Nov 3, 2015 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, Upper St. Clair converted five penalty kicks and Nikki Gibbons made the save that vaulted the Lady Panthers past Fox Chapel, 1-0, and into the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ championship game set for this weekend at Highmark Stadium.

During the shootout, Maddy Rocks, Lauren Hamel, Emma Hasco, Elaina Walnoha and Rachel Witte all converted their kicks to edge the Foxes, 5-4. Gibbons, who had 13 saves in the contest, turned back Taylor Cohen’s shot to assure the USC victory.

The Panthers reached the Final Four with a 2-0 victory over rival Mt. Lebanon. Landy Mertz and Kelsey McCown scored the goals for USC, while Gibbons recorded the shutout. Brianna Murgi, Elaina Walnoha, Lauren Hamel, Mia Snyder and Reilly Ford excelled on defense.

USC improved to 16-1-1 overall and will face Norwin in the finals. The Knights, who toppled the defending champion, Seneca Valley, 2-0, in their semifinal, are undefeated at 21-0.

The Lady Panthers will be the lone local girls’ club in the finals as South Fayette succumbed to South Park, 2-0, in the Class AA semifinals played in Canonsburg. Jordyn Minda scored both goals for the Eagles (18-2-1).

In Class AAA boys’ semifinal action, Canon-McMillan blanked Seneca Valley, 1-0. The Raiders were the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

With 20 minutes left in regulation, Nick Sodini chipped in a shot from the left corner for the game-winner. It was Sodini’s 30th goal of the season. With nine saves, Christian Snatchko earned the shutout in the nets for the Big Macs, who improved to 16-3 overall.

With the win, the Big Macs advanced to the WPIAL finals for the first time since 2012. They were to face Fox Chapel, a 4-0 winner against Kiski in the other semifinal.

The Lady Lions, who were co-section champions with South Park, fell to 14-5-2 overall. They will play Central Valley on Nov. 4 in a consolation game to determine the third team from Class AA to qualify for the PIAA playoffs.

In the boys’ AA semifinal, South Park and South Fayette also tangled with the Lions, emerging victorious over the Eagles, 2-1, in double overtime. Zack Ali struck a ball from the 22-yard line and hit the upper left corner for the game-winner with 11:02 remaining in the second overtime.

The Lions took the early lead when Nick Aul headed in a shot, assisted by Zach Lutz in the 32nd minute. However, South Park tied the contest, 1-1, on a goal from Dan Irwin midway through the second half.

South Fayette improved to 17-3 overall and will face Mars in the championship match. The Planets are 18-2-1 overall after blanking Thomas Jefferson, 3-0, in the other semifinal game.

Seton-La Salle topped Greensburg Central Catholic, 2-1. With 13:25 left in regulation, Nick Messina scored the game-winner off a corner kick from Brandon Benedetti. With 21 minutes left in the second half, Kellen Krebs notched the equalizer, 1-1. Chris Stack assisted.

The Rebels improved to 16-5 overall and advanced to face Avonworth in the finals. The Antelopes are 15-3-3 overall after toppling Sewickley Academy, 2-1, in a shootout.

Quarterfinals

South Fayette reached the Final Four in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs with a 1-0 win against Mt. Pleasant in the girls’ competition and a 3-0 win against McGuffey in boys’ play. Rachel Helbling, off an assist from Meghan Hoerger, scored for the Lady Lions while Natalie Caraway secured the shutout. Christian Dedi, Jeremy Zura and Priamo Persichetti scored for the boys.

Seton-La Salle edged Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-2, in overtime. Leo Wilson scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Nick Messina. Messina and Ryan Kendrick scored the Rebels’ other tallies while Brandon Benedetti and Chris Stack garnered assists on the goals. Morgan Samuels excelled in the nets for Seton.

Canon-McMillan, which reached the WPIAL and PIAA finals last season, suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Fox Chapel, 2-1, while Peters Township lost to Seneca Valley, 4-0. In the loss to the Foxes, Cheyenne Trest scored the lone tally for the Lady Macs, who finished 17-1-1 overall. The Lady Indians, who were runners-up to C-M in Section 4-AAA posted a 14-5 record this season.