NA’s 16-game unbeaten streak snapped at Seneca Valley
by Jared Barton
In a winner-take-all matchup for the Section 1-3A title, the Seneca Valley Raiders edged North Allegheny, 2-0, on Thursday night at NexTier Stadium.
It was a back-and-forth matchup in the first half with chances on both sides. Seneca Valley junior Tyler Prex had one of the first opportunities of the contest when he placed a shot high that hit the football crossbar. North Allegheny later responded when junior Zach Nash found himself with a chance in the goal box. As Nash settled the loose ball, Raiders goalkeeper Gus Wytcherley stole the ball out of the air thwarting the scoring play.
Seneca Valley opened the second half with a strong push that led to two quick goals. The first was tallied in the 41st minute, when Prex took a shot from distance and found the back of the net via the top left corner of the goal. Two minutes later, senior Cole Kamarec centered a ball along the goal line that initially rolled off of NA senior goalie Dante Accamando and tipped into the net from awaiting Seneca Valley senior Tyler Mazanek.
North Allegheny had a few opportunities to get back into the game later in the half as senior Arnav Patel took a free kick 35 yards from the net and blasted the shot on goal. With less than 18 minutes to play, North Allegheny used one of its lone corner kick chances and almost cashed in. The shot was taken quickly, catching Seneca Valley off guard, but hit the football upright. Five minutes later, Patel headed a ball off a throw-in that hit the soccer crossbar leading to a rebound. The senior captain shot the second attempt too high, hitting the football fixture once more.
Accamando made nine saves in the contest while Wytcherley registered six.
Sophomore Leonardo Yu earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game laurels for his impressive performance in the NA defensive zone and transition game.
The loss locks the Tigers into second place in the section with a 13-1-3 overall record (10-1-3 in section.) North Allegheny is slated to host Norwin for a non-section matchup on Monday night in one final tune-up before the WPIAL playoffs.
Boys Soccer Summary vs. Seneca Valley, 10-12-23
| GAME SUMMARY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY HALVES | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seneca Valley | 0 | 2 | 2 |
