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* GAME SUMMARIES *

           LADY TIGERS TOPPLE McDOWELL, 
           ADVANCE TO  PIAA QUARTERFINALS

(11/8/11) Goals by Katie Hohmann, Savana Yurick, and Maddie Layman powered the Lady Tigers to a 3-1 victory over McDowell.  The first round state playoff matchup was a rematch of a game played earlier this season at Newman Stadium.  In that game, North Allegheny dominated the Trojans, with six different players scoring goals.  During Tuesday’s rematch at Veterans Stadium in Erie, the Lady Tigers provided much of the same offensive pressure, but had some difficulty finding the net early on.

Following the halftime break, North Allegheny finally broke through with some nifty ball movement.  Carolyn Binnig headed a pass to Maria Carr.  Carr corralled the ball and sent a pass to Hohmann, who beat the McDowell keeper, giving North Allegheny a 1-0 lead.  McDowell retaliated a few minutes later, when Tasha Lennox snuck behind the Lady Tigers defense and beat Madison Martin to tie the game.  Two minutes later Yurick broke the deadlock, off a set up by Hohmann.  Yurick’s goal proved to be the game-winner, as McDowell could not mount any offense, thanks to the smothering attack by the Lady Tigers.  Layman added her insurance goal with 15 seconds remaining, punctuating North Allegheny’s victory.  The North Allegheny Sports Network selected Katie Hohmann as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

Thanks to their second half outburst, the Lady Tigers now vault into the second round, awaiting the Upper St. Clair.  A week ago, the Panthers bounced the Lady Tigers from WPIAL competition, 1-0.  North Allegheny will look to exact revenge, and continue their outstanding playoff run when the teams meet on Saturday.  Check the North Allegheny Sports Network for site and time of the match when information is available.

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY – 3    McDOWELL 1

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GIRLS SOCCER ENDS WPIAL RUN AGAINST PANTHERS, STATES NEXT

(11/1/11) Carly Bogan’s first half goal held for Upper St. Clair in their 1-0 defeat of the Lady Tigers in WPIAL semifinal action.  The Panthers used stellar defense to keep the North Allegheny attackers at bay.  As a result, the Lady Tigers failed to generate many quality scoring chances, ending their WPIAL run in the semifinals. 

Bogan scored her goal just over five minutes into the contest, getting behind the North Allegheny defense on a breakaway.  Sophomore goalkeeper Madison Martin initially made a crucial save, tipping the shot beyond the end line.  On her subsequent corner kick, Bogan skillfully hooked ball into the net for the only goal of the game.  While Maddie Layman and Leah Langhans had attempts on net during the contest, they were easily turned aside by the Panthers goalkeeper, much to the chagrin of the North Allegheny fans.

While the Lady Tigers were eliminated from WPIAL competition on Tuesday night, their season is not over.  They will begin pursuit of a state championship next week in the PIAA tournament.  Their opponent will be known following the WPIAL championship match on Saturday.  Check the North Allegheny Sports Network this coming weekend for time and location of the state playoff match.

GAME SUMMARY

Upper St. Clair – 1   NORTH ALLEGHENY – 0  

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CARR DRIVES LADY TIGERS OVER RAIDERS

(10/26/11) Seneca Valley ended the regular season with a 15-1-2 record, giving up just nine goals all year.  North Allegheny scored five times in just eighty minutes on Wednesday night, toppling the second-seeded Raiders, 5-1.  Maria Carr's natural hat trick in the first half powered the Lady Tigers to a three goal lead at halftime.  Maddie Layman and Leah Langhans added insurance goals late, propelling the Lady Tigers to the WPIAL semifinals and a berth in the PIAA tournament. 

In their two previous matchups this season, the Raiders outscored the Lady Tigers by a staggering 9-1 margin, including a 7-1 massacre at Newman Stadium.   North Allegheny came out strong in this meeting, taking the attack to the Raiders.  Just seven minutes in, pressure by the Lady Tigers caused an errant play by the Seneca goalkeeper, ultimately leading to Carr's first goal of the night.  Two minutes later, she struck again off a throw in by Katie Hohmann, giving North Allegheny a 2-0 lead only ten minutes into the contest.  Layman set up the third goal with brilliant footwork, before passing to Carr for her hat trick.

The 3-0 halftime lead could have been worse, as Carolyn Binnig, Langhans, and Christine Palmeri all had prime scoring chances in the first half.  Unfortunately for the Lady Tigers, none of them could convert.

Following halftime, Seneca cut the deficit to 3-1 when Melissa Lynskey beat Madison Martin.  However, that was the only goal Martin would surrender, as she quickly recovered, making several key stops as the Raiders swarmed the North Allegheny zone.  Soon thereafter, the Lady Tigers put the game away.  Layman corralled a rebound off a Palmeri shot, and buried it in the net, giving North Allegheny a commanding 4-1 lead with fifteen minutes to play.  Langhans added the cherry on top off a free kick from thirty yards out.

With the win, the Lady Tigers improve to 13-7 on the year.  They will face Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL semifinals on Tuesday, November 1.  Site and time are still to be determined.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will have further details as soon as they are made available.

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY – 5  SENECA VALLEY – 1

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CARDIAC CATS ADVANCE TO QUARTERS ON OT GOAL BY YURICK

(10/22/11) In a hard fought opening round game at Upper St. Clair High School, the North Allegheny Lady Tigers toppled the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon, 1-0, on an overtime goal by Savana Yurick.  The Tigers have thrived all season long in last minute or overtime situations, and this game had both as Yurick’s marker came at 1:27 left in overtime.  It was NA’s fourth overtime win this season and eighth victory in one-goal games.  For tallying the game winning goal in a gutsy effort by all of the Lady Tigers, it was Yurick who was selected as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.    

