Mercyhurst Prep Edges Bentworth in Overtime
Nicolas Lopez's 25-yard free kick five minutes into overtime sent the Mercyhurst Prep boys soccer team past Bentworth in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Soccer
Mercyhurst Prep defeated Bentworth 2-1 in overtime in the PIAA Class A boys soccer quarterfinals on Saturday at Bob Bleggi Stadium in New Castle. Bentworth led 1-0 at halftime before Nicolas Lopez scored an equalizer in the 51st minute.
Why it matters
The win sends Mercyhurst Prep to the state semifinals, where it will face Lancaster County Christian on Tuesday, and ends a pattern of state-playoff losses to Bentworth in each of the last two years. It also closes the career of a Bentworth senior class that finished 87-6 with four WPIAL titles and one state title.
Lopez's overtime goal came from 25 yards and bounced along the ground past players into the net, while Bentworth's senior class leaves with 59 shutouts across its career.
The players
Mercyhurst Prep
Mercyhurst Prep is a private Catholic school in Erie, Pennsylvania, known for its athletic programs and competitive boys soccer teams.
Bentworth
Bentworth is a public school district in Pennsylvania whose boys soccer program has built a strong recent record, including four WPIAL titles and a state championship.
The details
Bentworth took a 1-0 halftime lead on Moessner's seventh-minute goal, his 64th of the season. Lopez took a touch to get the ball onto his stronger foot and fired a shot into the left side to tie the match at 1-1 in the 51st minute, forcing overtime.
Timeline
Saturday (November 14, 2026): Mercyhurst Prep defeats Bentworth 2-1 in overtime in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals.
Tuesday: Mercyhurst Prep plays Lancaster County Christian in the state semifinals.
Season Trajectory
This win reverses Mercyhurst Prep's recent pattern of state-playoff losses to Bentworth in each of the last two years and advances the team to the state semifinals. The result also closes a Bentworth senior class that combined for an 87-6 record and a state title.
The result places Mercyhurst Prep in the state semifinals on Tuesday, a step that affects which team advances toward the state championship. For fans tracking the bracket, the outcome of that semifinal determines whether the season continues into the title match.
The takeaway
A single set piece can decide a playoff game, and Mercyhurst Prep's overtime win shows how persistence after falling behind can change a team's postseason path. The result is a useful reminder that a playoff rivalry can shift quickly from one year to the next.
What happens next
Mercyhurst Prep plays Lancaster County Christian in the PIAA state semifinals on Tuesday.
Further reading
For more high school results, see our Soccer coverage across Pennsylvania.
