Colonials make history
AG girls soccer clinches 1st WPIAL playoff berth in program history
Albert Gallatin made program history on Wednesday night in earning a 9-1 victory over Uniontown in Section 3-3A girls soccer play at Albert Gallatin Stadium in York Run to clinch its first playoff berth in the team’s 28-yard history.
The Colonials improved to 4-6-0 in section action and 8-8-0. Albert Gallatin finished the regular season as the fourth-place team in league play, which qualified Justin Cerullo’s team for the WPIAL playoffs in Class 3A.
The Colonials came into the season under the radar, but stunned the section in their opener with a 3-2 victory over Thomas Jefferson (5-3-2, 6-7-3) on Sept. 10 at Albert Gallatin. The Jaguars also earned a berth in the district postseason in third place.
The Colonials suffered a 1-0 home setback to Laurel Highlands on Sept. 16, as the Mustangs scored a goal in the last 90 seconds to break a scoreless match, but Albert Gallatin returned the favor with a 1-nil triumph over Laurel Highlands at Mustang Field on Oct. 7.
Elizabeth Forward (9-1-0, 10-4-0) closed the regular season at the top of the table and Belle Vernon (7-1-2, 9-2-4).
The Colonials defeated the Red Raiders, 5-0, in their first meeting on Oct. 1 at Bill Power Stadium in Uniontown.
“This group of student-athletes have won their games with true class, and have competed in every game they have played this season,” Cerullo said.
Cerullo stated in an article that was featured in the Herald-Standard on Oct. 9 that he needed the team to believe in themselves, and the optimism rose when his club topped Thomas Jefferson.
“We have talked about making the playoffs a lot because it has become our running joke,” said Cerullo following Albert Gallatin’s victory over Laurel Highlands. “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.”
Senior Caileigh Theodori, who is one of the team’s captains and was honored prior to kickoff during Senior Night festivities, recorded a hat trick, which was more than enough goals for Colonials junior keeper Ellie Seese.
Theodori and fellow seniors Izzy DeHaven and Bella McClelland had one assist apiece.
McClelland added a brace, and teammates Paige Kennedy, Alina McClelland and Jaelle Plum each had one tally.
Albert Gallatin has a non-section match remaining on Oct. 19 at McKeesport (3-5-0).
The WPIAL soccer steering committee will hold its pairings meeting on Oct. 21 to determine the brackets for all classifications. The playoffs could start as early as Oct. 22 and run through the WPIAL championship matches, which are scheduled to be contested Nov. 5-7 at F.N.B. Stadium in Pittsburgh.
The home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters will be the site for the PIAA championships on Nov. 20 and 21.