Local squads ready to open section play Wednesday
High School Girls Soccer Preview The season opened with the FCCA and other soccer tournaments over the Labor Day weekend, and the girls’ section campaign begins Wednesday.
Albert Gallatin
Led by all-section and all-county senior forward Sarah Fyock, the team’s leading goal scorer last year, the Lady Colonials return nine letterwinners intent on improving last year’s Section 6-AAA 1-12-1 record and 2-16-1 overall mark.
In Fyock, AG has a forward with speed and the ability to read opposing defenses, and provide overall team leadership.
“She’s the first all-section player we have had at AG in a long time,” noted coach Dean Vance of one of his team captain.
Tending the nets for the Lady Colonials will be senior captain Alyssa Clark, who returns to action this season after not playing last year.
“Alyssa played as a sophomore and can come out of the box and get us out of trouble,” Vance added.
Forward Kathy Gates and defender Brittany Myers top AG’s list of six junior letterwinners. Gates’ attacking ability and ball-handling skills and Myers’ strength in getting in position to shut down opposing defenses will be instrumental in improving the Lady Colonials’ fortunes.
Sophomore Jackie Fyock, Sarah’s sister and AG’s tallest player, will be in the lineup as defender. “Jackie’s speed and heading ability will come into play offensive and defensively,” Vance said.
Vance believes constant movement and putting pressure on the opposition are team strengths.
“And these girls support each other,” he added. “This has been a team effort in pre-season. We’re going bat it one game at a time and will be learning on the job. What we have to do is keep working together and improving on our mistakes.”
Albert Gallatin begins section play at Yough.
Belle Vernon
Riding a 32-game section-winning streak while earning three straight section titles, the Lady Leopards are again the odds-on favorite in Section 6-AAA. And with 15 returning letterwinners, including seven each in the senior and junior classes, the key section race just may be for the final two playoff berths.
“Our goal is to win a fourth-straight section title,” said BV coach Paul Sasko, not coincidentally his fourth year at the helm, “but we hope to keep that section winning streak alive.”
Incidentally, Belle Vernon’s girls’ first-ever section crown came in Sasko’s first year with the team, in 2005, when the Lady Leps finished 12-2. Last year’s team completed its second-consecutive undefeated section season, but fell in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Leading the way will be a pair of seniors who earned All-WPIAL honors last year, goalie Ashley Magruda, who has recorded a school-record 34 shutouts, and midfielder Cori Stark, whose 89 career goals are a mere 17 shy of the school mark. Stark’s 26 goals last year topped the team. Magruda will continue her soccer career next season at West Virginia University.
Keeping the heat on opponents’ goalkeepers will be a pair of junior all-section performers last season, midfielder Jocelyn Connolly and striker Michelle Miele. Left-handed and left-footed, Miele, second on the team last year with 19 goals, has a strong foot from her post on the left side of the pitch.
“We have a nice returning group,” Sasko noted. “We have a lot of experience with 15 letterwinners, which translates to having some depth. They play well as a team and we’re hoping to make a run in the playoffs. We have some inexperience on defense, but if we play to our potential and come together defensively, we’ll be OK.”
Belle Vernon opens section play at Laurel Highlands.
Beth-Center
Perusing his roster and seeing the names of 15 returning letterwinners, including seven sophomores, Beth-Center girls soccer coach Roger Szuminsky is looking for his Lady Bulldogs to significantly improve on last year’s 1-15 overall and 0-10 Section 1-AA record.
“Teamwork is a key for us,” he said. “Staying together as a team and improving every game are our goals. We’ve been working together and have had a good effort in the preseason. We have some talented upperclassmen and we have added experience returning among our sophomores.”
B-C is led by senior captains Sarah Lesnock and Amanda Hancher.
Lesnock, a defender at outside fullback who enters her third season as a starter, was also the team captain last year as a junior. Her on-and-off the field leadership reaffirms her role as captain, while her powerful leg and kicking ability are important elements to the Lady Dogs’ defense.
Hancher will be alongside Lesnock in the defensive scheme and “has the ability to see (opponents’ offensive) plays developing,” Szuminsky said. “She is assertive and aggressive on the field.”
Heading the junior class is forward Megan Sowers, who led the team last year with 16 goals, and Alyssa Crumrine, an all-around athlete who topped Beth-Center in assists last season.
“Crumrine knows where to put the ball for our strikers,” Szuminsky noted.
Junior midfielder Samantha Starkey and junior defender Brooke Kinder bring experience to the lineup.
Beth-Center opens its season at home against Charleroi.
Connellsville
For the past two seasons, the Lady Falcons have missed making the playoffs by one match.
Noting that Connellsville’s girls are still looking for their first postseason appearance in school history, coach Jeff Puskar said, “We’ve been close and have been getting better every year. We’re not as deep as we have been in the past, but we have good team speed and excellent overall team play.”
But 11 letterwinners have Puskar, in his fifth season with the Lady Falcons, and his team thinking about the postseason in Section 6-AAA.
