Benson scores hat trick in Raiders’ 5-2 win
Waynesburg Central’s Gavin Benson chips the ball past East Allegheny goalkeeper Gage Mehler for a goal with 22:09 remaining in the first half of Monday’s WPIAL Class AA first-round boys soccer playoff match at Connellsville Stadium. Benson scored three goals and had an assist in the Radiers’ 6-2 victory. Waynesburg also got goals from Tyler Switalski, Dalton Woods and Caleb Blair, as well as two assists by Jack Church and one by Jared Hogue. The Raiders scored three goals in the first 3:22 of the match and led 4-2 at halftime. See full story in Wednesday's edition of the Herald-Standard.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Waynesburg Central’s Jack Church looks for an open teammate as he pushes the ball past East Allegheny’s Camden Montgomery during the first half of Monday’s WPIAL Class AA first round soccer match at Connellsville Stadium.
Waynesburg Central's Christian Mori (17) and East Allegheny's Nathan Holmes battle for control of the ball inside the penalty box to the right of the goal during the first half of Monday's WPIAL Class AA first round soccer playoff match at Connellsville Stadium.
Waynesburg Central's Gavin Benson (11) looks to make a move around East Allegheny's Nathan Holmes in the first half of Monday's WPIAL Class AA first round soccer playoff match at Connellsville Stadium.
CONNELLSVILLE — Gavin Benson scored a hat trick to lead Waynesburg Central to a 6-2 victory over East Allegheny Monday night in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA soccer playoffs at Connellsville Stadium.
The Raiders (13-5) flew out of the gate with Benson scoring his first goal just 46 seconds into the match. Benson sped down the right sideline and easily beat East Allegheny goalkeeper Gage Mehler.
Waynesburg Central kept applying the pressure with Benson on the giving end of the Raiders’ second goal. He found Tyler Switalski open for a goal and a 2-0 lead at 38:10.
The Raiders then made it three goals in as many minutes when Dalton Woods found the back of the net with 36:38 left in the first half.
“We had not been a fast-starting team at all this season. I think they were a bit surprised,” said Waynesburg Central coach Matt Blair.
The ease of the start might’ve given the Raiders the impression they might be on their way to a laugher, but Blair knew better.
“Not that I wouldn’t have liked to do that,” Blair said of a blowout. “East Allegheny responded well. They made a game of it.”
East Allegheny (9-7) turned the pressure back on Waynesburg near the midpoint of the first half and the Wildcats responded by working a foul in the penalty area. Michael McAnally beat the Raiders’ Scott Benco at 23:18 to make the score 3-1.
Benson and the Raiders came right back, though, when the right-footer took a pass from Jack Church down a seam in the middle of the field and chipped the ball past Mehler for a 4-1 lead.
The Wildcats’ Brandon Hallick tucked a shot inside the far post at 14:07 to make it a two-goal difference again. Waynesburg led 4-2 at halftime.
“Halftime played to our favor,” said Blair. “We made a few adjustments and put our strength against their strength. We slowed them down and got the momentum back.”
The momentum for the Raiders hit full stride when Benson capped his hat trick with a goal at 33:23. Church assisted on the tally.
Benson left the field a couple minutes later, but would return and finish out the match.
Caleb Blair capped the scoring for the Raiders when he deflected the ball into the net with 6:20 left in the match. Jared Hogue assisted on the goal.
Benco wasn’t tested much, making five saves with one of East Allegheny’s better chances of the first half bouncing off the goalpost.
Waynesburg plays the winner of Beth-Center and Deer Lakes in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Blair has an idea what’s in store no matter the opponent.
“We played Beth-Center in section. Deer Lakes is going to be a handful,” said Blair.