Girls' Soccer Game Summaries

by: Bob Orkwis

In a matchup at F.N.B. Stadium in Station Square, top-seeded Mt. Lebanon and third -eeded North Allegheny went toe to toe. The Tigers were seeking back-to-back championships. The Blue Devils were seeking their 10^th WPIAL title, the most for a girls’ soccer program.

Something had to give in the WPIAL Girls Soccer 4A Championship, and after 110 minutes of soccer the match went to penalty kicks. Mt. Lebanon prevailed (5-4) and posted a 1-0 victory to win their first title since 2008.

North Allegheny had several chances throughout the day but could not capitalize.

A cross from Bella Montgomery found Amari Ruffus at the near post in the 33^rd minute, but her tip went just wide.

Last year’s overtime hero for North Allegheny, Rosalia Varlotta had a chance from distance that could not find the frame.

Kieran Shannon had a free kick opportunity with five minutes left that did not connect.

Blue Devils keeper Makenna Tappe made a stop late to keep the match scoreless.

Halfway through the first overtime, Jordan Beemer somehow made a save on a Mt. Lebanon corner kick amidst traffic, near her line.

Beemer would make another save in overtime on a corner, and Varlotta had a chance for a game-winner that went just wide of the near post.

The match went to PKs, and each team scored four times. Mia Barsotti, Varlotta, Taryn DeWitt and Sahara Catlos connected for the Tigers. Ava Silva, Scarlett Pryor, Savannah Peer, and Becca Braunsdorf scored for the Blue Devils. Tappe made a stop for Mt. Lebanon.

Senior captain Emma Curren was stopped in the middle of the net by Beemer, but the officials determined Beemer had left her line early. Curren nailed the redo, and Mt. Lebanon celebrated winning gold.

With continued solid play in the center of North Allegheny’s back line, senior Sahara Catlos was awarded the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. The captain also netted one of the Tigers four penalty kick goals in the contest.

Both teams had already qualified for the state playoffs. Mt. Lebanon (16-1-2), will face the fourth-place team from District 3. North Allegheny (17-3-1) will have to head north to face the District 10 champions, McDowell. The PIAA tournament kicks off on Wednesday.

Girls Soccer Summary vs. Mt. Lebanon, 11-7-26

By: Bob Orkwis

In a rematch of last year’s semifinal, Peters Township and North Allegheny met with a spot in the WPIAL Girls 4A Championship on the line. The Tigers won last season in regulation play, this year it took extra time, and Kieran Shannon’s game-winner in the 108^th minute gave NA a 2-1 victory and sent the Tigers to their sixth title game appearance in the last eight seasons.

North Allegheny struck first, when Rosalia Varlotta slid a ball to the right side for Taryn DeWitt, and the Purdue Ft. Wayne commit turned and sent a right footed shot into the net for a 1-0 lead.

North Allegheny made that lead stand up until the 72^nd minute. Peters Township took advantage of a corner kick. The ball was deflected by junior Rylie Busch and found the foot of her sister Brynn Busch, who tied the game at 1-1.

Peters Township had the better of the play down the stretch and into the first overtime. Taylor McCullough had several chances for the Indians, and Jordan Beemer made four stops in the first overtime to keep the game tied.

The Tigers got a huge play in the second overtime from senior Sahara Catlos. The Indians worked the left side and slipped a ball past Beamer, but the Lemoyne commit Catlos cleared the ball off the line and the game stayed knotted at 1-1.

That set up the Shannon heroics. Addison Vrabel came down the right wing and made a great stop and turn into the box. Her cross found Shannon wide open in front and the senior made no mistake with the game winner with just over two minutes left in the second overtime.

Kieran Shannon’s game winning goal, her team leading 12^th of the season earned her the Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

 

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North Allegheny (17-2-1) the #3 seed in the tournament, gets a chance to defend its 4A championship from last season. The Tigers will face top-seeded Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils defeated Fox Chapel 2-1 to set up the title clash to be held at FNB Stadium at Station Square at a date and time to be determined. Both North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon have also qualified for the PIAA Playoffs with their respective semifinal victories tonight at Chartiers Valley High School.

