Tigers Top Rams In OT On Senior Night
by Jared Barton
The North Allegheny boys’ soccer team remained unbeaten on Tuesday night with a 2-1 overtime victory over Pine-Richland at home on Senior Night. The win secures the regular season series sweep for the Tigers after a 3-1 win in late August on the road.
North Allegheny got on the board first with just over 32 minutes left in the first half. Senior Arnav Patel completed a slide tackle jarring the ball away from a Pine-Richland player deep in the NA offensive zone. The loose ball was picked up and shot into the back of the net by fellow senior Luke Brady for a 1-0 lead.
Senior goalkeeper Dante Accamando had to stand on his head at points in the second half, preserving the NA lead, but PR finally netted a goal about half way through the second frame. Just after one of Accamando’s saves, Pine-Richland earned a corner kick executed by senior Nathan Bang. Fellow Pine senior Ethan Wygant headed the ball behind the NA keeper to tie the game.
North Allegheny almost jumped back into the lead late in the half when junior Zach Nash centered a ball into the goal box that was tipped up over the net by junior Nick Desysenko.
In the overtime frame, junior Nathan Katari connected a pass to Nash who had another great chance that fluttered just high of the crossbar with eight minutes left. Less than two minutes later, Katari scored his second game-winning marker of the season over the Rams, as he took a shot from close range that hit off of Pine-Richland senior goalkeeper Cadan Bennett. The deflection then ricocheted off of the back of a PR player and landed in the back of the net.
Katari took home Wright Automotive Player of the Game laurels for his tough presence throughout the game.
The Tigers now improve to 11-0-1 overall and 8-0-1 in section play. North Allegheny is set to host Butler in a section matchup from Newman Stadium Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Boys Soccer Summary vs. Pine-Richland, 9-26-23
| GAME SUMMARY | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY HALVES | 1 | 2 | OT | FINAL |
| Pine-Richland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
(Photos by Phil Pavely).