Rams deal Tigers first section loss
by: Bob Orkwis
Coming into tonight’s game, there were only two teams that had not lost a section game in 3A this season. North Allegheny was (2-0-1), while Pine-Richland was (3-0).
Despite some good early possession and the games first chance for North Allegheny, the six-time defending WPIAL Champion Rams did what they do best afterwards, limiting their opponents’ opportunities and capitalizing on their own for a 4-1 win at Newman Stadium.
After taking the opening pass, North Allegheny controlled the ball early in the first quarter and got the games’ first penalty corner opportunity about four minutes into the contest. Pine-Richland defended the chance, and unfortunately, that would be the Tigers last chance for a while.
Pine-Richland took over control of possessing the ball, and the Rams took advantage of their first penalty corner, when Claire Mill scored off an Anna Merlack assist at 10:05 to take a 1-0 lead.
The score would stay that way until shortly after the opening pass of the 3rd quarter. Just 45 seconds into the period, Maddie Luisi converted a pass from Alyssa Baculik to put the Rams up 2-0.
Junior Emily Iams then scored a pair of goals for Pine-Richland, which built a 4-0 lead through three quarters.
North Allegheny, who was shut out three times by Pine-Richland last season, including a semifinal loss, would end that streak at 6:34 of the fourth quarter.
Working on their second penalty corner, the Tigers’ Reagan Hall fed a pass into the circle from the left wing, and Teresa Nalducci won the battle for the ball and slid it into the goal for North Allegheny’s only score in the 4-1 contest.
Once again due to injuries, junior Grace Zahorchak started in goal for the Tigers and made a couple of nice kick saves on the evening.
With the games only goal, and her 1st of the year, the junior midfielder Nalducci was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. The tally was also her first as a varsity player for the Tigers.
North Allegheny are now 2-3-3 and 2-1-1 in Section 1-AAA, hits the road Friday for an important game against Mt. Lebanon. The Tigers are back home next Tuesday against Hempfield for Middle School & Youth Appreciation Night, in a game that will be carried on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Field Hockey Summary vs. Pine-Richland, 9-15-25
| SCORE BY QUARTERS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-Richland | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