Girls Soccer Summary vs. Peters Township, 11-2-26

By: Jared Barton

The North Allegheny girls’ soccer team hosted Norwin for the second time this season at Newman Stadium on Wednesday night. Unlike the first game on September 12th, this match was more challenging and took two overtime periods and penalty kicks to decide a winner in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. The Tigers prevailed following a 1-1 tie to advance to the WPIAL semifinals, winning 3-1 on penalty kicks.

In the 22nd minute, senior Mia Barsotti broke the scoreless tie after taking a feed from Kieran Shannon from 20 yards out. Barsotti tucked the shot in beside the right post to take the 1-0 lead.

In the 42nd minute after halftime, Norwin’s McKenzie Carpenter found the equalizer with a tip-in inside the box, tying the game at 1-1.

Two 15-minute sudden-death overtimes didn’t produce a winner, so the teams prepared for penalty kicks.

Norwin shot first, but missed the net on the first attempt. NA had a successful first shot from Barsotti. Following another Norwin stop from Jordan Beemer, Taryn DeWitt scored to give the two-goal advantage to NA.

The Knights found a PK goal with the third shooter while the Tigers had a near miss with Sahara Catlos, keeping the PK score 2-1. Norwin missed on the fourth shot, and NA cashed in with a kick from senior Kieran Shannon. 

 

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Barsotti was named Wright Automotive Player of the Game for her aggressive work in the offensive zone. NA had strong games from senior Addison Vrabel and junior Samantha Carman.

The Tigers are back in action Monday against Peters Township for the WPIAL Semifinals in another rematch from earlier this season and last year’s semifinals. Peters won on the September 19th meeting.

Girls Soccer Summary vs. Norwin, 10-28-26

North Allegheny traveled to South Fayette High School to take on the Lions in a non-section contest on Thursday night. With the Tigers being the #3 seed in Class 4A and the Lions being the #5 seed in Class 3A both teams were ready to face playoff competition in the regular season finale. NA came away with the 2-1 victory on the road.

Bella Montgomery and Rosalia Varlotta were the goal scorers for North Allegheny.

North Allegheny finishes the regular season with a 15-2-1 record. South Fayette concludes at 9-4-5. The Tigers return to action on Wednesday, October 28 when they will take on the winner of Norwin and Butler in the WPIAL Quarterfinals. Site and time are still to be determined.

By: Jared Barton

North Allegheny girls’ soccer hosted Pine-Richland for the final section match of the regular season Wednesday night at Newman Stadium. The Tigers used a full-team effort to smother the Rams 1-0.

NA had the offensive and defensive advantage from the beginning of the game, dominating zone time throughout the contest and ensuring PR had no real offensive opportunities.

In the fourth minute of play, senior Kieran Shannon fed a pass in the box to fellow senior Rosalia Varlotta, who buried the game’s lone goal in the top left corner of the opposing net from about 20 yards out.

That score would hold, but the offense continued great play from Mia Barsotti, Addison Vrabel, Giuliana Bontempo and Bella Montgomery. North Allegheny finished the game with over 20 shots, including 16 on net.

 The transition game from defense to offense was also well executed by Taryn DeWitt, Sahara Catlos, Sarah Klinefelter, Meghan Dutkovich, Skyler Saunders, Briana Elias and Samantha Carman, who earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game for her efforts.

Jordan Beemer was not tested much in net, but still stood strong when necessary, and was also a key part of the transition game.

NA is now 14-2-1 this season, with an undefeated section slate at 8-0. The Tigers have a final tune-up before the playoffs on the road next Wednesday against South Fayette.

GIRLS SOCCER SUMMARY VS. PINE-RICHLAND, 10-14-26