Overtime Victory Sends North Allegheny to State Semifinals
by: Bob Orkwis
After dispatching Penn Manor at home in the first round of the 4A PIAA playoffs, the Tigers took a trip to Northern York High School to take on the defending state champion Downingtown West.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, North Allegheny found the equalizer in the second half, and the Tigers got the game-winner on a penalty kick in overtime for a 2-1 victory.
North Allegheny controlled the possession and pace for most of the match, but it was the Whippets who struck first.
Junior Camryn Bayly, a South Carolina commit, found a loose ball 16 yards out near the top of the box, and her turning shot found the net inside the near post in the 22nd minute for a 1-0 lead.
The score remained that way until the 44th minute, when Avery Ruffus and Kieran Shannon worked a perfect give-and-go to tie the game.
Ruffus took a pass on the right side of the box and fed the ball back to Shannon, who slid a shot inside the near post for her 19th goal of the season.
I am so proud of my @nasoccergirls team for bringing home the 2-1 W in the state quarterfinals game yesterday! Here is my goal from the game!!! pic.twitter.com/h0XA4uSinD
— Kieran Shannon (@KieranShannon99) November 9, 2025
The tie would hold up through the end of regulation, although a Shannon shot from distance in the 72nd minute glanced off the top of the crossbar. Downingtown West had an opportunity two minutes later, when Olivia Primanti had the ball near the top of the box, but Jordan Beemer read the play and corralled the ball on a bounce to keep the game tied.
North Allegheny had a chance six minutes into overtime, and then Averie Bierker made a nice run but could not find the net.
Ruffus used her speed to set up the game-winning sequence, as she caught up to a through ball just inside the top of the box, and was fouled from behind.
Junior Rosalia Varlotta took the penalty kick and her right-footed low shot was true inside the far post for the 2-1 game-winner with 5:26 left in the first overtime.
The victory improved the Tigers’ record to 19-3-2, and it ended the Downingtown West season at 18-3-3.
Varlotta, who scored the golden goal in double overtime in the WPIAL Championship match against Seneca Valley, was chosen as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game after netting her second OT winner in the last three matches.
Game winning PK by Rosalia Varlotta ⚽️ @NATigerAthletic @Big56Conference @TribLiveHSSN @pghsoccernow @piaasports #WPIALsoccer pic.twitter.com/aCoGw6H26o
— North Allegheny Girls Soccer (@nasoccergirls) November 9, 2025
Next up for North Allegheny is Central Bucks East, the 5th place finisher from District 1. CBE (20-4) defeated Seneca Valley 3-1 in the quarterfinals. That match will be held Tuesday at a site and time to be determined, and it will be broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Girls Soccer Summary vs. Downingtown West, 11-8-25
| SCORE BY HALVES | 1st | 2nd | OT | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downingtown West | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
