HERSHEY, Pa. -- Upper St. Clair junior forward Andy Machi scored 17 goals in the first 10 games this season, then fell into a scoring slump.

The slump ended yesterday.

Machi scored his 18th goal on an overtime header to lift Upper St. Clair to a 1-0 victory against West Chester East in the PIAA Class AAA championship at Hersheypark Stadium.

It marked the first time Upper St. Clair has won a boys' PIAA soccer title and the first time since 1990 that a WPIAL team has won the championship outright.

"This was supposed to be a rebuilding year and look what we did," said Machi, referring to a Panthers team that featured just five seniors. "Look where we are now -- we're the state champs."

The only goal came with 7:20 remaining in the first 10-minute overtime.

Senior midfielder Tony Rubino took a corner kick from the right side that bounced free off a West Chester East defender. As the ball squirted free, Panthers defender Mitch Minerd settled it and shot the ball toward the net, where it found the head of teammate Scott Dillie who flicked it on goal.

West Chester East goalie Erik Waszalek was able to get a hand on Dillie's attempt, but the ball ricocheted off another West Chester East player before Machi swooped in and knocked it into the goal, igniting a wild celebration.

"I saw our goalie make a play on the first ball, and we just could not clean it up and get it out," said West Chester East coach Charlie Dodds.

"Scott Dillie kept it alive and flicked the ball on net," said Machi.

"Dillie made the play to keep the ball alive, and I just went in and knocked it in. We all were working so hard right there at the end."

Although Upper St. Clair (22-4-1) was able to put six shots on goal in the first half, the Panthers had just one solid scoring opportunity.

With six minutes left before halftime, junior forward Brett Fackenthal found open space and worked the ball into a clearing in the middle of the field, but his shot from 21 yards away sailed slightly over the crossbar.

The first good scoring chance for West Chester East (19-6-1) didn't come until 27:46 left in the second half. Senior forward Mike Frignito carried the ball deep into Upper St. Clair's territory and tried to beat goalkeeper Andrew Baldasare on the near side, but he was turned away.

Just 30 seconds later, the Panthers looked to have an opportunity but the play was blown dead by an official.

Fackenthal was battling in front of the goal when Waszalek jumped to fetch the ball out of the air and collided with Fackenthal. As the ball squirted open in front, an official blew the play dead and whistled Fackenthal for obstruction.

"We had so many chances before the game-winner that I was getting a little nervous," said Upper St. Clair coach Uwe Schneider.

Five minutes after the Fackenthal obstruction call, West Chester East had its best offensive threat of the first 60 minutes. Frignito blew past an Upper St. Clair defender and down the right sideline before playing a perfect ball to Josh Hsu, who one-timed the ball wide of the net.

"I thought we did a lot of things right today," said Dodds. "That missed shot hurt, though. When you get a chance at point-blank range, you have to bury it ... that one hurt."

"If he would have stopped the ball and played it down, he probably would have beaten me," said Baldasare.

"He just decided to one-time it. He had a lot of time, and I'm happy he decided to hit it so quick because, had he taken his time, I think they might have scored there."

In the waning seconds of regulation, Upper St. Clair had one more chance when Jeff Rickel moved forward from his defender position and rocketed a shot for 35 yards that sailed just over the crossbar.