WPIAL Playoffs: Bearcats get No. 2 seed

By Jose Negron
jnegron@yourmvi.com
There weren’t many Class A teams better than the Bentworth girls soccer team during the regular season.
The Bearcats rolled through Section 2-A with a perfect 12-0 record, winning their third section championship in four years, and played a tough nonsection schedule. They suffered their lone loss to Class 2A Waynesburg Central on Sept. 14.
The defending WPIAL Class A runner-up was rewarded for its regular-season play when it was tabbed as the No. 2 seed in the Class A playoff bracket.
Bentworth (16-1) will play its first-round matchup 6:15 p.m. Monday against No. 15 Mohawk at Upper St. Clair.
Mohawk (7-8) tied for fourth place in Section 3-A.
“Mohawk is always one of the top public schools in Class A,” Bentworth head coach Tyler Hamstra said. “They usually have one to three players that dictate their success. I expect them to be very good.”
That’s what makes the offensive presence of seniors Jocelyn Timlin, Paige Marshalek and Rori Schreiber so important this time of year.
Timlin scored 40-plus goals during the regular season and has 150 for her career. Marshalek had over 30 goals, while Schreiber has 21 on the year and 55 in her career.
“Big players step up in big moments,” Hamstra said. “They are as good as anyone in the tournament. Players four through fifteen are also the best we’ve ever had.”
Goalkeeper Jasmine Manning will be counted upon to continue the success she’s had during the regular season.
In her first season as starter, the sophomore set a program record with 12 shutouts this season.
“I can’t explain to you how confident I am in Jasmine,” Hamstra said. “It’s a big stage, but she’s a big time player. She’s the best keeper in the section and top three in the Valley. Is she All-WPIAL level yet? I think she will be and that journey is now starting.”
The experience gained during last year’s run to the WPIAL championship game has the Bearcats ready to make a return trip to Highmark Stadium.
“It’s my favorite part of the year. I live for this,” Hamstra said. “It’s the final stretch with an all-time great group of seniors, a group that has given me just about everything I’ve ever dreamed for this program. I’d like to claim the next step with them, they deserve it.”
Bentworth is one of seven local girls soccer teams that qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.
Joining the Bearcats in the Class A bracket is 10th-seeded Serra Catholic.
The Eagles (9-7), who finished third in Section 1-A, will face No. 7 South Side Beaver 6 p.m. Monday at West Allegheny.
The Rams (11-4) are the third-place team from Section 3-A.
The Eagles and Rams had one common opponent this season in Chartiers-Houston.
Serra, led by the potent offensive duo of Maddie Carr and Jaime Dermotta, claimed a 6-2 victory over Char-Houston. South Side Beaver defeated the Bucs, 3-1.
“I feel good about the matchup, and believe that if we play or best game, we can get through this first round,” Serra Catholic head coach Ashley Dorn said. “I think the number one thing our team needs stop do is maintain possession. Whether that means winning 50/50 balls or passing to feet. When it is not in our possession, we need to outwork the opponent to force a mistake.”
Fifth-seeded Yough is the lone local team in the Class 2A bracket and will face No. 12 Highlands (5-9) at 6 p.m. Monday Penn-Trafford.
The Cougars (14-1-1) won five straight games to end the regular season and shared the Section 3-2A title with South Park.
“During my tenure at Yough, this is the first time we’ve faced them, so we’re going into this a little bit blind,” Yough head coach Dann Appolonia said. “We really don’t have much information on them but we’ve taken the same approach in every one of our games this year which is we’re going to play our style of game and not let anyone else dictate what we’re going to do. When you take that approach into games, you don’t necessarily worry about what the other team does as much as you just worry about executing your own gameplan.”
Four local teams are in the 4A bracket.
Belle Vernon Area garnered the No. 5 seed and will host an 8 p.m. matchup Monday with No. 12 Ambridge.
The Leopards (14-3) won the Section 2 championship with a perfect 12-0 mark and finished the season with 114 goals, most of which came from the trio of Jillian Butchki, Morgan Einodshofer and Farrah Reader.
“I would of liked to see us get a four seed this year,” BVA head coach Tracy Lovett said. “We will take the seed that was given, as a five seed is still a nice spot to be in. I have faith in my team that we can handle whatever is thrown our way.”
Ambridge (10-5-1) finished third in Section 4 and relies on a tough defensive unit.
The Bridgers didn’t allow more than three goals in any game this season.
“They are fast, but so are we. We are really playing well as a team as this regular season wraps up,” Lovett said. “In order to be victorious, I feel we need to come out fast and hard, play physical and finish the chances that we get.”
Lovett doesn’t lack confidence in a BVA team that won eight of its last nine games to end the regular season.
“I am very confident that we can win this game. I believe in my team,” Lovett said. “They truly are a group of fast, skilled and cohesive soccer players. I am not ready to see this season end, and I know they aren’t either.”
No. 9 Thomas Jefferson will open the playoffs 8 p.m. Monday against host eighth-seeded Montour.
The Jaguars (11-6-1) finished third in Section 3, while Montour (10-6-1) was the second place team out of Section 4.
Jaguars head coach Jason Vozar said he knows some of the players on Montour’s team and wouldn’t be surprised to see a one-goal game or even a contest that heads into overtime.
“We’re similar in a lot of aspects and I think it will be a really tight game,” Vozar said. “If we play our system and limit the mistakes, I think we’ll be fine.”
No. 10 Elizabeth Forward enters the postseason as the second-place team from Section 2 and will face No. 7 Hampton on its home turf at 8 p.m. Monday.
The Warriors (8-7) won four of their last six games to end the regular season, while Hampton (11-5) claimed victories in five of its last six games.
“Over the last couple of games, I assumed that we could end up with Hampton or maybe one other team, but I just had a hunch it would be them,” EF head coach Brandon Gerba said. “I think based on how the girls played over the past few weeks, we are going to need to continue to play a strong and focused defensive game to slow their attack down, and take the opportunity of any free kick situation.”
Ringgold enters the playoffs as the No. 11 seed and will head to Kiski to face the sixth-seeded Cavaliers (12-4) at 8 p.m. Monday.
The Rams (8-10), who finished the season as the third-place team from Section 2-3A, are playoff-bound for the first time since 2015.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of the playoffs as it has been an exciting run for us. We truly have a great group of girls and no one deserves it more,” Ringgold head coach Olivia Wilkerson said. “These girls have put in the work to receive a bid to this year’s postseason and I have to say I am even more humbled by the way the girls handled themselves. The dedication and the commitment these girls had not only for themselves, but also their teammates is priceless and makes this an even bigger accomplishment.”
“Kiski will be a tough opponent, but we will adjust our formation accordingly,” Wilkerson said. “I know Kiski has a very strong offense, so we will look to come out very strong on our defensive end, led by our goalkeeper Kylee Pry. I look to utilize her experience and view of the field to help us be successful.”