Moessner scores 5 goals as top-seeded Bentworth blanks California
McMURRAY — Ryan Moessner scored five goals as top-seeded and undefeated Bentworth opened its quest for a second consecutive WPIAL Class A boys soccer championship with an 11-0 win over Section 2 foe California on Saturday at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium on the campus of Peters Township Middle School.
But while some say that Bentworth (16-0) is the defending Class A champion, second-year head coach Nick Malarbi looks at it differently.
“I told the kids at the beginning of the year that we aren’t (defending last year’s title), that yeah we won it last year, but it is a new group,” he said. “It is about what history do you want.
“They are hungry. They worked hard all summer and all fall, and hopefully we can carry it one game at a time.”
Moessner’s barrage gives him 41 goals this season for the Bearcats, who have now outscored their opponents, 109-4, this season.
“Games like this, it exposes how special Ryan is,” Malarbi said. “Even the ref came over and said he sees Ryan score goals but that he also stays back and makes plays. He is a special player.”
Moessner upped his career goal total to 84.
Dillan Colbert added two scores while Blake Lusk, Aiden McMurray, Adam Moessner and Billy Moyer each scored once.
California coach Tyler Caterino has seen how talented the Bearcats are in three matches this season, and he believes they will be a force in not only the WPIAL, but the state playoffs.
“From the beginning of the season, everyone knew they were one of the favorites to win the WPIAL,” he said. “They have a lot of good players, and going forward, I expect nothing but a WPIAL championship, a good run in the states and possibly a state championship for those guys.”
While Caterino’s team fell to Bentworth for the third time this season, his team kept fighting for the entire 80 minutes.
“I am happy with today’s effort and the guys never gave up,” he said. “We could not ask for more from these guys today or this season.
“The growth from the beginning of the season to now is night and day, and I could not ask for more effort, hard work or determination from them.”
Despite being familiar with California (2-9), Malarbi didn’t have to go back far to give his team a history lesson.
“We lost to Charleroi twice last year and then upset them in the (WPIAL) finals, so you never know,” he said. “We made our game plan and stayed sharp on it.”
DJ Hays and Isaac Vipperman combined for the shutout, which was Bentworth’s fifth in a row and 12th of the season.
Next up for Bentworth is a rematch with eighth-seeded Trinity Christian in the quarterfinals. Trinity Christian earned a 3-0 win over Beth-Center Saturday.
The Bearcats played Trinity Christian on Aug. 26 and pulled out a 3-1 victory.
“We played Trinity Christian earlier in the year, and I think they have some different players than they did early in the year,” Malarbi said. “We will watch film, game plan and have to execute.”
The match will take place Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.