The physical nature of the game was instituted from the outset of the contest, primarily from Mt. Lebanon and their outstanding defense, led by Kate Tuscany, Maddie Collins, Johanna Platt and goalkeeper Emma Pelicano.  That bruising style of play questionably kept NA off the board with about 10 minutes left in the first half.  With Katie Hohmann streaking on a breakaway and eying the Blue Devils net, the Tigers leading scorer was tripped up from behind by Mt. Lebanon’s Kate Tuscany for what appeared to be a sure penalty kick.  The officials did not make call however, and awarded Mt. Lebanon a goal kick.  From that point on, North Allegheny matched the Blue Devils physical play and kept the game scoreless with strong defensive efforts by Christine Grom, Brianna Layman and net minder Madison Martin.  With the game scoreless in the second half, Martin made a great diving save on Mt. Lebanon’s Lucy Ness to keep the game tied, 0-0.  Likewise, Pelicano made a pair of highlight real saves on Hohmann with under five minutes to play in regulation and the contest remained deadlocked, bound for overtime. 

In the extra period, the Blue Devils were gassed and the Lady Tigers maintained their offensive attack.  Mt. Lebanon could not keep pace with the well conditioned Tigers, as players like Ryleigh Gapczynski, Maria Carr, Annie Erickson, Gabrielle McFarlane, Alison Krause, and Alexa Mermigas continued to pressure.  North Allegheny outshot the Blue Devils 14-6 and lead in scoring chances 21-6. 

North Allegheny had two great scoring chances with about seven minutes left in overtime, but Pelicano once again made two more spectacular saves, one on Maddie Layman and another on Leah Langhans.  However, it was finally a free kick that was Mt. Lebanon’s undoing with under two minutes in OT.  The strong-legged Langhans booted a long free kick that hit the cross bar of the Blue Devils net, ensuing a wild scramble.  Yurick found the ball with a header that got passed Pelicano with 1:27 in overtime to give North Allegheny the 1-0 victory. 

North Allegheny advances to the quarterfinals on Wednesday night to face the winner between Seneca Valley and Hempfield.  The Lady Tigers improve their overall record to 12-7 on the year, while Mt. Lebanon’s season ends with a 14-4 mark.  For the entire WPIAL Class AAA girls soccer playoff bracket, click here!

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1  MT. LEBANON - 0

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GIRLS SOCCER AWAITS MATCHUP
WITH BLUE DEVILS

The WPIAL Girls Soccer playoffs are set to begin this weekend with tenth-seeded North Allegheny facing seventh-seeded Mt. Lebanon.  Although the teams did not face each other in a regular season game, they did meet in a preseason scrimmage at Newman Stadium.  A berth in the quarterfinals will be at stake when the squads take the field at Upper St. Clair Stadium.

The Blue Devils, led by Coach Aaron Pancyzk, enter Saturday’s matchup sporting a 14-3 overall record.  They took second place in section 4, with a 10-2 conference record, beating overall top seed Peters Township 1-0 in their section finale.  Senior midfielder Katherine Pryor had the lone marker in the victory and is a player to watch in Saturday’s matchup.  She joins with juniors Lucy Nass, a forward, and midfielder Alex Ventrone to lead an offensive attack that scored just 37 goals in 17 games. 

Despite being seeded seventh, Mt. Lebanon has dominated opponents this year defensively, posting twelve shutouts, including nine straight to begin the season.  Senior goalkeeper Emma Pellicano is an experienced standout on the back line.  Helping her secure the net are defenders Kate Touscany and Johanna Platt. Platt is a recruit of High Point University, located in North Carolina.  The strength of the Blue Devils is clearly their defensive prowess, having allowed just 12 goals all season.  While scoring on Mt. Lebanon has been difficult, their record is just 2-3 when they allow a goal.

If a defensive struggle ensues, North Allegheny is well experienced in tight games.  Head Coach Danielle Borkowski’s squad posted a 7-2 record in one-goal contests this year, thanks in part to heroics by Katie Hohmann and Maddie Layman.  Hohmann leads the team with seventeen markers on the season, including six multi-goal games.  Layman, meanwhile, chooses to save her goals for the dramatic, having notched several game-winners in the last seconds of regulation and overtime.  Maria Carr and Christine Palmeri have also proven to have a scoring touch for the Lady Tigers, while freshman Savana Yurick has scored three goals in the last three contests, including two against McDowell. 

At the opposite end of the field, defensive stalwart Christine Grom has been masterful all season.  Along with Brianna Layman, Melina Mermigas, Carolyn Binnig, and Leah Langhans, the Lady Tigers’ are adept at tracking down opposing players and clearing loose balls.  Langhans is an especially versatile player at both ends of the field.  Her strong leg can emphatically clear the defensive zone, while also making her a threat to score from nearly anywhere on the field.  Sophomore Madison Martin provides the last line of defense, with three shutouts to her credit this season. 

Kickoff on Saturday afternoon is scheduled for 1:00 pm.  The game will be broadcast live (and archived) on the North Allegheny Sports Network with Randy Gore and Lee Mohn.  For the entire WPIAL girls soccer playoff bracket, click here.

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GIRLS SOCCER FALLS TO KNIGHTS, 2-1, AWAITS PLAYOFF PAIRING

(10/18/11) Freshman Olivia Ott scored with 3:34 remaining in the second half to push visiting Norwin past the Lady Tigers, 2-1.  Her goal was set up off a throw-in after teammate Rachel DelleFemine's shot attempt was blocked out of bounds by the North Allegheny defense.  Ott received the ball to the left of the goal, and shot it beyond outstretched Tigers goalkeeper Madison Martin for the deciding goal.

