PIAA Class AAA boys soccer final preview: West Allegheny vs. Strath Haven

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 15, 2018 | 6:33 PM

PIAA

Boys soccer

Class AAA

Championship

West Allegheny (22-2) vs. Strath Haven (16-6-2)

6:30 p.m. Friday at Hersheypark Stadium

On the air: PCN-TV

Coaches: Kevin Amos, West Allegheny; Ryan O’Neill, Strath Haven

Players to watch: Nathan Dragisich, Sr., F, West Allegheny; Nathaniel Perrins, Sr., F, Strath Haven

Corner kicks: West Allegheny avenged its WPIAL finals loss to Franklin Regional by handing the Panthers their first loss of the season in a 2-1 victory in the PIAA semifinals Tuesday. Fletcher Amos scored both goals in the win. The Indians played without goaltender Braden Wurst, a four-year starter. Wurst was out with a concussion. Gabe Haines, who had never played goalie before, started in net. West Allegheny lost 1-0 in overtime to Holy Ghost Prep in 2013 in its only state championship appearance. Dragisich, a Duquesne recruit, has 41 goals and 19 assists. Amos has 20 goals and 17 assists. Evan Blunkosky has 14 goals and 11 assists and Jaxon Ervin has 10 goals and 18 assists. West Allegheny has outscored opponents 9-3 in its state playoffs run. … Strath Haven, the District 1 champion, scored three consecutive goals in the second half to rally past District 12 champ Archbishop Wood, 3-2, clinching a trip to the finals for the first time in 17 years. Nicky Palermo scored twice for the Panthers, and Perrins had the game-winner. Perrins had a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a 2-1 overtime victory over Mechanicsburg in the first round. The Panthers have five state titles: 1986,’91, ’95, ’96 and 2001. They are on a six-game winning streak.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: West Allegheny