USC scores win over CM
With a 4-1 victory over Canon-McMillan, Upper St. Clair headed into the home stretch of the regular season for scholastic boys’ soccer with a firm grip on the top spot in Section 5-AAA.
The triumph pushed the Panthers to 8-0-1 in the division and 11-0-1 overall. USC hosts Moon next Tuesday and close out league play at Peters Township Oct. 10. The Indians, who won the section title last season, are 6-1-1 in the league and 9-2-1 overall.
Joel Hart registered a hat trick to lead USC to the win against the Big Macs. The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie earlier in the season. They also were adversaries in last year’s WPIAL title tilt, won by Canon-Mac. USC gained the upper hand in the state tournament, avenging that defeat on its way to capturing the 2012 PIAA title.
USC gets another taste of what it will be like to play in the district finals this weekend when the Panthers play Mt. Lebanon. The Oct. 5 clash at 12:30 p.m. will be contested at Highmark Stadium, which is home to the Riverhounds as well as the WPIAL soccer championships on Nov. 2.
USC will tune up for playoff action with non-league contests at Cardinal Mooney in Ohio on Oct. 12 and at home against Central Catholic on Oct. 15. The playoffs commence Oct. 17. With the loss to USC, CM dropped to third place in the section with a 5-1-2 mark. The Big Macs slipped to 9-1-2 overall.
Peters Township remained on track for its section showdowns with CM and USC when the Indians defeated Moon, 3-1.
Nicco Mastrangelo registered two goals while Troy Eskew posted a tally as well as an assist. Ryan Ponchione also garnered an assist.
The Indians, who are 6-1-1 in the section and 9-2-1 overall, visit Canon-Mac for a 7:30 p.m. match Oct. 8 before hosting USC Oct. 10. PT also hosts South Park Oct. 12 and visits McGuffey Oct. 15 before embarking on playoff action.
Megan Parker recorded her eighth shutout of the season as Peters Township blanked South Park, 2-0.
Maddi Santo and Emily Franty scored for the Lady Indians. Laurel Carpenter netted an assist.
The Indians then clinched a playoff spot when they edged Canon-McMillan, 1-0, in Section 5 action on Sept. 30. With the win, PT improved to 7-0 in the league. The Indians are 11-3 overall.
Franty scored the decisive goal on a rush down field. Carpenter assisted the tally, which occurred in the 15th minute of play.
While Parker made six saves in racking up her ninth shutout, Kyra Murphy made two stops for the Lady Macs, who fell to 5-2-1 in the section and 7-3-2 overall.
The Lady Indians are the defending WPIAL champions as well as three-time PIAA state winners.
Kyra Murphy stopped 20 shots on her way to a shutout as Canon-McMillan defeated Upper St. Clair, 3-0, in girls’ soccer.
Samantha and Sabrina Bryan scored goals as did Aideen O’Donghue for the Lady Macs, who improved to 5-1-1 in Section 5 and 7-2-2 overall.