High school soccer: OLSH, Moon Area boys advance in WPIAL tournament; Montour eliminated

Three West Hills boys soccer teams made their WPIAL tournament debuts Saturday, and two of them came home winners.

Unbeaten Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, seeded No. 2 in the Class 1A tournament, met with little resistance in overpowering No 15 Greensburg Central Catholic, 14-1, at Moon High School’s Tiger Stadium.

In the Class 3A bracket, No. 4 seed Moon blanked No. 13 Laurel Highlands, 4-0, at home while No. 14 Montour fell 2-0 to No. 3 seed and host Franklin Regional.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 14, Greensburg Central Catholic 1

The Chargers remained unbeaten on the season, posting their 16^th victory in 16 starts in convincing fashion Saturday.

OLSH poured in eight first-half goals, with Brady Hernandez, Andrew Kolocouris and Peter Zink each scoring two and Jeremy Ye and Hunter Smith adding one apiece.

Smith completed the hat trick by scoring two second-half goals for OLSH. Owen Minzer, Isaac Tarbuk, Wyatt Walsch and Aidan Curry each contributed one goal for the Chargers.

OLSH coach Brandon Scott said prior to Saturday’s game that he thought his team was playing its best soccer of the season heading into the WPIAL tournament.

“We have gotten some great results in the past, but it feels like the team is hitting on all cylinders right now,” he said. “Our chemistry as a team has really grown. I’d say we are close to peaking, but we want to keep building each and every day in order to get better.”

Scott said he’s not sure exactly how good his team can be.

“I truly don’t know where these kids’ ceilings are,” he said. “Every time we face a difficult team or some sort of adversity this team finds a way to prevail. We have had our ups and downs, but this team find a way to get the job done. As long as we continue to keep playing the way we have been, this team will keep the momentum going.”

OLSH’s next step will come Wednesday against No. 7 Sewickley Academy, a 4-0 winner over 10^th seed Trinity Christian. The time and location of Wednesday’s game hasn’t yet been determined.

Photos by Mike Longo Jr.

OLSH midfielder Grant Griesacker battles for a loose ball in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH defender Colby Lane goes up to play a shot off of his chest in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH defender Colby Lane keeps his eye on the ball in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH midfielder and captain Owen Minzer gets tripped going for a loose ball iin the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH midfielder and captain Owen Minzer heads upfield in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH midfielder and captain Owen Minzer overruns the ball in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH defender Peter Zink dishes off a pass at midfield in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH midfielder Hunter Smith attempts to slide a shot on goal between two Greensburg C.C. defenders in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH winger Jeremy Ye is congratulated by teammate Colby Lane after his goal in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH defender Colby Lane delivers a pass in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH striker Isaac Turbuk gives chase to a loose ball in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.
OLSH goalie Patrick Altmar launches a kick after a save in the Chargers’ first-round playoff contest against Greensburg Central Catholic at Moon High School.

Moon Area 4, Laurel Highlands 0

Rhyus Hollowood scored two goals and assisted on two others to spark the Tigers to a shutout win. Laercio de Sousa scored one goal and assisted on another and Eric Haupt accounted for the final Moon goal.

Will Guarino earned the shutout in goal for the Tigers, who will bring a 13-5-1 record into Wednesday’s match with No. 5 seed Thomas Jefferson. The Jaguars edged No. 12 Shaler Saturday, 1-0.

The time and location of Wednesday’s has yet to be determined.

Moon led 2-0 at halftime as Haupt and Hollowood scored in the game’s first seven minutes. The Tigers added their final two goals late in the second half to put the game away.

Photos by Mike Longo Jr.

Moon’s Eric Haupt celebrates a goal with his teammates as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Jocsan Castillo Medina reacts as he plays the ball off of his head as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Rhys Hollowood breaks in on the Mustangs net as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Rhys Hollowood puts a shot past the Mustangs goalie as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Laercio Da Sousa sends a shot towards the Mustangs net as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Hayden Dunn battles for a loose ball as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Eric Haupt battles for a loose ball as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Hayden Dunn tracks the ball as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon midfielder Jocsan Castillo Medina gets a pass off before losing his footing as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon midfielder Charles Weiler battles for a loose ball as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon goalie William Guarino gets ready to make a save as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.
Moon forward Laercio Da Sousa launches a shot towards the net as the Tigers battled Laurel Highlands in a first-round playoff matchup at Moon High School.