Late Goal Allows Seton-LaSalle To Repeat As WPIAL Boys A Champs

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 5, 2011 | 10:24 PM

Seton-LaSalle was the top-seed and defending champion. They were supposed to be there. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was the 11th-seed with few outside of the program expecting them to still be playing into November. But it wasn't until the 78th minute that OLSH's glass slipper was shattered.

Tyler Balzer scored on a penalty kick from ten yards out with 1:45 left in regulation to give the Rebels a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Chargers. The kick came after a Chargers defender was whistled for a hand ball inside the box.

OLSH outshot Seton-LaSalle 4-1 in the first half before the Rebels took control in the second half and dominated the action.

The victory gives the Rebels a fifth WPIAL boys soccer title but the first time they have been able to successfully defend one of their championships. Seton-LaSalle is 19-2-1 and will be the #1-seed from District 7 into the PIAA state playoffs that begin next week.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart's surprise run in the district playoffs leaves them as the #2-seed out of D-7 with a record of 13-7-0.  

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers : 0 – 0 = 0
Seton-LaSalle Rebels : 0 – 1 = 1