USC Wins Again, Advances to PIAA Semifinal

The USC girls soccer team defeated North Allegheny 2-1 on Saturday in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game at Chartiers Valley High School. 

The win sets up a PIAA semifinal game against Peters Township (who defeated State College 3-0 in the other quarterfinal game). The semifinal game will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at a place and time to be determined.

The Panthers had a good chance about midway through the first half. Hannah Wilhelm passed the ball to a sprinting Carley Bogan, but Bogan's shot was wide right. North Allegheny had several good opportunities but the Panther defense turned them away. However, with 3:10 left in the half, NA broke through and scored to take a 1-0 lead. The half ended with USC down one in a hard-fought, physical battle.

Twenty-two minutes into the second half, Hannah Zangara, battled for the ball on the right side of the NA net. Her hard work paid off by getting a corner kick. Carley Bogan placed a perfect corner kick to the six yard line where Hannah Wilhelm headed the ball past the NA keeper to tie the game 1-1. Feeding off of that score, the momentum shifted to the Panthers. NA, still playing very hard and physical, had a few good chances, but were foiled by the USC defense and goalkeeper Jocelyn Alfera.   

With only 3:29 left in the game, the Panthers—playing like a team of destiny—struck again. This time Hannah Wilhelm centered the ball to the middle in front of the NA keeper. The keeper, a defender and Katey Woistman converged on the ball.  Woistman came out of the melee with the ball and placed into the back of the net to put the Panthers up 2-1.  USC hung on to the lead for the final three and a half hectic minutes. The win was the Panthers' 20th of the season, with only two losses and one tie.