Maddie Layman opened the scoring with an impressive display of dribbling as she weaved through the Knights defense.  As she entered the left side of the box, she placed a perfect shot in the opposite corner, giving North Allegheny an early 1-0 lead.  Few scoring chances arose for both playoff-bound squads, as responsible defense and conservative attacks generated little offense.  Maria Carr had North Allegheny's best chance at another goal in the early going, but her attempt was stopped on a brilliant diving save by Dymphena Clark.  The Lady Tigers' scoring leader, Katie Hohmann, was hounded the entire night by the Norwin back line.

DelleFemine provided the equalizer for Norwin just minutes after halftime.  She beat Martin on a breakaway following a North Allegheny turnover, setting the stage for Ott's game winner. 

North Allegheny ends its regular season at 11-6 overall and awaits their playoff fate.  Pairings will be announced on Wednesday night, with preliminary rounds beginning this weekend.  Check the North Allegheny Sports Network website for matchups and times as soon as they are available.

GAME SUMMARY

NORWIN - 2  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

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LADY TIGERS LOCK UP SECOND PLACE, TAKE DOWN TRIBE, 2-1

(10/18/11) North Allegheny Girls’ Soccer continued to surge as the playoffs near, beating the North Hills Indians, 2-1, in their section finale on Monday night.  The game featured two teams headed in different directions.  After winning their first seven games of the season, North Hills stumbled to a 1-8-1 finish in their final ten games, dashing their playoff aspirations.  Meanwhile, the Lady Tigers are on a bit of an upswing, currently on a three game winning streak as they prepare for the WPIAL playoffs. 

While the Lady Tigers have been impressive as of late, it was the Indians who started the night off strong.  On their home turf, the Indians took it to NA in the first half and tallied the game’s first goal just eight minutes in as Jansen Hartman scored to put North Hills on top, 1-0.  The Lady Tigers posted their first shot two minutes later when Carolyn Binnig shot high of the net.  Maria Carr kept the pressure on with a pair of shots but neither found the back of the North Hills goal as the Indians remained in front, 1-0.  North Hills nearly added to their lead at the 21 minute mark but were denied on a spectacular save by NA goalkeeper Madison Martin. Despite scoring chances for Alison Krause and Maddie Layman, the Indians maintained their lead at the half.

In the second half, North Allegheny’s pressure finally garnered them the equalizer.  At the 25 minute mark, Katie Hohmann’s exceptional footwork allowed her to beat a defender and take a shot that deflected off the crossbar.  Fortunately for NA, Savana Yurick was in the right spot for the rebound and scored to tie things up at 1-1.  Determined to come away with a victory, Layman, Hohmann, Leah Langhans and Christine Palmeri continued the offensive attack.  North Hills finally caved to the NA pressure when Layman found Hohmann for an open shot and goal with 12 minutes remaining, and the Lady Tigers had a 2-1 lead.  North Allegheny rode out the final minutes to lock up second place in the Secton 2 standings, giving the Lady Tigers solid positioning for the playoffs.

NA improves to 11-6 overall and 8-4 in the section.  North Hills falls to 8-8-1 and 4-7-1 in section play.  The Lady Tigers will finish their regular season schedule on Tuesday with a home game against Norwin.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45. 

(Thank you to Jeff Layman for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2  NORTH HILLS - 1

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GIRLS SOCCER POURS IN GOALS,

NETS 8-1 WIN OVER MCDOWELL

(10/12/11) On a dark and soggy senior night, North Allegheny received goals from several seniors, a junior, a freshman, and a solid effort from their sophomore goalkeeper in an 8-1 thrashing of the McDowell Trojans.  Katie Hohmann and Savana Yurick scored two goals apiece, and Madison Martin allowed just a penalty kick goal.  After honoring the twelve senior members of the team during pre-game festivities, the Lady Tigers turned in their most dominating performance of the season. 

North Allegheny peppered the McDowell goal right from the start, netting four first-half goals on nine shots.  Eight minutes in, Hohmann caught up to a lead pass flying down the right sideline.  Approaching the goal, she fired a low shot off the right side of the McDowell goalkeeper that ultimately rolled into the net for an early 1-0 lead.  The Lady Tigers maintained strong pressure in the Trojans zone, narrowly missing on several scoring opportunities.  Their persistence paid off when they finally increased their lead late in the half, thanks to a flurry of goals.

In the 28^th minute, Leah Langhans lobbed a ball into the box, intended for Hohmann.  The ball deflected off a Trojan defender, right to freshman Savana Yurick.  Yurick dribbed left and planted a shot in the lower right corner of the net for her second score of the year.  Just before halftime, Melina Mermigas and Maddie Layman each scored on exceptionally long shots.  Mermigas scored from around thirty five yards out, bombing a perfectly placed shot just under the crossbar.  Then, off a Hohmann pass, Layman rang another long shot off the right post and into the net for North Allegheny’s fourth goal of the game.

McDowell scored their lone goal seconds into the second half when Allison Oathout converted a penalty kick.  However, North Allegheny quickly responded with two goals within a minute of each other.  First, Christine Grom netted her first marker of the season, heading in a corner kick by Langhans.  Then, just 39 seconds later, Alison Krause found Hohmann to make it 6-1.  After Yurick’s second goal of the night, Christine Palmeri rounded out the scoring, as the sixth different scorer for the Lady Tigers on the night.  Finishing with two goals on the night, Savana Yurick was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

The win boosts North Allegheny’s record to 10-6 .  The Lady Tigers will resume competition on Monday when they close out the section portion of their schedule with a trip to North Hills.  Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.

