Eldridge earns 300th win as South Fayette continues success
South Fayette continued its stunning march to the WPIAL finals in boys soccer when the Lions edged rival Montour, 2-1, in a Class 3A semifinal match played Oct. 30 at North Allegheny.
The triumph earned the Lions a trip to the WPIAL championship match at Highmark Stadium. South Fayette (13-4-3) faced No. 2 Hampton in the final played at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 4.
The win over the Spartans also marked the 300th career victory for SF coach Rob Eldridge.
“This milestone provides a reflective moment because I think of all the players that were part of those victories,” Eldridge said. “I am so proud of all the sacrifices we have made together.
“Honestly, the losses that accompanied the wins probably taught me more about the journey. Being more in the moment and appreciating the lifelong relationships I have created alont the way with my players and coaches.”
Nate Belcufine and Cole Johnson scored the goals for the Lions, who upset the No. 1 seed, Plum, in the quarterfinals after opening tournament action with a 4-0 win against Greater Latrobe.
The Lions entered the Class 3A tournament seeded eighth after finishing third in Section 2 with a 9-2-3 record. Moon and Montour placed first and second in the division. In two previous meetings with the Spartans, the Lions had split decisions. They lost, 1-0, in September but avenged that loss, 2-1, on Oct. 5.
The win over Montour also assured the Lions a berth in the PIAA tournament. Action begins Nov. 7 and culminates in the state finals set for 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg.
Eldridge added that he was relieved to get the victory and the milestone against the Spartans.
” I could not have come at a bigger moment unless it was (in the WPIAL final),” he said. “The timing of it, I believe, is better because the focus can reman on my players and team.”
Other area soccer clubs were not as fortunate as South Fayette.
On Oct. 30 at Moon, Upper St. Clair dropped a 5-2 decision to Fox Chapel in the semifinals of the Class 4A girls tournament. It was the Foxes second straight upset as they had upended Peters Township, 5-1, in the first round of competition on Oct. 27.
After a scoreless first half, the Foxes exploded for five goals against the Lady Panthers, who finished the season at 16-2 overall. With the match tied, 2-2, Fox Chapel reeled off three goals to complete the upset of the Panthers, who had previously outscored the opposition, 94-3. USC had 15 shutouts on the season, including a 2-0 win against Butler in the playoff opener.
For the Foxes, Kate Friday and Alyssa Quackenbush each scored two goals.
Brooke Bodamer and Mary Mascaro tallied the goals for USC. Sierra Duper notched an assist.
Fox Chapel (12-4-2) played North Allegheny (20-0) in the Class 4A final. The Tigers won last year’s title and were WPIAL champions in 22019 as well as 2020.
The USC boys also lost to Fox Chapel, 2-1, in a Class 4A quarterfinal home match played Oct. 28.
In the loss, Charlie Bacdayan scored the lone Panther goal, off an assist from Jacob Higgs.
USC finished the year at 14-2-2 overall.
Also in the Class 4A boys tournament, Peters Township bowed out after a 3-0 loss to Butler in a quarterfinal contest played Oct. 28 at Confluence Financial Parners Stadium in McMurray. The Indians finished 12-4-1 overall. They were runners-up to USC in Section 2.