Stager’s Senior Night Strike Leads Tigers to 1-0 Win
by Bob Orkwis
North Allegheny came into tonight’s match vs. Pine-Richland intent on at least three things: Honoring it’s nine seniors, keeping its shutout streak intact and remaining undefeated on the season.
The Tigers can check off all those boxes after a 1-0 win over Pine-Richland on Senior Night at Newman Stadium.
Senior Abigail Stager started the game with several great scoring opportunities, none better than a penalty kick attempt in the game’s 6th minute that was stopped.
Undaunted, the Kentucky recruit found a ball in the 18th minute of play and her turning shot from distance beat Pine-Richland’s Shea Best with what turned out to be the game’s only goal.
That mistake was the only one the sophomore Shea made on the night, as she finished with 26 saves for the Rams, (4-7, 4-5).
Despite the close score, the Tigers dominated the ball and most of the possession allowing just three shots, with senior Natalie Rak stopping two of those to post the eighth shutout of the season for North Allegheny.
The clean sheet was the fourth straight for North Allegheny, which saw its scoreless streak reach over 320 minutes.
The win also kept the Tigers perfect on the year, improving their record to (12-0, 9-0) and keeping them atop the 4A Section 1 standings.
The NA seniors were awarded the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.
With a special nod to Stager, who’s 20th goal of the season was the only marker, we also salute Rak, Sam Braden, Jadyn Coy, Libby Earley, Natalie Figura, Abby Lang, Ally Ruiz, and Gracie Strzempek, who have all played parts in the great Tigers run in their careers at North Allegheny.
Tonight’s match was the first of four home games in the remaining six contests for the Tigers, who next take the field on Monday night when they host Butler.
That contest as well as matches versus Fox Chapel and Allderdice in October can all be heard on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Girls Soccer Summary vs. Pine-Richland, 9-27-23
| GAME SUMMARY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY HALVES | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
| Pine-Richland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Allegheny | 1 | 0 | 1 |