Sunday, November 09, 2003

From local dispatches

Mt. Lebanon, the No. 3 seed in WPIAL Class AAA, defeated No. 2 seed Fox Chapel, 1-0, in overtime yesterday in a boys' PIAA quarterfinal soccer match at Ambridge.

Kevin Uranker scored with 6:20 left in overtime. The goal came after Andy Jackson took a corner kick that led to a scramble in front of the net. Uranker eventually got a shot past Foxes' goalkeeper Ted Sheedy.

Mt. Lebanon will face Upper St. Clair, a winner against Hampton, in the semifinals Tuesday.

As was the case with both teams all season, their defenses excelled. Coming into the contest, the Blue Devils (17-6-1) had 15 shutouts; Fox Chapel (21-2) had 17.

"We had probably three legitimate chances in the first half," Mt. Lebanon coach Ron Wilcher said.

"Fox Chapel prepares so well and covers all the bases. But our defense really did a fine job. They were so steady."

The Blue Devils' win avenged a 4-0 loss to the Foxes Sept. 20.

Class AAA boys

Upper St. Clair defeated Hampton (13-9-1), 2-0, in a quarterfinal at Ambridge. After a scoreless first half, Jeff Rickel scored six minutes into the second to put the Panthers ahead. "We were shaky in the first half," Upper St. Clair coach Uwe Schneider said, "but, after the first goal, things fell into place for us." Brett Fackenthal scored the other goal for the Panthers with eight minutes remaining. Upper St. Clair (20-4-1) will face Mt. Lebanon in the semifinals Tuesday. "Mt. Lebanon will be as tough an opponent as we've faced this season," Schneider said.

Class AA boys

WPIAL Class AA champion Moon (21-2-3) lost to South Park, 1-0, in overtime in a quarterfinal at North Allegheny. Brian Smith scored for the Eagles (22-2), converting a rebound of a Mat Carver shot.

Rich Costanzo and Evan Browne scored two goals apiece to lead Thomas Jefferson's 5-1 victory against Harbor Creek (19-4-1) in a quarterfinal at North Allegheny. Mike Braun also scored for the Jaguars (18-8), who will face South Park in the semifinals Tuesday.

Class A boys

Trinity Christian (20-3) defeated Fairview, 2-1, in a quarterfinal at Meadville that was decided in a shootout. Fairview (16-6) led, 1-0, when the Falcons' Kurt Van Sickel tied the score 15 minutes into the second half. The teams didn't score through four overtimes before the Falcons won the shootout, 4-2. Justin Grubisha, Ben Sera, Luke Zappa and Van Sickel scored in the shootout for the Falcons.

Greensburg Central Catholic and Kane (21-1-1) were tied, 0-0, at halftime, but the Centurions scored two goals 38 seconds apart midway through the second half and added another with 8:15 left to clinch a 3-0 victory in a quarterfinal at Karns City. Jeff Farrell, Ian Ramsay and Brett Matson scored for the Centurions (22-1).

Class AAA girls

Leigh Sherratt scored two goals to lead Peters Township (21-2-1) to a 3-1 quarterfinal victory against Central Mountain (14-5-1) at Karns City. Sherratt scored her first goal four minutes into the game, her second five minutes into the second half. Kelly Trax scored the Indians' other goal.

Class AA girls

Sewickley Academy shut out Westmont Hilltop (23-2), 2-0, in a quarterfinal at Yough. Sam Borkovic and Carly Deiter scored for the Panthers (21-1-3), and the goals came 10 minutes apart in the first half. "We dominated the first half," Sewickley Academy coach Ed Walters said. "Getting early goals really helped." Sewickley Academy will face Fairview in the semifinals Tuesday. The Panthers defeated Fairview, 3-0, in the same round of the playoffs last year.

For the second consecutive year, Fairview (21-3-1) knocked off Quaker Valley in the quarterfinals. This time, it was 3-1 with Kara Vezza scoring the lone goal for the Quakers (19-5-1).

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