To hear an interview with North Allegheny's Maddie Layman prior to Wednesday night's game against McDowell, click here!

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 8  McDOWELL - 1

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LAYMAN BEATS THE CLOCK BY FIVE,
SHALER BY ONE

(10/11/11) Maddie Layman clinched a playoff berth for the North Allegheny Girls Soccer team Monday Night, booting in a game winner with just five seconds remaining in the second overtime period, lifting the Lady Tigers over Shaler, 3-2.  Her goal was set up by a hastily taken corner kick from Leah Langhans as time wound down.  After the ball bounced off players from both teams in the box, Layman directed it past Titans goalie Sam Bahorich.  On the night, Layman scored two of North Allegheny’s goals and assisted on the third.  It was the fourth time this season the Lady Tigers won a game in the final minute of regulation or overtime.

The dramatic victory, coupled with Pine-Richland’s 1-0 triumph over Hampton, ensures that North Allegheny can finish no worse than tied for third place with the Talbots.  According to WPIAL rules, if such a scenario occurs, both teams would enter playoff competition, having split their meetings this season.

Shaler began the game on the offensive, peppering goalkeeper Madison Martin from various angles.  The sophomore stood her ground, making several saves in the early going.  After teams traded possessions, Layman outraced a Shaler defender to a bouncing ball deep in the Shaler zone.  Dribbling into the box, she buried a shot into the top left corner of the net, giving North Allegheny a lead in the 8^th minute of the game.

The Lady Tigers added another marker in the 21^st minute when Katie Hohmann chipped a pass ahead to a streaking Layman.  With the defense guarding her closely down the left side of the box, Layman neatly dropped a pass to Carolyn Binnig, who lobbed a shot into the Shaler goal, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Shaler was able to fight back, getting a goal two minutes later from their speedy forward, Kristie Hamilton.  Hamilton dribbled hard into the North Allegheny back line, splitting the defense.  She buried her shot in the lower right corner, giving Shaler life.  Late in the half, North Allegheny controlled play with several long possessions in the Titan end.  However, they were unable to get any scoring chances on net.

Shaler found the equalizer ten minutes into the second half when Chelsie Bahorich sprung Hamilton on a breakaway behind the North Allegheny defense.  She easily deposited a shot into the net, tying the game at 2-2, setting the stage for Layman’s overtime heroics.

The win boosts North Allegheny’s section record to (7-4) with their lone remaining section game next Monday at North Hills.  The Lady Tigers are currently second in the Section 2 standings.  Close on their heels are Pine-Richland (6-4-1) and Hampton (5-5).  All three teams, along with North Hills (4-5-1), are currently jostling for playoff positioning.  However, North Allegheny is the only one that has clinched a playoff spot.

The Lady Tigers will return to the pitch Wednesday night against non-section opponent McDowell.  The contest is also senior night for the girls.  Kickoff from Newman Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3   SHALER 2

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NA FALLS TO TOP-RANKED
 PETERS TOWNSHIP

(10/8/11) The North Allegheny Lady Tigers fell to the top-ranked Peters Township Indians, 6-1, on Friday night at the Hampton Invitational.  North Allegheny falls to 8-6 on the season after the non-section meeting with the Indians.  Peters Township improves to 12-1-1 on the season.  The Lady Tigers will return to section play on Monday night when they host the Shaler Lady Titans.  Kickoff is slated for 7:00 pm at Newman Stadium.   

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

LADY TIGERS BLANKED BY
SENECA VALLEY, 2-0

(10/6/11) It was a defensive battle throughout most of the night, but Seneca Valley pulled away with two late goals to defeat North Allegheny 2-0 on Wednesday night.  Kate Riley and Morgan Williams scored goals to help the Raiders clinch the section championship.  This marks the third time in four years that Seneca Valley has claimed the Section 2 title.

Unlike their first meeting this year, the Tigers stymied the Raiders chances in the first half.  The stout defensive effort was spearheaded by Christine Grom, Leah Langhans, Melina Mermigas, Brianna Layman, Hannah Stoof, and goalkeeper Madison Martin.  Halfway through the period, North Allegheny registered its first shot on goal off the foot of Maddie Layman.  However, the attempt was turned aside by Seneca Valley netminder Lindsey Klaum.  Later in the half, Langhans and Katie Hohmann each had scoring opportunities, but could not convert. 

Maria Carr also had a prime scoring chance to start the second half, but her shot was stopped on a diving save by Klaum.  In the 51^st minute, Riley put the Raiders ahead after her shot from thirty yards out flew just under the crossbar.  North Allegheny tried to respond but could not beat the Seneca goalkeeper on several quality chances.  Williams added her insurance goal in the waning moments, giving Seneca Valley another Section 2 championship. 

Despite the loss, the Lady Tigers remain in second place in Section 2 with a 6-4 record, a half game in front of third place Hampton.  Seneca Valley remains undefeated in section play with a record of 9-0 and 12-1-1 overall.  North Allegheny will face another top contender in the WPIAL on Friday when they battle Peters Township at the Hampton Invitational.  Kickoff is slated for 6:00 pm.

