Runner-up Franklin Regional takes pride in WPIAL final performance
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Saturday, November 9, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Franklin Regional’s Joey Bayne works against Moon’s Jon-Mark Balbach during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium.
Franklin Regional’s Keaton Sheetz battles Moon’s Aedan Costa for possession during the WPIAL Class 3A championship game Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium.
After they received their silver medals and runner-up trophy, Franklin Regional boys soccer players sat in a circle on the turf at Highmark Stadium.
They talked and reflected on a Saturday night along the Monongahela River about how far they had come, how well they had just played and what could lie ahead.
“This wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but we had so many guys play a strong game,” first-year coach Nick White said. “Moon is just a really strong side. It’s unfortunate because we had opportunities. What we did to get here was special.”
No. 1 seed and undefeated Moon (22-0) won the WPIAL 3A championship, 3-1, a bummer for Franklin Regional (14-4-2), the No. 7 seed that had left a trail of upsets on the way to Station Square.
“After our first goal, we settled in and tried to get the equalizer,” White said. “We controlled a lot of the play in the second half, but when they scored, we kind of lost track of things.”
Joey Bayne had the lone goal for the Panthers on a handsome cross from Danny Christafano as the teams went into halftime tied 1-1.
But Moon broke out for two second-half goals on the way to its seventh WPIAL title and second in three years.
Franklin Regional had beaten the Tigers in last year’s quarterfinals, 2-1 in overtime. The Panthers were chasing their third WPIAL title seven years.
Quickly, they turned their attention to the state playoffs.
“This didn’t end our season,” White said. “This doesn’t take away from what we did to get here. I am unbelievably proud of this group.”
In their PIAA opener, the Panthers rolled to a 6-0 rout of District 6 champion Bellefonte (15-3-3) on Nov. 5. Christafano scored twice and Jovan Sankoorikal, Fabrizzio Costa and Andrew Acosta also had goals.
They were scheduled to face District 3 champ Conrad Weiser in the quarterfinals Nov. 9.
Franklin Regional last made the state playoffs in 2021 when the current seniors were freshmen.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Franklin Regional
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