After missing the second half of last season due to an appendectomy, Samantha Brown returns as forward/striker and team captain.
“Losing Sam was a big blow to us last year,” Puskar said. “She is a two-footed player, which is unusual in high school, and has speed and a great shot.”
Senior outside midfielder Stephanie Bell returns for her fourth season in Connellsville’s starting lineup. “Bell brings experience to the lineup and knows what is expected on the field,” Puskar added.
At 5-feet, 9 inches, junior midfielder and striker Jenna Luczka is the Lady Falcons’ tallest player “and one of our captains and leaders,” Puskar said. “She is a physical player and came into camp physically ready to go.”
Sophomore outside midfielder and striker Allison Panzella is another key player.
“We’ll look to Allison Panzella, along with Sam and Jenna, to score some goals,” said Puskar, adding, “she was the most dominant player on the field in a recent scrimmage. She will get to the ball and make things happen.”
Noting that his Lady Falcons have been slow starters, Puskar said, “Getting off to a strong start is one of the keys to our season. We played well in the second half of the season last year, and we have to start our season that way this year.”
Connellsville travels to Uniontown for its section opener.
Geibel Catholic
When first-year Geibel Catholic girls soccer coach Jon Ducoli first met his team this summer, he only had enough players – nine – to field a baseball team, not a soccer team.
However, he laughed, “Two girls were away on vacation and I didn’t know about them.”
Since then, his team’s numbers have grown to 16.
“This team has molded so quickly,” he said.
“Our players went out and recruited other girls to play, and they have put so much effort into this team. They are extremely dedicated and willing to do whatever is necessary to be successful. Their hard work has been a real driving force. They are not just sitting around. There is a real sisterhood there,” said Ducoli, adding the laughed at the intentional pun of a “sisterhood” in a parochial school.
Leading the way will be a trio of team captains, senior defender Melissa Martin, junior attacking midfielder Rebecca Sandor, and sophomore forward attacker Brittany Core.
Martin runs the back defensive line.
“She keeps everyone in position and communicates well with our goalie,” Ducoli said. “She’s vocal and that communication makes its way throughout the field.”
“Sandor has the foresight to put the ball three plays ahead,” Ducoli noted. “She can penetrate defenses and get the ball to our forwards. She reads defenses and our own midfielders and can get them into position for scoring opportunities.”
Even though she is a sophomore, Ducoli said of Core, “She has a knack for beautiful crossing passes. She knows when to pass the ball to increase our scoring chances.”
In junior keeper Megan Beck, Geibel has “an enforcer and brick wall back there (in the net),” Ducoli explained. “We were going through situations and Megan offered to go between the pipes. I saw immediately that she was our keeper. She knows how to cut down the angles and when to commit to the ball.”
Geibel earned a playoff berth last year, finishing 10-7-1 overall and 6-4 in Section 1-AA, and suffered a first-round playoff loss to Moon.
Geibel travels to Greensburg Central Catholic for its Section 6-AA opener.
Laurel Highlands
Noting that the Fillies finished 2-11-1 in Section 6-AAA last year, 3-16-1 overall, first-year coach Al DuBois took a fresh approach to his initial season.
“We’re all making a fresh start,” he said. “What happened before is behind us. We’re all starting over.”
Despite the disappointing finish last year, DuBois added, “We’re still trying to build on fundamentals, but if we can continue to progress the way we have in camp, we could possible contend for a playoff berth. We have to maintain control and remain balanced offensively and defensively.”
Leading the way for the Fillies are a trio of senior captains: Brogan DeCarlo, Ashley Martin, and Kelsey Workman. All three chosen by team members, DuBois noted.
An excellent passer with the ability to recognize the open pass opportunity, DeCarlo, who plays center midfield, is also a strong defender and team leader. Martin, a defensive sweeper who plays in front of the goal, is aggressive and strong in clearing the ball and provides direction to other defenders. Workman, a defender/stopper, is aggressive and gets to the ball in quick fashion.
Defensive back Shaeleigh DeBerry is LH’s fourth returning senior in the starting lineup. DeBerry has great speed and excellent footwork with a strong clearing kick.
LH’s fifth senior, sweeper Lizz Knapp, is a first-year player and was selected as the team’s junior captain. Knapp’s field leadership ability, along with her aggressive style of play and a strong kick, may earn her varsity playing time.
“We have a lot of talent on this team, but we also have a lot of heart,” DuBois said. “We have 27 team players who have all been giving 150 percent. We have been stressing the team concept and the players are excited about the season.”
Laurel Highlands opens its section season at home against Belle Vernon.
Southmoreland
Despite a lack of numbers and overall depth, the Lady Scots return 11 letterwinners on a roster twice that size. But according to coach Brian Shrum, “We have experience, since most of the girls play on other (youth and rec) teams.”
After finishing 10-6-1 overall and 8-6 in section 6-AAA last year, Shrum says that the key to his Lady Scotties’ season is to “win games in the secton. We have to put one more goal in the net than other teams and do the simple things better than everyone else. I think we can do that.”
