Late Goal Lifts Charleroi to State Finals

Bryce Large controlled the ball out of a scramble, found a small opening and buried a shot from about 12 yards out with just 25 seconds to play, lifting Charleroi past Bentworth, 2-1, in the PIAA Soccer semifinals. The win moves Charleroi to Saturday’s state championship match against Delco Christian, a penalty kick winner.  After more than 30 minutes, Arlo McIntyre gave Charleroi a 1-0 lead, banging home a loose ball in front from a corner kick. A little over halfway through the second half, Ryan Colbert tied the match on a penalty kick after being hauled down in the box. Bentworth kept the momentum for a few minutes but Charleroi tilted the field and kept play in Bentworth’s end for most of the last 4 minutes of the match. The scramble near the top of the penalty box had lasted more than a minute when Large tipped the ball, jumped between a pair of defenders and fired the game-winner past goal keeper DJ Hays, triggering an uproar from the Cougars’ fans. Charleroi won twice in the regular season against Bentworth with the Bearcats turning the tables in the WPIAL Final. Bentworth’s season ends at 20-3, Charleroi heads to Cumberland Valley with a 21-1 record.