Panthers Edge Tigers In WPIAL Quarterfinals, 8-7, in OT
by Jared Barton
The North Allegheny Boys Lacrosse season came to a close on Thursday night following an 8-7 overtime loss to Upper St. Clair at Newman Stadium.
The Panthers had the advantage in the opening quarter scoring the game’s first three goals, but the Tigers responded in the early stages of the second frame. Senior Marc Bartolomucci got NA on the board with 10:45 left in the half. Junior Evan Lyon added the next marker just under two minutes later. Bartolomucci evened the game up at 3-3 after taking an initial shot and following a rebound to find the back of the net with 7:40 left in the quarter. Upper St. Clair added two more scores to take a 5-3 halftime lead.
Panthers sophomore Ryan Buonomo extended the USC lead to three goals early in the third, but senior Christian Tedder responded, with back-to-back scores in the middle stages of the quarter. USC added a late goal to take a 7-5 advantage into the final frame.
With 8:15 left in the contest, Tedder rifled a shot from 15 yards out to bring the score within one. The senior took a Bartolomucci pass to the net with 27 seconds left to tie the contest at 7-7. Sophomore goalie Logan Lyle made two critical stops late in the game including one with less than 10 seconds left in regulation to send the match into overtime.
Freshman FOGO Luke Rohan had plenty of success from the faceoff circle all evening, but no draw was more important than the win to start extra time. North Allegheny failed to capitalize on the first offensive possession of OT, however, and Upper St. Clair advanced into the offensive zone calling a timeout to slow the pace. USC junior Dalton Yates provided the game winner with 2:09 left. Yates took a near angle shot that trickled past Lyle and found the back of the net. The goal was Yates’ third of the night.
Tedder took home Wright Automotive Player of the Game laurels with his four-goal performance and ends the season with 20 goals. Bartolomucci ended the season with a team-leading 39 total goals.
North Allegheny ends the season with a 9-9 overall record. Upper St. Clair improves to 10-6 and advances to Monday’s semifinal matchup with Mt. Lebanon.
Boys Lacrosse Summary vs. Upper St. Clair, 5-18-23
GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY QUARTERS 1 2 3 4 OT FINAL
Upper St. Clair 3 2 2 0 1 8
North Allegheny 0 3 2 2 0 7