GAME SUMMARY

SENECA VALLEY - 2   NORTH ALLEGHENY 0

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LAYMAN SPLASHES IN WINNER WITH 29 SECONDS LEFT, LADY TIGERS WIN 1-0

(10/3/11) Maddie Layman’s marker with 29 seconds remaining was the difference Monday night as North Allegheny edged Pine-Richland 1-0.  In a key section match dominated by defense and a second-half monsoon, Layman provided the lone offensive spark, giving the Lady Tigers yet another dramatic last-second win.  Alexa Mermigas set up the tally after she stole the ball from a Pine-Richland player and found Layman streaking down the right side.  Layman moved the ball from her right to her left, cut inside, and buried a shot into the far corner of the net from 30 yards out.  With her heroics, she was deservedly named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

In the early going, both teams had prolonged possessions in the attacking zone.  Pine-Richland had several corner kick opportunities, but could not convert them into offensive chances, thanks in large part to stellar play by defensive stalwart Christine Grom.  North Allegheny had their best scoring chance of the half seven minutes into the frame.  After Christine Palmeri stole the ball from thirty yards out, she dished a pass to Madeline Heistand on the right wing.  Heistand then sent a perfect cross into the box.  Katie Hohman skillfully controlled the pass, split two Lady Ram defenders, but clanged a shot off the left post.  With seconds to go in the half, Pine-Richland striker Lydia Songer had an opportunity in behind the Lady Tigers defense, but Madison Martin made a sprawling, sliding save.  The rebound kicked out to the left side of the box, where Catherine Eichenlaub had a golden opportunity.  With Martin out of position, Eichenlaub pushed her shot just wide as the first half horn sounded.

Following the halftime break, rain began pouring at Newman Stadium, soaking the turf.  North Allegheny had the better of the chances, but freshman goalkeeper Leah Roth was up to the challenge as the Lady Tigers repeatedly stormed the Pine-Richland zone.  Saves on Hohman and Layman highlighted her second-half, keeping the Rams in the game until Layman’s fatal blow in the final minute.

The win extends North Allegheny’s record to 8-4 overall, 6-3 in the section and temporarily solidifies their second place position.  A date at first place Seneca Valley looms large on Wednesday night.  The Raiders have lost just once all year and are currently undefeated in section play.  Kickoff for Wednesday’s game is scheduled for 7:30.

To hear the call on the North Allegheny Sports Network of Maddie Layman's game winning goal, click here!

GAME SUMMARY

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1   PINE-RICHLAND - 0  

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NA BOUNCES BUTLER, 2-0

(10/1/11) North Allegheny completed a season sweep of the Butler Golden Tornado on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 shutout of their section foe.   Katie Hohmann and Christine Palmeri scored goals for the Lady Tigers and goalkeeper Madison Martin posted her second shutout of the season in the victory thanks to a stingy defense that allowed only one shot on net.  That lone shot came on a Butler free kick.

The first four minutes of the game saw even play between NA and Butler before the Lady Tigers broke through at the 29 minute mark.  NA’s Hannah Stoof worked down the left side and sent a pass to Hohmann who beat Butler goalie Taylor Troyan to put the Tigers ahead, 1-0.  The goal was Hohmann’s 14^th of the year, a new single-season school record.  Less than two minutes later, Annie Erickson sent a nice cross to Maddie Layman whose shot was also saved by Troyan.  At 25:20, Palmeri accepted a cross from Savana Yurick and scored NA's second goal.  Palmeri’s shot hit both posts before settling in the goal to put NA on top, 2-0.  

Hohmann nearly scored again at the 23 minute mark but was denied on a diving save by Troyan.  Less than a minute later, Hohmann looked for Erickson but had the play broken up by the Butler goalie.  With around 19 minutes left to play, Alexa Mermigas had a header at the 20 yard line which Hohmann almost again capitalized on.  At the 13 minute mark, Leah Langhans took a free kick forcing Troyan once again to make a diving save. NA continued to pressure throughout the remainder of the half with nice work by Layman, Erickson, Palmeri and Hohmann. For their part the defense was led by Christine Grom who did not allow a shot by Butler in the first half.

In the second half, North Allegheny picked up where they left off by dominating the action.  Butler’s only shot of the half and game, came after a yellow card on Stoof.  The Golden Tornado was granted a free kick from the NA 40 which was easily saved by Martin on a bouncing shot.  Dictating the action for the rest of the contest, NA received additional contributions from Madeleine Heistand, Andi Mancuso and Brianna Layman, who all helped apply offensive pressure on the Butler net until the final seconds ticked off the clock. 

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in Section 2.  Butler falls to 1-9 overall and remains winless in the section at 0-7.  The Lady Tigers will try to build on the victory with a big meeting with Pine-Richland on Monday night.  The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Kickoff is schedule for 7:00 pm. 

(Thank you to Carol Erickson who submitted the information for this report!)

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 2   BUTLER - 0  

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LADY TIGERS FALL TO HAMPTON IN OVERTIME, 2-1

(9/28/11) Amanda Spencer’s second goal of the night at 4:35 into overtime sent Hampton home a winner, 2-1, over the North Allegheny Lady Tigers on Wednesday night at Newman Stadium.  Spencer was set up by Brittany Wolfendale, who maneuvered past Brianna Layman on a beautiful pass to herself off her back heel.  Wolfendale then sent a pass into the box, springing Spencer behind the North Allegheny defense, easily beating Madison Martin with the game-winning goal.  In spite of the loss, Martin played a strong game, tallying eight saves.  Her efforts in net earned her Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

Wednesday’s tilt featured a defensive struggle right from the start.  The visiting Talbots repeatedly attempted to activate their offense by aggressively advancing their forwards, trying to connect on several long passes.  The Lady Tigers’ defense was up to the task early, disrupting many potential rushes.

Halfway through the opening half, the Lady Tigers sent a kick deep into Hampton territory.  Katie Hohmann tracked down the ball with a Hampton defender right on her hip.  Talbot sophomore goalie Trisha Winters came out to challenge, but Hohmann coolly buried a shot past the diving keeper, giving North Allegheny a 1-0 lead.  The goal was her 13^th of the season, tying a mark she reached in each of the last two seasons.

She nearly scored again moments later off a pass set up by Leah Langhans.  She beat the goalie, but the shot clanged off the right post.  The rebound bounced right to a Hampton defender, who cleared it away from danger.

