Seeds don’t matter
No. 10 Belle Vernon knocks off No. 3 North Catholic in WPIAL semis
McMURRAY — The phrase “seeds don’t matter” is uttered so much in sports that the team with the higher seed uses it as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Belle Vernon has proven through three matches in the WPIAL Class 2A boys soccer playoffs that there could be some truth to the adage that “seeds don’t matter.”
The Leopards, who were tabbed the No. 10 seed when the playoffs brackets were unveiled despite an overall record of 14-2-1, blanked No. 3 North Catholic, 2-0, on Tuesday at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on the campus of Peters Township Middle School to advance to the WPIAL Class 2A final.
Belle Vernon (17-2-1) will play Quaker Valley (13-5-2) on Saturday at F.N.B. Stadium for the District 7 championship. The kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters.
“I can’t take all the credit,” Belle Vernon coach Tyler Caterino said. “These guys work day-in and day-out, and there’s no quit in these guys. They knew what they were capable of from Day 1 of the summer and fall. These guys come every day ready to train, ready to practice, and most importantly, ready to play no matter who is on the other side.”
The Leopards opened the postseason with a 4-2 victory over No. 7 Beaver before a 2-1 triumph in extra time over No. 2 Deer Lakes to set up the showdown with the Trojans (17-2-2).
“There are a lot of good teams in Class 2A this year,” Caterino said. “I think we are in the most competitive conference and talent across the board, and every game is a dog fight, and I think you’ve seen that in the playoffs. There haven’t been many blowouts or high-scoring games.”
Belle Vernon faces a Quakers team that also ran the gauntlet against teams with lower seeds, as they topped No. 8 Freeport, 2-0, in the first round prior to stunning No. 1 seed Avonworth, 1-0, after two periods of extra time to advance to the semifinals against Ambridge, who was the 13th seed. Quaker Valley earned a second-straight win in two 15-minute periods with a 3-2 triumph to earn a trip to F.N.B. Stadium.
The Leopards are seeking their first WPIAL soccer championship, while the Quakers are looking for No. 11.
“It is going to be a special time,” Caterino said. “We are looking forward to playing on a professional field.”
North Catholic controlled possession in the first 15 minutes of Tuesday’s match, as it had five of its 13 total shots, including two of three on target, and earned four of its 15 corner kicks in the first quarter hour of the match.
Belle Vernon’s backline and keeper Morgan Bunch kept the Trojans off the scoresheet despite the early disparity in possession. Bunch made three saves.
“One thing that we have been focusing on is a little bit of desire,” Caterino said. “A desire to win the ball, a desire to carry it and a desire to help one another out, and I think that really showed tonight.”
The Leopards’ first of 11 shots was on target, as Anthony Sawa’s attempt from 30 yards was stopped by Logan Mueser with 23:15 remaining in the first half.
Mueser made five saves, but had no chance on Landon Bell’s rocket from beyond 30 yards that sailed to the left with 17:32 remaining in the first half and a 1-0 lead. Tyler Perozzi had the assist.
Bell, a senior defender, has three goals on the campaign, but knows his primary job is to help aid teammates on the backline and Bunch in keeping the ball out of their own goal.
“I think the ball came off my right winger’s foot,” Bell said. “I just took a touch and hit it. I tried to keep it off the line and put a little loft on it.”
Belle Vernon held its one-goal advantage at halftime.
North Catholic continued to earn corner kicks in the second half, but the Leopards kept the ball out of danger and forced Mueser to make two saves on the counter attack.
Belle Vernon put the Trojans in deep trouble with 21:14 left in the second half when junior Dominic Pireaux put a shot past Mueser high and to the right corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.
“We knew it was going to be hard fought, but we just had to keep that desire,” Pireaux said. “They had control of possession in the first part of the game, but we just continued to battle and take advantage when we had an opportunity.”
The teams traded yellow cards 24 seconds apart with 11 minutes remaining, and North Catholic was shown yellow a second time with 4:51 left in the match.
The blood on Bell’s jersey was evidence of the physicality of the match.
“It was pretty physical all the way around,” Bell said. “Every ball was a hard-fought win or loss.”
The Trojans’ last significant opportunity to score came with 7:05 remaining in the contest when Jackson Schlegel broke free on a run, but Bunch came off his line to pounce on the ball before a shot could be taken.