Shrum is looking at a pair of seniors, one junior, and one sophomore as leading the team toward playoff contention.
The two seniors are center defender Kelsey Richardson and forward and target player Nikki King.
“Kelsey is a dedicated, hard-working team leader who communicates well and is a good one-on-one defender,” said Shrum. “Nikki can score and we’ll be looking to get the ball to her and rely on her ball-control skills. She makes good decisions and works well with her back to the goal.”
Junior forward Aryn Askin, in her first season with the team after transferring from Geibel Catholic, has speed, good soccer skills, and scoring ability.
At midfield, Shrum will be looking in the direction of sophomore Jessica Skovira.
“We’ll look for Jessica’s dribbling ability and overall ball control,” Shrum noted. “She sees the field well and has a good first touch with the ball.”
Southmoreland hosts Waynesburg Central to open section play.
Uniontown
The last time a Uniontown soccer team – boy or girl – made the playoffs, it was 1997 and coach Eric Dolfi was a senior on that co-ed team. Now, despite a young team with only seven letterwinners and not a lot of varsity experience, Dolfi is looking for a postseason berth.
“We are making a turn to put us in the playoffs,” Dolfi said, adding that his Lady Raiders have been projected to finish third in Section 6-AAA. Uniontown finished 6-10-1 overall and 4-9-1 in section play last year.
“We are very fast,” Dolfi noted. “We have a defensive-minded team and should surprise some teams with our defensive skills.”
Dolfi will be looking in the direction of a pair of seniors, Kendal Risha and Brittany Jackson, to lead the Lady Raiders to the playoff’s promised land.
Risha has good speed and scored some important goals for Uniontown last year.
“We’re counting on her for her leadership skills and soccer abilities to take us to the next level,” said Dolfi. “She’s an all-around player and always at the right spot to do what has to be done.”
Playing defender and midfielder, Jackson played a key role in Uniontown’s defense last year.
“We expect Brittany to be very vocal on the field and to step up and control our defense.”
Sophomore forward/midfielder Jill Grena was Uniontown’s only freshman to earn varsity experience last year.
“She will be key to getting the ball to our forwards,” Dolfi said, adding that, “She also has the ability to get the ball into the net.”
Two freshmen, forward Kim Natural and striker/midfielder Krista Jackson, are also expected to make a significant contribution this season. Natural had a pair of goals in the Lady Raiders’ first scrimmage this season and Jackson brings stamina to the field.
“Krista has a decent touch on the ball, especially for a freshman,” Dolfi noted, “and is smart at what she does on the field.”
Uniontown hosts Connellsville to open section play.
Waynesburg Central
Herb Thompson’s first season as girls soccer coach at Waynesburg Central in 2005 represented the first time the Lady Raiders recorded a winning season.
Thompson’s Lady Raiders followed that initial success by making the playoffs in 2006 and 2007, obviously being the program’s first playoff appearances in school history.
Now, in Thompson’s fourth season, the Lady Raiders return a dozen letterwinners, including a pair of all-section performers in a pair of seniors, center midfielder Rebecca Rohanna and outside defender Carly Loughman.
Rohanna, in fact, has earned all-section honors three seasons running and is the quarterback of the team.
“She makes our team go,” Thompson said. “She has great ball skills, field sense and sees the field well. She is a strong leader and a great influence for our kids on the field.”
Several Division II schools have already expressed an interest in Rohanna, but Thompson sees her as a D-I prospect as well.
“Because she’s at Waynesburg she doesn’t get the attention players at bigger schools attract,” Thompson said. “If she were at a bigger name school, she would be attracting more attention. She isn’t a big scorer to generate that attention, but she makes the team work through her assists and ability to set up goals.”
Loughman, like Rohanna, is another four-year starter, and a two-time all-section player.
“Carly is fast and a tenacious defender,” Thompson said. “She is a technically sound player who makes good on-field decisions. She has the skill to shut down her left side of the field.”
Thompson said of senior outside left midfielder Abby Toothman, “She is a true left-handed, left-footed player who has a natural shot from that side of the field. She is solid fundamentally and has a cannon for a shot.”
Junior striker Taylor Augustine started last year as a sophomore.
“She is ready to step in as a leading striker,” Thompson said. “She has deceptive speed and can shoot with either foot.”
Augustine’s freshman sister, Nikki, will step in at center midfield.
Thompson is also looking toward sophomore keeper Anne Throckmorton to step in and make a solid contribution this season. Throckmorton’s foot skills can also enable Thompson to use her as a deep defender.
“Anne has strong leadership skills, especially for a sophomore, and is not afraid to direct our defensive players,” said Thompson.
With more overall balance and more balance offensively and defensively, Thompson is relying on the overall team-oriented approach, rather than focusing on individual players.
“But the only question mark in my mind is how deep we are,” Thompson said. “We will have the most seniors on the field in my four years and they have been together as a group for several years, and will have some freshmen get playing time, but the question among the freshmen is whether they are ready to step up to the varsity level.”
Waynesburg Central travels to Southmoreland to open section play.