The Talbots generated their best scoring chance just before intermission off a corner kick by Elizabeth Regan.  The ball ended up on the foot of Vanessa Ceravolo, who tried to lob it over Madison Martin’s head.  Backpedaling toward the goal line, the North Allegheny goalie batted the ball away just before it entered the net.

Following the intermission, Hampton tied the game when Spencer snuck behind the Lady Tiger defense.  In alone on goal, the speedy Spencer beat the helpless Martin, knotting the contest at 1-1.

With 7:15 to go, the teams traded prime scoring chances.  First, a centering pass in the North Allegheny zone bounced directly to Spencer in the box.  However, she could not control it, and Martin alertly jumped on the loose ball before any other Talbots could locate it.  Martin cleared it from her end, abruptly springing Hohmann on a breakaway of her own.  With a Hampton defender bearing down, Hohmann’s shot on goal was rejected on a sprawling save by Winters.

Under a minute remaining in regulation, North Allegheny again had a golden opportunity to score, in a situation similar to the night before against North Hills.  Leah Langhans sent a corner kick across the box to Hohmann, who redirected a header on net.  Winters saved the day again, making another spectacular save to preserve the tie, setting the stage for Spencer’s overtime winner.

The win puts Hampton back in the playoff chase, at (3-4) in the section, (4-6) overall.  With the setback, North Allegheny falls to (4-3) in the conference and snaps their recent win streak against section competition.  They maintain their hold on second place, however, there is a logjam in the middle of the standings, as just a single game separates second and sixth place.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Saturday when they visit Butler to take on the Golden Tornado.

GAME SUMMARY
HAMPTON - 2 NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1  

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HOHMANN'S HAT TRICK SINKS INDIANS WITH 8 SECONDS LEFT, 3-2

(9/27/11) Katie Hohmann's third goal of the night came with just eight seconds to go in regulation, as North Allegheny upset section rival North Hills in a key section match at Newman Stadium.  Her tally was set up off a free kick by Leah Langhans.  Hohmann received the pass almost directly on the goal line, redirecting the ball past Indians goalie Emily Jamison from an impossible angle to clinch the match for the Lady Tigers.  Tuesday's match was rescheduled from Monday after inclement weather forced the cancellation.

North Allegheny controlled play from the start, outshooting the Indians in the opening half, 9-2.  Hohmann scored her first goal of the night in the game's sixth minute.  Annie Erickson dribbled into the left corner of the Indians zone, then sent a cross to Hohmann.  After gaining control, she set herself and deposited a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.  The goal was Hohmann's tenth of the season.  She added her eleventh moments later, off a perfect crossing pass by Maddie Layman, giving NA an early 2-0 lead.

The Lady Tigers generated several additional scoring chances, just missing the net on many of their opportunities.  Christine Palmeri had two prime chances in the first half, right in front of the net.  However, on both occasions, she fired the ball over the net.  Layman also had a strong coring chance in the first half, courtesy of a lead pass by the strong leg of Langhans.  Indians defender Santana Lardo made an athletic defensive play, getting body position on Layman and clearing the ball to the side, thwarting any attempt on goal.  

North Allegheny nearly capitalized for a third time when North Hills goalie Emily Jamison gambled on a ball in the box.  Madeline Heistand beat the keeper to the play, but her subsequent shot trickled wide of the net.

Despite dominating play, particularly late in the first half, NA entered halftime with a slim one goal lead.  The Lady Indians cut into the lead in the 22nd minute, when a cross of Sarah DeHaro skipped past two Lady Tiger defenders and landed at the feet of Sammi Johnson.  Johnson scored, putting North Hills back into the game.

Following halftime, North Hills tied the score at 2-2 when a shot from the right side eluded a diving Madison Martin.  The ball glanced off the right post, right to Indians forward Scout Cheeks.  With Martin down and out, Cheeks poked home the rebound, tying the game approximately halfway through the second half, and setting the stage for Hohmann's heroics as time wound down. Hohmann was named as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

After starting the season 7-0, North Hills is now mired in a three-game losing streak, dropping all three against section competition.  The victory pushes the Lady Tigers' record to 6-3, (4-2 within section play), catapulting the girls into second place.  The girls will return to action tomorrow night at Newman Stadium when they face section opponent Hampton.  The game will be carried live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Kickoff against the Talbots is scheduled for 7:45 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  NORTH HILLS - 2 

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LAYMAN'S OT GOAL GIVES LADY TIGERS 3-2 WIN OVER SHALER

(9/21/11) For the second time this season, a Maddie Layman goal lifted the Lady Tigers to an overtime victory as North Allegheny took down Shaler by a 3-2 score.  Layman helped NA to an OT win over Hampton early in the season, and the junior forward did it again to beat Shaler less than a minute into the overtime period. 

The Lady Tigers began the game with a flurry of offense that eventually culminated in a goal by Katie Hohmann on a nice pass by Maria Carr to put NA on top, 1-0 with 25 minutes remaining in the first half.  The score would remain that way until North Allegheny added on a second half goal when Brianna Layman found Hohmann on a long pass, who put the ball past Shaler goal keeper Sam Bahorich for a 2-0 lead.

However, Shaler battled back late in the game.  With just over 11 minutes left in the contest, Kristi Hamilton cut the NA lead to 2-1 and then tied the game with a goal with just two minutes remaining to force overtime.  That set the stage for Maddie Layman’s heroics in the extra period. 

With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in the section.  Shaler drops to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the section.  The Lady Tigers will try to knock off the North Hills Indians on Monday night, beginning at 7:30 pm.  The game can be heard live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. 

