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NORTH ALLEGHENY BOYS' VARSITY SOCCER

2003 GAME SUMMARIES

RINGGOLD TOPPLES TIGERS, 2-0

The Tigers traveled to Ringgold for a non-section game on Saturday night and were defeated by the Rams, 2-0. NA got behind early when Ringgold scored on a fluke goal just five minutes into the game. The Rams' Tyler Dolanch lobbed the ball toward the far post, and it ended up in the net. Neither team scored again, and the teams went to the intermission with Ringgold holding the 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, Ringgold got a second goal when Jason Kozar scored on a header after the Tigers were unable to clear the ball out of the penalty area. The Tigers controlled the ball for a good portion of the game but were unable to penetrate the Ram defense. 
Junior goalkeeper Andrew Jones made his first varsity start as goalkeeper for the Tigers.

 It was a fast paced game with Ringgold applying high pressure for most of the game. According to Coach Bruno Schwarz, "It was 
an evenly matched game", but the Rams were able to score and NA was not. The Tigers had five shots, while Ringgold had seven.

The loss dropped the NA overall record to 3-5 on the season. The Tigers 
will be at home tonight to meet the Pine-Richland Rams who are currently tied for first place. The North Allegheny Sports Network will broadcast the game LIVE on the internet on Tuesday night. Be sure to join Don Vandergrift and Jordan Dee for all the action, live or archived, beginning with the pre-game show at 7:30 pm and the opening kickoff at 7:45 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
RINGGOLD - 2 NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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TIGERS SHOCK FIRST-PLACE HAMPTON, 1-0

Coach Bruno Schwarz's Tigers took a step back into the section race with a 1-0 victory over first-place Hampton on Thursday night at Hampton. Senior midfielder Dan Sebastian scored the winning goal with 15:23 to play on a perfect pass by junior Brian Morris. According to Coach Schwarz, "Hampton plays a flat back four and was caught pushing out when Sebastian broke free and beat goalkeeper Patrick Finnegan with a low shot to the far side."  The Tigers had several good opportunities in the first half but could not score.  Junior Ryan Honsaker had the best chance when he got behind the Talbot defense but was denied by Finnegan. Honsaker finished the evening with six shots at the Hampton goal. 

The Tiger defense, led by junior sweeper Brendan Flaherty and aided by seniors Brian Braun, Aaron Wynkoop, and Garrett Simmer, kept the Talbots at bay throughout the game. Senior goalkeeper Devin Hale made a good save with 5:28 remaining while Flaherty was there to keep another Talbot shot out of the net with 4:13 on the clock.
 
It was a huge victory for the Tigers and Coach Schwarz credited the win to spirit and determination. "NA played with a lot of heart and emotion", 
said Schwarz, happy to get the elusive first section win. The Tigers will 
be back in action tomorrow evening when they travel to Ringgold to meet the Rams in a 7:30 pm non-section contest.

(Thanks to Coach Schwarz and Patti Wynkoop for information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1 HAMPTON - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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BUTLER BEATS TIGERS, 2-0

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

The Butler Golden Tornado scored on a penalty kick by senior forward 
Jonathan Blose just 2:56 into the game and went on to defeat the Tigers, 2-0, in a Section 2 contest at Newman Stadium on Tuesday night. Butler continued to pressure NA in the early going, with senior forward Danny Maticic just missing from 25 yards out with 19:13 left. Blose had a chance with 15 minutes remaining in the half, but his attempt went wide. The Tigers regrouped and began to take control of play in the last fifteen minutes of the first half. Extended pressure by NA resulted in a number of good opportunities. Senior forward Rob Kurtanich had a good chance with 14:40 left but Butler goalkeeper Evan Gould was able to make the save. Sophomore MF Justin Runkel's shot went wide at the 12:30 make, and Kurtanich had another attempt go over the goal with 11:15 left. The best chance came at the 6:06 mark when Kurtanich sent senior forward Dan Sebastian in alone but Gould again was able to make the save and cover up on the rebound. The Tigers were unable to score, and the teams went to the intermission with Butler holding the 1-0 advantage.

