South Allegheny girls crash net in overtime, upset Greensburg Central Catholic

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 | 9:51 PM

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Laila Chervon’s top priority was to crash the net.

In that moment, as South Allegheny set up a corner kick late in overtime, nothing else mattered.

“I just wanted to put my body on the ball any way I could,” the senior from South Allegheny said. “Nobody was really on me, and I just ran in and it came to me.”

Chervon finished a send-in from senior Rylee Stetz with a header at 6 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime Tuesday night, and the golden goal lifted the 12th-seeded Gladiators to a 2-1 upset of No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL Class A girls soccer playoffs at Southmoreland.

“We have a lot of seniors, and we really wanted to (win in the playoffs),” Chervon said. “We knew we could do it. We wanted it more.”

It was the first playoff win since 2015 for South Allegheny (12-7) and the first overall for fifth-year coach Andrew Dyson.

Beating a powerhouse like GCC (10-3) made it that much more special.

“It’s an emotional high,” Dyson said. “You’re thinking about a second overtime and you’re preparing, and a corner kick ends up winning the game. I think we caught (GCC) a little off guard. They thought we were maybe going to touch it in. (Chervon) made a great play on the ball.

“All of the time, (GCC) is always there and they are a team you want to beat.”

Dyson said his team scrimmaged GCC in the preseason, so familiarity played a part in the Gladiators’ mindset in their playoff opener.

They had not made the playoffs since 2020, when they lost to Brownsville, 8-0.

“South Allegheny put the ball in the back of the net,” GCC first-year coach Derek Cuthbert said. “We had our chances. We needed to be more clinical in front of the net.”

An evenly played 80 minutes carried over into extra time.

South Allegheny took an early lead on the unsuspecting Centurions, connecting on a goal just two minutes in.

Senior Ava Martorelli sent a shot top shelf past junior Leah Jones for a 1-0 lead.

But GCC began to connect on passes and produce opportunities.

Junior Riley Kerr tied it with a milestone goal in the 12th minute.

With a pair of nifty moves around multiple defenders, Kerr rang up her 100th career goal to make it 1-1.

Her double crossover was followed by a shot that left the ball spinning, and it trickled by junior keeper Ella Lotz.

“We gave up that first goal and came right back,” Cuthbert said. “We could have crumbled there.

“Riley getting 100 goals is a big accomplishment. And we only had 13 games this season.

“Their goalie played well tonight.”

Kerr nearly gave GCC the lead with 10 minutes to play in regulation, but her shot was just high and landed on top of the cage.

Jones made a key save with 35 seconds left in regulation when Martorelli pulled ahead on a breakaway.

Lotz finished with five saves and Jones had four.

Eight of South Allegheny’s wins have come on the road.

GCC played without junior defender Jillian Botti.

“Our season was good,” Cuthbert said. “We showed what we’re capable of doing.”

Cuthbert had not been to the WPIAL girls soccer playoffs since 2003, when he guided the Penn-Trafford girls to a WPIAL 3A title.

South Allegheny advances to play No. 4 Winchester Thurston (11-2) in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., South Allegheny