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  SHALER - 2 (OT)

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NA DROPS GAME TO SENECA VALLEY

(9/19/11) On a rainy Monday night at Newman stadium, the North Allegheny Lady Tigers fell to the third-ranked Seneca Valley Raiders, 7-1.  NA seemed to be controlling the pace in the early going with several scoring chances on goalkeeper Jessica Neal and the rest of the Raiders defense.  Junior Maria Carr headed a corner kick that was stopped by a defender in front of the Raiders net, and Maddie Layman nearly scored on a header but Neal just tapped the ball away before Layman could make contact. 

Once Morgan Williams score the game’s first goal for Seneca Valley at 22:51 in the first period, the Raiders dictated the action from that point on.  Williams scored again at 9:34 on a shot that was set up perfectly by junior forward Alex Bilka to make the score 2-0, Raiders.  Goals by Raegan Dobbins and Sarah Stevens put SV on top, 4-0, at halftime. 

However, the Tigers would not go away without a fight in the second half.  Determined to get NA back in the game, Maddie Layman found some space in the Raiders end before she was fouled by Mish Demchuk, giving the Tigers a free kick.  Strong legged senior Leah Langhans blasted the ball past Neal and NA cut the Seneca Valley lead to 4-1 with 31:22 to play.  Because of her strong play throughout the night, Langhans was selected by the North Allegheny Sports Network as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  Unfortunately for the Lady Tigers, NA would get no closer the Langhans goal.  The Raiders put the game away on goals by Bilka, Kimmie Richards and Katie Riley to round out a 7-1 final. 

North Allegheny falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Section 2.  Seneca Valley improves to 6-1 and 3-0 in the section.  The Lady Tigers look to rebound on Wednesday night with a visit to section foe Shaler.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
SENECA VALLEY - 7  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1

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LADY TIGERS BLANK ALTOONA, 4-0

(9/18/11) The Lady Tigers bounced back from a loss to Pine-Richland this week with a 4-0 victory over Altoona on Saturday afternoon.  It was a complete win for North Allegheny as the offense provided more than enough goals, and goalkeeper Madison Martin and the NA defense allowed absolutely nothing to their opponent.  Along with Martin, the defensive play of Christine Grom, Melina Mermigas and Calene Dougherty kept Altoona off the board, giving the Lady Tigers scorers the opportunity to strike first.

With just over six minutes to play in the first half, a Katie Hohmann shot was stopped, but Dougherty was there to put in the rebound to give North Allegheny a 1-0 lead.  Early in the second half, the Lady Tigers built on their advantage.  A cross by Annie Erickson at the 34 minute mark led to a beautiful shot and finish by Mermigas to increase the NA lead to 2-0.  Even though Hohmann was denied on a breakaway at 27 minutes, she was key to the Tigers next goal.  On a nice give and go between Layman and Hohmann, it was Layman who placed a shot just beyond the reach of Altoona's goalkeeper and NA was ahead 3-0 with 19 minutes remaining.  NA capped the scoring when a corner kick by Leah Langhans was headed in by Hohmann to bring the final score to 4-0, Tigers.

The non-section win improves NA’s record to 4-2 on the season.  The Lady Tigers are back in action on Monday night for a big section game against Seneca Valley.  You can hear all the action live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6:15 pm at Newman Stadium.

(Thank you to Jeff Layman and Carol Erickson for the information in this report!)

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 4  ALTOONA - 0

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NA FALLS TO TOP RANKED PINE-RICHLAND, 3-0

(9/14/11) Behind two goals by junior forward Olivia Brandy, the Pine-Richland Lady Rams defeated the North Allegheny Lady Tigers on Wednesday night, 3-0.  The top ranked team in Class AAA asserted control of the game early on as Brandy scored on a pass from Maria Ciarocca to put the Lady Rams in front just over six minutes into the game.  Less than three minutes later, Lauren Sargent scored for Pine-Richland to increase their advantage to 2-0.  The lead nearly ballooned again for PR, but the Lady Rams were denied on a breakaway attempt by North Allegheny goalkeeper Madison Martin who made a great save.

The Lady Tigers stormed out of the locker room at halftime and paced the action for the first seven minutes of play in the second half.  However, the strong offensive effort by Maddie Layman, Leah Langhans, Katie Hohmann and Alison Krause did not produce any goals.  NA’s pressure was maintained throughout most of the second half, which was complimented by the defensive play of Christime Grom, Melina Mermigas and Calene Dougherty. Brandy put the game away for Pine-Richland with a late breakaway goal to bring the final score to 3-0.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday afternoon with a non-section game at Altoona.  Play gets underway at 12:30 pm.  North Allegheny’s record now sits at 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the section. Pine-Richland improves to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in section play.    

GAME SUMMARY
PINE-RICHLAND - 3  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0

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LADY TIGERS BOUNCE BUTLER, 3-1

(9/12/11) - North Allegheny picked up their second section win of the season with a solid 3-1 victory over the Butler Golden Tornado on Monday night.  The Lady Tigers dominated the early action which eventually led to NA's first goal at 23:09 in the first half.  Junior Maddie Layman drilled a shot that caromed off Butler goalie Taylor Troyan and was tapped in by senior forward Katie Hohmann to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.  Despite strong defensive play by the Tigers for most of the half, Butler managed to tie the score at 1-1 on a goal by Macy Stalnaker with 8:26 remaining in the half.

In the second half, the Lady Tigers regained the lead at 2-1 on another goal by Hohmann with 13:00 remaining in the game.  The go ahead goal was set up beautifully when the ball was headed by Brianna Layman to Hohmann who passed it to Megan Van Kirk who then sent a return pass to Hohmann for the score.   NA iced the win with a tally by Savana Yurick with just 20 seconds remaining.

