WPIAL Boys Soccer Playoff Recaps for Monday 10/24

The curtain was lifted on the 2011 WPIAL Boys Soccer playoffs Monday on a comfortable day at the pitch. Here are recaps from the games that were heard here on the MSA Sports Network on opening day of the boys 'second' season. 

Thanks to Randy Gore, Brandon Showers and Adam Hoerner for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS AAA First Round:  Kiski Area Cavaliers 2 – North Allegheny Tigers 1
Kiski Area advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class AAA playoffs on an overtime goal by Zach Wilson to lift the Cavaliers to a 2-1 victory over North Allegheny on Monday night.  Kiski opened the scoring in the first half on a header by Tyler Nelson on a long throw in by junior Bill Oplinger who was credited with an assist.  North Allegheny dictated the play in the second half and eventually tied the score with 27:36 on the clock on a marker by senior Phil Fives.  Despite a relentless attack by the Tigers throughout the second half, Kiski goalkeeper Brandon Smail turned NA away time and time again to keep the game tied.  In overtime, the Cavaliers claimed the victory on the goal by Wilson at 7:39 of the extra period.  Kiski improves to 12-2-2 and advances to play Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals.  The Tigers season ends with a record of 10-7.     

WPIAL CLASS AAA First Round:  Fox Chapel Foxes – Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 1
In a WPIAL AAA boys soccer playoffs a defensive minded Fox Chapel Foxes defeated the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils with a score of 3-1.  The Foxes went up 15 minutes into the first half with a well struck ball by Jack Dickens from about 26 yards off the goal line on a free kick.  The shot went into the upper corner of the goal and there was not much the goal tender could do for Mt Lebanon to stop it.  Mt Lebanon though did not fold and answered in the same half on a Fox Chapel own goal due to them mounting an offensive attack.  The ball went in off a Fox but it was on a nice cross from Rohan Basu for Mt. Lebanon.  It then became a bit of a defensive stalemate between the two sides and once Fox Chapel mounted an attack in the middle of the second half there was an own goal put in off a cross from Ben Mroz of Fox Chapel.  After that goal Fox Chapel seemed fine to set back in a defensive posture putting at times six players on their back line.  Fox Chapel will go on to play Upper Saint Clair.

WPIAL CLASS AA First Round:  West Allegheny Indians 1 – Steel Valley Ironmen 0
West Allegheny (15-2-1, 8-2-0) could have won its opening round contest against Steel Valley (11-6-1, 9-2-1) by a lot more than one goal based on scoring chances, but it turned out 1-0 was enough to get the job done on Monday night for the home standing Indians. West Allegheny nearly struck in the 27th minute when Josh Jaroszynski took two shots – one off Ironmen keeper Thayne Mitrik and the second off the cross bar – and Eric Jackson tried a header, but it remained scoreless at halftime. Brandon McCracken nearly deflected an Indians corner kick behind Mitrik in the 47th minute, but they would have to wait a bit longer. Steel Valley got its best chance in the 70th minute when Jared Ruffing was denied by a diving David Kline, and the #5 seed fed off the momentum. Josh Kolarac kept the ball inside the attacking box with a nice bicycle kick, and Tyler Graziani controlled the bouncing ball enough to finally beat Mitrik for the lone tally. West Allegheny controlled the play with an 8-4 margin in shots while attempting six corner kicks to five for Steel Valley. The Indians will face Ringgold or Southmoreland on Thursday night in the Quarterfinals.

WPIAL CLASS AA First Round:  Montour Spartans 3 – Beaver Bobcats 1
Drive it low was the motto for the Montour Spartans Monday.  Three goals off rebounds help lead Montour to a quarter final appearance in the WPIAL AA boys soccer playoffs.  Montour tallied goals from three seniors Vinnie Depascale, Travis Clark, and Nathan Kanuch.  Kanuch got the scoring started in the first half. It didn’t take long into the second half as Clark put one in three minutes into the half.  The third and final goal was posted by Vinnie Depascale.  Not to be out done though Montour’s goalie Matt Savoy also a senior gave up only one goal to Senior Charlie Sestito.  Sestito scored from 18 yards out with a little less than 5 minutes to go in the game with a very nice volley kick in.  Montour will go on to play Hampton which should be a very competitive contest either way.