Peters Township tackles USC in boys’ soccer
The battle between the defending WPIAL champion and the two-time reigning PIAA champion will take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at Upper St. Clair. In other words, it’s Peters Township versus the host Panthers in Section 5-AAA boys’ soccer.
The Indians enter the fray undefeated at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the section after victories against Chartiers Valley, 4-0, and Moon, 2-0. They are ranked No. 3 in the state by TopDrawer.
Josh Deyarmin earned the shutouts. He has five on the year. He recorded six saves against the Tigers.
Brady Pike and Nicco Mastrangelo scored the goals against Moon. Sean Harrison and Mario Mastrangelo recorded the assists.
Against the Colts, Rylen Faloni scored off a direct kick rebound with 11 minutes left in the first half, giving the Indians the only goal they needed. However, Bennett Faloni and Sean Harrison tacked on two more tallies. Nicco Mastrangelo and Jonathon Sion assisted on the goals.
Meanwhile, USC kept pace with the Indians. They are also unbeaten at 6-0-1. They are ranked No. 2 in the state. The lone blemish on their record is a 5-5 deadlock with Wilson during the East-West Classic. The tournament kicks off the scholastic season and pits some of the top teams from the state against each other.
The Panthers come into the battle with Peters with recent wins against Bethel Park, 3-0, as well as section triumphs against Chartiers Valley, 8-0, and Canon-McMillan, 6-1, last week.
Joe Bell (2) and Shane Sibley scored the goals in the win against the Hawks, who trail Central Catholic and Allderdice in the Section 4-AAA standings.
Goals by Sibley, Bell, Doug Hapeman (2) and Robbie Mertz staked USC to a 5-0 half-time lead against the Colts before the starters rested in the second half.
Mertz fired in two goals and dished up three assists in the win against the Big Macs. Sibley scored twice while Hapeman and Jake Russell completed the goal-scoring.
Other action
In other soccer news, the Lady Panthers tied Cumberland Valley, 1-1. The eastern power is ranked No. 9 in the nation.
Emma Hasco scored the equalizer, on a header, with five minutes remaining in regulation. The two teams battled two overtime periods before settling on the deadlock.
The South Fayette girls defeated East Allegheny, 9-2, and blanked Keystone Oaks, 4-0.
Maggie Pine had a hat trick in the shutout against the Golden Eagles. Autumn Heineman duplicated the feat against the Wildcats.
Jeremy Zura staked the Lions to a 1-0 win against Waynesburg in boys’ soccer action.
Clayton Crabbe fired in the only goal of the game as Bishop Canevin defeated Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 1-0, in non-section action.