Navid-led Shady Side Academy holds off Mercyhurst Prep to reach PIAA boys soccer semifinals

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, November 10, 2018 | 7:15 PM

Shady Side Academy wasted no time building what would normally be an insurmountable lead in the PIAA playoffs on Saturday.

After a furious Mercyhurst Prep comeback, the Indians settled down with a late goal to put the match away.

Wally Navid completed a hat trick with a penalty kick in the final 10 minutes to help Shady Side hold off Mercyhurst Prep, 7-5, in a PIAA Class 2A boys soccer quarterfinal at Mars.

“It took a lot of heart,” Shady Side coach Ed Ellsworth said. “Being in this tournament three years running and going deep in this tournament, these guys know what it takes to win. Mercyhurst Prep has a good program, but our guys fought hard and showed a lot of character in the second half.”

Shady Side Academy (14-6-1) moves on to play Deer Lakes in the PIAA semifinals on Tuesday.

After the Indians built a 5-1 lead at the half, District 10 Mercyhurst Prep (19-3-1) started chipping away as the physical play picked up throughout the final 40 minutes. The second half included several cards and injured players leaving the game.

“We made mistakes in the first half and defended poorly,” Mercyhurst Prep coach Doug Bakka said. “We gave away some goals that came back to haunt us.”

After Mercyhurst Prep made it 5-2, Navid scored his second goal to give Shady Side a 6-2 lead with 29 minutes, 6 seconds left.

“We talk about the rhythm of a game, and when it gets arhythmic, you have to settle down,” Ellsworth said. “As silly as it sounds when we scored to make it 6-2, that was a big moment in the concept of the game.”

The Indians’ sixth goal slowed down the Lakers’ momentum, but Mercyhurst Prep standout Jarrett Harry scored his second goal with 11:02 to play to make it 6-5.

About six minutes later, Navid made a run into the box and was taken down. He scored on a penalty kick to put the match away.

“We had an unbelievable through ball, and Wally got across his player,” Ellsworth said. “The defender had to pull him down, and Walter, like he has done his whole career, came up with a big goal. He helped us win the WPIAL title last year with a late goal.”

Navid had an early goal Saturday, and Adrian Beckford scored two, including a rebound off a missed penalty kick by the Indians.

Navid finished with three goals, and Beckford and Max Farner had two apiece for Shady Side.

“We talk about going 1-0 every round, and starting Sunday, we’ll be 0-0,” Ellsworth said. “We keep believing in the process and what we are doing to make a deep run.”

Tom Reisenweber is a freelance writer.

Tags: Shady Side Academy