The win improves the Lady Tigers record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in section play.  Butler falls to 0-4 and 0-2 in the section.  North Allegheny returns to action on Wednesday night with a visit to section foe Pine-Richland.  Kickoff is slated for 7:30 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  BUTLER - 1

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OVERTIME PENALTY KICK LIFTS CANON MAC OVER LADY TIGERS, 2-1

(9/8/11) - Riley Piechnick's penalty kick in overtime was the difference as Canon McMillan pulled out a stunning 2-1 win over North Allegheny on a rainy Thursday night at Newman Stadium.   Megan Van Kirk scored the lone goal for the Lady Tigers.

North Allegheny had several scoring chances early.  However, they were unable to convert, thanks to stellar play by Lady Macs goalie Ashley Hull, including a sprawling save on Maddie Layman just after the midway point in the first half.  Moments later, Katie Hohmann tried her luck on a free kick, sailing the ball just wide of the open goal.  The Lady Tigers continued to control the ball for a majority of the half, looking to capitalize on their strong possession.  Christine Palmeri and Brianna Layman also had chances on net, but Hull stood tall, as both teams went into the halftime break tied at 0-0. 

Shortly after the intermission, North Allegheny grabbed the lead when Melina Mermigas sent a cross to Van Kirk, who deposited it into the net for first goal of the game.  The lead was short-lived, however, as Piechnick scored her first goal of the night off a cross, tying the contest at 1-1. 

Near the end of the second half, umbrellas began poppping up around Newman Stadium as rains settled in.  Eventually, a light sprinkle turned into a deluge, soaking the field and the fans in attendance.  Hohmann and Layman again had solid scoring opportunities near the end of regulation and in overtime.  However, on each occasion, Hull was up to the challenge, as the Canon McMillan goalkeeper made timely saves all night.  While not tested as much, North Allegheny keeper Madison Martin also played a solid game, including a sprawling save in overtime to thwart a prime scoring chance by the Lady Big Macs.  As the game wound down, the rain subsided as well. With inside of a minute to go in the first overtime period, Piechnick received her penalty kick chance after Martin had no choice but to haul her down in the box.  Piechnick scored off the opportunity, handing the North Allegheny girls their first loss of the 2011 campaign.

North Allegheny returns to action Monday with a section home game against Butler.  Action is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 pm on the pitch at Newman Stadium. 

JV Update: NA 1, Canon McMillan 0

GAME SUMMARY
CANON MCMILLAN - 2  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1 (OT)

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LAYMAN'S GOAL LIFTS NA TO OVERTIME WIN AT HAMPTON, 3-2

(9/7/11) - Junior Maddie Layman scored with three minutes remaining in overtime to lift the Lady Tigers to an exciting 3-2 overtime win over the Hampton Talbots on Wednesday night.  Layman’s goal caromed off the crossbar and in to defeat section foe Hampton on their home turf.  The victory is NA’s first section win of the season and keeps the Lady Tigers undefeated at 2-0. 

North Allegheny grabbed early control of the game behind a pair of goals by senior Katie Hohmann.  However, Hampton narrowed the gap on a rebound goal by Vanessa Ceravolo to cut NA’s lead to 2-1 by halftime.  The first ten minutes of the second half saw good offensive pressure by both teams, but an NA foul opened the door for a Hampton free kick that was headed in by Amanda Spencer to tie the score at 2-2 with 17:19 remaining in regulation. 

Despite relinquishing a two goal lead, the Lady Tigers were determined to leave Hampton with a victory by controlling the action in the overtime period.  Leah Langhans, Maria Carr and Megan Van Kirk all posted shots on net in overtime to continue the NA offensive pressure.  Eventually that pressure paid off with Layman’s goal off the cross bar to win it. 

North Allegheny returns to action tonight with a home game against a very good Canon-McMillan team.  The Lady Big Macs are ranked seventh on the MSA Sports Network top ten, while North Allegheny is ranked sixth.  Play gets underway at 7:00 pm at Newman Stadium. 

JV Update: NA 2, Hampton 0

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 3  HAMPTON - 2 (OT)

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LADY TIGERS GET REVENGE OVER MOON IN SEASON OPENER, 2-1

(9/3/11) - On a sweltering hot day at Newman Stadium, the North Allegheny Girls’ Soccer Team opened the year by earning a measure of revenge against a team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2010.  The Lady Tigers hosted Moon on Saturday and defeated their foe for a hard fought 2-1 victory behind a pair of goals by senior Katie Hohmann.  However, much like their playoff meeting from a year ago, it was Moon that struck first with a goal by Marissa Clough at 38:37 in the first half. 

Unfazed by the early strike by Moon, the Lady Tigers traded shots with their opponent until NA got on the board late in the first half.  North Allegheny sophomore forward Lauren Briggs placed a shot on the Moon goalkeeper, Nikki Falcione, which was saved but misplayed.  That allowed Hohmann to score on the rebound to tie things up at 1-1 with just 14 seconds remaining in the half.

Backed by solid defense and goaltending by sophomore Madison Martin, North Allegheny continued to apply offensive pressure on Moon in the second half.  At 21:40 of the second half, NA defender Christine Grom sent a long pass to Hohmann who scored on a break away to give the Lady Tigers a 2-1 advantage.  Thanks to the continued offensive pace put forth by NA, Moon had few opportunities to match the score and the Lady Tigers would hold on for the one goal victory. 

With their first victory under their belts, North Allegheny will visit Hampton for their first section game of the year on Wednesday night.  Action gets underway at 7:30 pm. 

JV Update: NA defeated Moon by the same score as the Varsity squad, 2-1.        

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