Belle Vernon shocks No. 2 Deer Lakes on Showman’s OT goal
Chris Showman scored on a free kick 2:30 into overtime as 10th-seeded Belle Vernon shocked No. 2 Deer Lakes, 2-1, in a WPIAL Class 2A boys soccer quarterfinal game on Thursday night.
The Leopards (16-1-2), who finished second in Section 5 to Moount Pleasant, advance to Tuesday’s semifinals where they will face third-seeded North Catholic (17-1-3), the Section 2 champion, in an 8 p.m. match at Peters Township Middle School.
The host Lancers (14-3-2), who finished first in Section 1, took a 1-0 lead on Cameron Adams’ goal which was assisted by Artemey Parshyn 17 minutes into the second half.
Deer Lakes held that advantage until just under four minutes left in regulation when the Leopards’ Tyler Perozzi scored on a cross from Gavin Metzger.
Belle Vernon’s Anthony Sawa was fouled in overtime which set the stage for Showman’s winning kick that soared past Lancers goalkeeper Callen Sabow.
Leopards goalkeeper Morgan Bunch made 11 saves.
Belle Vernon has won seven in a row after a stretch of two games where it battled to a 1-1 draw with Yough on Oct. 1 and then lost to the Vikings, 2-1, on Oct. 6. The Leopards had defeated Mount Pleasant in their first meeting, 2-0, on Sept. 10.
The only other blemish on Belle Vernon’s record is a 1-1 draw at Class 3A playoff team Thomas Jefferson on Sept. 6.