Ulrich and O’Toole with the game-winner, came in the first half.

Senior Matt Orbin assisted on the goals by O’Toole and Ulrich, and Fischer made key saves in the second half to help preserve the win.

“The Trinity Christian win was special because it clinched a playoff spot, which our seniors set as the team’s No. 1 goal this season, and it showed how the team grew over the first full month of the season,” Namey said. “It was our first win over Trinity in three years, and they were ranked No. 3 at the time. The confidence after the Trinity win carried into our win against single-A perennial powerhouse Sewickley.”

Riverview was set to close out the section slate at home against Jeannette on Tuesday (Oct. 8) before visiting St. Joseph on Thursday (Oct. 10).

“My assistant, Padraic O’Toole, and myself stress focusing on the next game and not looking past anyone we play regardless of their record,” Namey said. “Our small size has an advantage in the sense that my players learn to play all positions. We constantly remind them it’s not about how many minutes you play but about what you do in those minutes. A sub can change the game as much as a starter.

“We also remind them that our (first) four losses were against four playoff teams, and in a two-week span we beat a double-A playoff team, a Quad-A team, the No. 3 single-A team and Sewickley.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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