Westmoreland PIAA boys soccer capsules for Nov. 6, 2018
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Monday, November 5, 2018 | 7:00 PM
Boys soccer
Class AAAA
Norwin (17-3-1) vs. State College (12-5-2)
6 p.m. Tuesday at Bald Eagle High School, Wingate
Winner plays: Winner of Cumberland Valley/Radnor
Players to watch : Carter Breen, Norwin (Sr., F); Daniel Bennett, State College (Sr. F)
Corner kicks: Norwin has not qualified for the state playoffs since 1999 in Class AAA. Breen, who has more than 30 goals, was an all-state selection for the Knights. Norwin played in the WPIAL title match for the first time since 1989 but lost to top-seeded Seneca Valley, 5-2. … District 6 champion State College defeated McDowell, 2-0, in a subregional game to reach the state first round. The Little Lions rely on balanced scoring and defense, Bennett, juniors midfielders Marc Rodgers and Garrett Callenberger are key players, along with senior midfielder Ben Vollmer, who has returned from a knee injury.
Class AAA
Franklin Regional (18-0-1) vs. Bellefonte (12-2-1)
5 p.m. Tuesday at Norwin
Winner plays: Winner of Cathedral Prep/Thomas Jefferson
Players to watch: Anthony DiFalco, Franklin Regional (Fr., F); Zach Spearly, Bellefonte (Sr., GK)
Corner kicks: Franklin Regional will try to extend its best season as it makes its PIAA playoff debut. The Panthers won their first WPIAL championship with a 1-0 victory over West Allegheny with DiFalco scoring the lone goal. … Bellefonte made the District 6 finals for the fourth straight season and finally broke through with a title. The Red Raiders edged past Tyrone in the championship, 2-1, as senior forward Evan Nyquist scored the go-ahead goal with 14 minute to play.
Class A
Greensburg Central Catholic (17-2) vs. Iroquois (16-3-1)
5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dollinger Field, Erie
Winner plays: Winner of Brockway/Seton La Salle
Players to watch: Luke Mort, Greensburg Central Catholic (Sr., F); Senad Hucic, Iroquois (Sr., F)
Corner kicks: Greensburg Central Catholic will look to rebound from a tough WPIAL championship loss to Avonworth. After the teams tied 2-2 in regulation and two overtimes, Avonworth won 6-5 in a shootout. Mort, a Pitt recruit, leads GCC with 34 goals. GCC made the PIAA quarterfinals in 2012, its last trip to the state tournament. … Iroquois slipped past Mercer, 2-1, to win the District 10 championship. Dylan Messina and Dominic Wesley scored and Haydn Gray and Hucic had assists for the Braves. Senad Hucic has 38 goals and 17 assists and Corey Long, 23 goals and 15 assists.
—Bill Beckner Jr.
Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Norwin
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