In the early part of the second half, the Tigers continued to force the 
action looking for the equalizer. After senior forward Jonathan Miller 
gave Butler a chance early, junior Ryan Honsacker had two opportunities after he got a rebound of his own shot at the 31:25 mark. Kurtanich's shot went just wide to the right of the goal on a corner kick from senior Keith Miller. NA was unable to convert, however, and Butler continued to hold the one-goal lead.Although the Tornado played a defensive style for most of the second half, Jonathan Miller was able to break in on senior goalie Devin Hale at the 26:38 mark but Hale was able to make the save. Butler finally tallied a second goal with 18:58 remaining when Maticic pushed a rebound past Hale. With a two-goal lead, the Tornado was able to fend off the NA attack for the remainder of the game to take a 2-0 victory back to Butler.

The loss was the third straight section loss for the Tigers and puts them 
in a tough position. It's still early, however, the Tigers have time to 
rebound. For his efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network selected Dan Sebastian as the Player of the Game. The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow night when they travel to Hampton for a 7:30 pm contest.

GAME SUMMARY
BUTLER - 2 NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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TIGERS SHUT OUT PENN-TRAFFORD, 2-0

The Tigers ended a two-game losing streak with a 2-0 non-section victory over Penn-Trafford at Newman Stadium on Saturday night. The Tigers took the lead on a goal by junior Dan Sebastian on an assist from senior forward Rob Kurtanich in the 20th minute of the first half.
In the second half, junior Steve Hucko made it 2-0 with Sebastian picking up the assist. Penn-Trafford outshot NA, 10-3, but the outstanding play of senior GK Devin Hale kept the Warriors off the board. According to Coach Schwarz, Hale made "numerous world class saves" as the Tigers earned a home victory.

The win improved the NA record to 2-3 on the season. Coach Schwarz' 
Tigers will return home tonight to take on the Butler Golden Tornado in a 
section contest. The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to 
broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 7:30 pm. Game time is scheduled for 7:45 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2 PENN-TRAFFORD - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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SENECA VALLEY BLANKS TIGERS, 2-0

The Tigers were defeated by the Seneca Valley Raiders, 2-0, at Newman 
Stadium on Thursday night. After a scoreless first half, the Raiders got 
on the board first with a penalty kick. Cory Fogle made it 1-0 at the 
8:41 mark of the second half.Later in the half, Justin Nock scored on a breakaway with a little under eleven minutes remaining to put the game away for Seneca Valley. 

The loss was the second consecutive section loss for NA and dropped their overall record to 1-3 in the young season. 

GAME SUMMARY
SENECA VALLEY - 2 NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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SHALER TOPS TIGERS, 6-1, IN SECTION OPENER

Nick Christy had a hat trick and Adam Karlovich added a pair of goals as 
the #7-ranked Shaler Area Titans dropped the Tigers, 6-1, in the section 
opener at Shaler on Tuesday night. It was the most goals given up by NA since 1996 when they lost to Strath Haven in the PIAA title game. Junior Brendan Flaherty scored on a header from a corner kick by junior Derek Foy with just 30 seconds remaining.

The Tigers will be back in action again tonight when they host the Seneca Valley Raiders in a section contest. Game time is scheduled for 7:45 pm at Newman Stadium. NA will play Penn Trafford at home on Saturday night in a non-section game scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm.

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TIGERS DOWN HEMPFIELD, 1-0, FOR FIRST WIN

The Tigers evened their non-section record at 1-1 with a 1-0 victory over 
Hempfield at Newman Stadium on Saturday night. Senior forward Robbie 
Kurtanich scored on a give and go from sophomore MF Justin Runkel in the 19th minute of the second half. Senior GK Devin Hale recorded his first varsity shutout.

NA will begin section play tonight when they travel to Shaler to meet the 
Titans. Shaler is ranked #4 by the Tribune-Review and #7 by the 
Post-Gazette. Game time at Shaler is scheduled for 7:30 pm. The Tigers 
will return home on Thursday when they host the Seneca Valley Raiders in a 7:30 pm contest.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1 HEMPFIELD - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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PLUM EDGES NA, 1-0, IN OPENER

The Tigers opened their season against the same team that they faced in the final game last year.  Unfortunately for the Tigers, the result was 
the same. The Plum Mustangs repeated their 1-0 victory over NA at Plum on Friday afternoon in the opener for both teams. The Mustang goal came on a counter attack by the Plum sweeper after an NA corner kick early in the game. Senior GK Devin Hale played a strong game for the Tigers. The last meeting was the first round of the WPIAL Playoffs last season.

The Tigers are the defending champion in Section 2, winning last year with a record of 11-2-1. Their overall record was 13-6-1 and, as mentioned, were knocked out of the WPIAL Playoffs by Plum in the first round.

GAME SUMMARY
PLUM - 1 NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org