High School Highlights: Mt. Lebanon tops Peters Township

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High School Highlights: Mt. Lebanon tops Peters Township

Blue Devils win 1-0, reach WPIAL soccer championship against Fox Chapel

Wednesday, November 04, 1998

From local dispatches

The third time was the charm for Mt. Lebanon in boys' soccer last night at Ringgold.

Brashear's Crystal Dedo gets tangled up with Perry's Julie Bruder (9) in the first half of yesterday's City League girls soccer semifinal. Brashear won, 4-0, as Dedo scored three times and added an assist. Brashear will play Allderdice in tonight's championship game. (Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette)

The Blue Devils (17-3-2) edged the Peters Township Indians, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals on senior forward Jon Gearhart's goal with 7:50 left in the game.

Mt. Lebanon, the defending WPIAL champion, lost to Peters Township (17-3-2) in their two previous meetings this season.

Peters held a 10-6 lead in shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks. But the Blue Devils defense continually frustrated the Indians. Several Peters' shots were cleared off the goal line by Mt. Lebanon defenders.

Sweeper Scott Cross and outside back Jonathan Diamond led the Blue Devils defense, backing the steady play of goalkeeper John Garber.

The decisive goal was set up when midfielder Matt Chitester lobbed a pass into the box to Andy McCormick. The Mt. Lebanon midfielder drew the attention of Rob Edmonds to pull the goalkeeper out of position. McCormick struck a quick pass across the goal mouth to Gearhart who drilled the shot into a wide open net.

"Our defense played well as a unit, and we were fortunate to clear a few shots at critical times, but I thought for the most part, we limited their dangerous plays," said Mt. Lebanon Coach Ron Wilcher.

Mt. Lebanon will meet Fox Chapel, which defeated Penn Hills, 4-1, last night.

The title game will be 8 p.m. tomorrow at Ringgold.

GIRLS' CLASS AAA SOCCER

Tigers Trice beaten by Panthers: Emily Trice and Christal Giraud scored second half goals to lead Upper St. Clair over North Allegheny, 3-0, in the WPIAL semifinals at Ringgold.

Jane Ochalso netted a goal and assisted on the other goals. Och's goal was unassisted on a direct kick.

Upper St. Clair will meet Mt. Lebanon at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the championship game at Ringgold. Upper St. Clair (18-5) has advanced to the finals for the first time since 1995 and will attempt to win its first WPIAL crown since 1990.

Foxes trapped by Blue Devils: Goals in the first half by Tasha Taylor and Sharon Greene led Mt. Lebanon (21-1) over Fox Chapel in the semifinals at Hampton. Mt. Lebanon will carry a 12-game winning streak into the championship game. The Blue Devils will be shooting for their first district crown since 1993. Mt. Lebanon edged championship game opponent Upper St. Clair twice by 2-1 scores in the regular season.

CITY GIRLS' SOCCER

Bulls' win Crystal clear: Brashear and Allderdice, the top two seeds, easily advanced to the City League championship game at 6 p.m. tonight at South Stadium,.

The Bulls blanked defending champion Perry, 4-0, as Crystal Dedo scored three goals and assisted on the fourth. Allderdice dropped Carrick, 5-0, as Belle Lynz accounted for three goals. Liz Peitzman added a goal and an assist.