Overtime has not been kind to the Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer program in the PIAA playoffs.
For the third time under coach Tom Kennedy, the Centurions were beaten in double overtime.
The latest came Tuesday, when Seton-La Salle rallied for a 2-1 double overtime victory in the semifinals at Chartiers Valley.
Seton-La Salle (18-7), which lost to Greensburg Central Catholic, 1-0, in the WPIAL semifinals, got a goal from Tyler Trainor with 10 minutes, 20 seconds left in the second overtime. Seton-La Salle advanced to the PIAA championship at 10 a.m. Saturday against District 1 champion Christopher Dock, which defeated Camp Hill, 3-0.
Trainor's winning goal came on a pass from senior forward James Del Greco. It was Del Greco's goal with 13:57 left in regulation that tied the score.
"We had a defensive breakdown, and they took advantage of it," GCC senior forward Ethan Shula said. "I felt we were in control in both overtimes, and they got a lucky one."
Shula gave Greensburg Central Catholic (20-5) a 1-0 lead 22 seconds into the second half, taking advantage of a defensive lapse by Seton-La Salle.
"They went into the locker room at halftime, and we stayed out in the cold and stayed warm," Kennedy said. "I told the players to push hard because they were going to be cold, and it worked out."
After a pass eluded two Seton-La Salle defenders who collided, neither went after the ball. Shula then beat Seton-La Salle goalkeeper Cory Smigielski to the loose ball and put a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net.
Del Greco tied it when he lofted a shot from 30 yards. The ball hit the crossbar and ricocheted into the goal.
The tying goal came about a minute after a Centurions player was tripped in the box attempting to shoot. The Greensburg Central Catholic bench objected, but no penalty was called.
Kennedy didn't comment on the non-call, but he said it was a shame someone had to lose.
"It was a great game," Kennedy said. "This game just doesn't like me, especially double overtime. That was two great teams out there playing. We just came up short."
Seton-La Salle had the better scoring opportunities in the first half, but it failed to put shots on goal. Greensburg Central Catholic goalkeeper Nick Draghi made one easy save, and three other shots, including a header by Del Greco, sailed over the net.
The Centurions also had their chances but couldn't finish.
"We have nothing to be ashamed of," Kennedy said. "We played the best we could. We had a great year, and we deserved to win. We beat them the first time, and they beat us this time."
In the first overtime, Seton-La Salle almost won it twice.
First, GCC sophomore defender Ryland Smith bailed out Draghi when cleared a potential winner off the goal line on a shot by Trainor with 4:18 left. Draghi then made a save on Seton-La Salle sophomore forward Drew Buckholt off a set play at the 2:20 mark.
