Don’t stop believing
Albert Gallatin girls soccer earns huge victory over Laurel Highlands
Journey’s “Don’t stop believin'” is 45 years old, but the hit song still remains relevant in present time, and the message definitely resonates with the Albert Gallatin girls soccer team.
The program began in 1998 and hasn’t made the WPIAL playoffs, but Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Laurel Highlands in Section 3-3A action put the Colonials in solid position to make history if they defeat Belle Vernon or Uniontown in one of their final two section matches.
Albert Gallatin could also qualify if the Mustangs lose their final two section contests against Thomas Jefferson or Elizabeth Forward, which would send five teams to the WPIAL postseason out of the section due to the Colonials and Mustangs splitting their two meetings and holding an equal number of points in league play.
Albert Gallatin (3-5-0, 7-6-0) defeated the Red Raiders, 5-0, on Oct. 1 at Bill Power Stadium. The Colonials lost to Belle Vernon, 3-0, on Sept. 21.
“We are not there yet,” Albert Gallatin coach Justin Cerullo said. “But if you don’t jump the hurdles when they are in front of you, then you can’t get to the next one.”
Albert Gallatin plays the Leopards (5-1-2, 7-2-4) on Monday at James Weir Stadium before hosting Uniontown on Oct. 14.
Laurel Highlands (3-5-0, 4-8-0) will host the Jaguars (4-2-2, 5-6-3) on Monday prior to facing the Warriors (7-1-0, 8-4-0) on Oct. 14 at Elizabeth Forward.
The Mustangs could earn the lone fourth-place finish if they defeat or play to a draw in their final two section tilts.
Cerullo has challenged his team to follow the advice of songwriters Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon, and his club started to gain confidence they could qualify for the District 7 playoffs when Albert Gallatin defeated Thomas Jefferson, 3-2, on Sept. 10 at York Run Stadium.
“We have talked about making the playoffs a lot because it has become our running joke,” Cerullo said. “They didn’t see it in themselves, and I saw what they could do. The very first moment that they started to believe was after the TJ win. Olivia Eicher looked at me after that win and said, ‘Coach, we are going to the playoffs,’ and it was the first moment that I felt that they really did believe.
“We’ve had some hiccups, but they have been in every game they’ve played this season. We were tied (first place in the section) with Elizabeth Forward before they were just too much the other day. They are a spectacular group of young women, and I am proud and lucky to be their coach.”
Laurel Highlands defeated Cerullo’s squad on Sept. 16 at home by a 1-0 score when the Mustangs’ Ava Ruvalcaba scored off a deflection with 90 seconds remaining after teammate Camryn McClean sent in a free kick.
The finish to Wednesday’s match was similar in several circumstances, as McClean took the free kick, and a bounce nearly helped Ruvalcaba put in a goal, but Albert Gallatin was able to hang on for the victory.
McClean used her left foot to blast a kick from 54 yards away from the goal with 12 seconds remaining in the second half. The ball bounced over the head of Colonials keeper Ellie Seese and Laurel Highlands nearly scored to tie the match and one point with a draw, but the home team couldn’t convert on the final opportunity.
“The blood pressure is probably double what it normally is,” said Cerullo in reference to the chaotic finish. “It was eerily similar to the last time we played them, but that went the wrong way for us, for sure.”
The Mustangs had an opportunity with 2:53 remaining in the second half when Gracie Cicci delivered a pass to Ella Doman, who had created some space in the center of the field. There was contact between Doman and an Albert Gallatin defender inside the 18-yard box, but no foul was called, much to the chagrin of the Laurel Highlands coaching staff.
Despite his team not receiving an opportunity to tie the match from the penalty mark, Mustangs head coach Simon Mulindwa was looking for stronger finishes when chances arose in the final third.
“We can blame the ref all we want, but if we don’t bury our chances, it is going to come back and bite us,” Mulindwa said. “Even in the last game we played, we won 1-0 but we missed a lot of chances and just got lucky, but this time around, their defense was organized and we failed to bury our chances.”
The match was tightly contested from the opening kick, and the majority of the action was played in the midfield area, but the Colonials had had two opportunities in the first 10 minutes, as senior Caileigh Theodori took the first of her team’s six corner kicks. Theodori, who is also one of Albert Gallatin’s captains, is the Colonials’ set piece specialist, which proved large 16 minutes and 30 seconds into the match when Jaelle Plum was fouled 26 yards from the goal and the visitors were given a free kick.
Theodori’s blast bounced off the home team’s defensive wall and in front of the net to Plum, who sent a shot to the left of keeper Addison Stroko for the lone goal of the match at 23:30 of the first half.
Plum’s goal was Albert Gallatin’s first shot on target.
“It is nice to have that mix of young and veteran players, and having the freshmen play well is exciting for the future,” Cerullo said. “Laurel Highlands is what Uniontown and Albert Gallatin look at as the big brother, or in this case, the big sister.
“This is where the majority of the Fayette County youth soccer players are from. They almost always have a plethora of numbers that come through the program, and a lot of players that are just very talented, and I don’t take anything away from them in this win. They are a really good group of players, and that’s why, honestly, the win means so much.”
Stroko stopped five of the Colonials’ six shots on goal.
Laurel Highlands senior captain Camryn McClean normally plays in the midfield, but due to an injury, she has been sent to the backline, however, McClean took the Mustangs’ set pieces, including their first corner kick with 19 minutes left in the opening half.
“Camryn has more experience with the ball, so she can help in serving us for those runs,” Mulindwa said. “She normally plays in the midfield and is one of our top scorers, but because of the injury, we had to move her to the back.”
The initial corner was sent over the goal by Albert Gallatin, which provided McClean with a second opportunity, which went to Ruvalcaba, who sent a shot to the right of the net, but Seese dove on the ball for her first of four saves in earning the clean sheet.
LH earned four corner kicks.
The Colonials had an opportunity off a corner kick, but the Mustangs’ Abby DeLorenzo cleared the ball out of danger.
Theodori sent a free kick from 30 yards out to Izzy DeHaven, who touched the ball to Lacey Blair, but the shot from inside the 18-yard box went over the net.
Camilla Frantz had a clear run for the home team from 35 yards out after retrieving a through ball from McClean with 10:45 left in the first half, but Albert Gallatin’s Khloe Brown was able to boot the ball away from Frantz before a shot on target could be taken.
The Colonials’ Gemma Valenti and Alina McClelland stopped chances from Doman and Frantz in the final three minutes of the first half to keep the score at 1-0 entering the halftime break.
Valenti and Paige Kennedy continued to impede the progress of runs from Laurel Highlands in the first five minutes of the second half.
The Mustangs’ Kenna Frey was stopped by Seese on a shot from 12 yards out with 17:15 remaining in the match.
Ruvalcaba sent a pass to Frye, who took a shot from 15 yards from the goal, but Seese made the save.
Doman was fouled two yards outside of the penalty area, and a yellow card was issued at 3:41 of the second half, which allowed Ruvalcaba to take a free kick 20 yards from target.
Ruvalcaba’s right-footed shot was stopped by Seese.