Girls soccer notebook: Section title unlikely, but Mars still winning
Ken Wunderley / Tri-State Sports & News Service
The WPIAL’s longest current streak of consecutive section titles in girls soccer will most likely come to an end this week, but the Mars Fightin’ Planets will still be a team to watch in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs.
Mars has won or shared a section title the past 14 years. The Planets, ranked No. 4 in WPIAL Class 3A, have a 6-2 record in Section 1 and trail top-ranked Fox Chapel (8-0) by two games with only two games remaining in their section schedule.
“That’s a pretty impressive feat,” Mars coach Blair Gerlach said. “It’s rare to see a team win that many consecutive titles. We’re very proud of that. We will just have to start a new streak.”
The Planets, 11-2 overall, must win their final two section matches against Shaler and Penn Hills, and hope that Fox Chapel loses its final two section encounters against Hampton and Gateway, a highly unlikely occurrence. Then Mars and Fox Chapel would finish in a tie for first place.
“Our only two losses were to Fox Chapel,” Gerlach said. “And both were by one goal.”
Fox Chapel posted a 1-0 win against the Planets in the first half of the season, with the winning goal coming with 20 minutes remaining. The Foxes posted a 2-1 win in the second half with the deciding goal coming in the final two minutes.
“Fox Chapel has to be considered the favorite until somebody beats them,” Gerlach said. “But there is a lot of parity in Class 3A. There are probably five or six teams that have a legitimate chance of making it to the finals.”
Gerlach is not expecting to be among the top four seeds in the WPIAL bracket, which will be determined next Wednesday.
“History says the WPIAL will most likely pick the four section champions as the top four seeds,” Gerlach said. “We may not be a top-four seed, but I expect us to be competitive where ever they seed us.”
Gerlach has built this year’s squad around its four returning starters: senior midfielder Brynn Ramsey, a Duquesne commit, and senior defenders Julia Lishia, Ella Pierce and Meredith Ashbaugh.
“With three of our four defenders returning, it’s no surprise that the strength of our team is our defense,” Gerlach said.
Mars has scored 53 goals and allowed only five in 13 games.
“Our goal production is by committee,” Gerlach said. “We don’t have a big-time goal scorer like we’ve had in the past. We’ve had 12 different girls who have scored a goal. Everybody has chipped in and played a part in our success.”
Beaver still perfect
Beaver coach Nick Crivelli had high expectations coming into the 2024 season, but never expected the Bobcats to be the WPIAL’s last undefeated and untied team.
“I thought we would be a playoff team and challenge for the section title, but I did not anticipate that we would be 7-0 in the section and 11-0 overall at this point,” Crivelli said.
Beaver has already reached its first goal of qualifying for the Class 2A playoffs. The Bobcats can clinch the Section 3 title with wins Monday at Ambridge and Wednesday at Quaker Valley.
“We don’t talk about it,” said Crivelli, when asked about the unblemished record. “Our motto is ‘the next game is the most important game.’”
Crivelli has built his squad around the leadership of three seniors: midfielders Sydney Chontos, a Robert Morris commit, and Emerson Connelly, a Mercyhurst commit, and forward Lilia Battalini.
“Sydney and Emerson are four-year starters,” Crivelli said. “Lilia is a four-year letterman and three-year starter. They turned the whole program around when they came in as freshmen.”
Chontos leads the team with 19 goals and assisted on five others. Battalini has eight goals and 11 assists. Connelly, a defensive midfielder who Crivelli refers to as “the glue that holds our defense together,” has four goals and four assists.
And it’s not just those three providing offense for the Bobcats.
“We have had 12 different players who have scored a goal for us, including eight who have at least two goals,” Crivelli said. “It’s great to have so much balance.”
The biggest surprise for Crivelli is the play of junior goalkeeper Cali Coups.
“Our biggest concern coming into the season was to replace our four-year starter in goal,” Crivelli said. “Cali has been the surprise of the season for us. And she’s had plenty of help from our back line.”
Coups has given up only six goals in 11 matches and recorded five clean sheets.
Beaver is ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL, with Mount Pleasant as the only team ahead of the Bobcats in the rankings.
“Mount Pleasant has to be considered the favorite in a very strong Class 2A bracket,” Crivelli said. “We are looking forward to the playoffs.”
P-T still winning
Penn-Trafford has continued its winning ways despite a move back up to Class 4A.
After spending the past two years in Class 3A, the Warriors are back in Class 4A and have clinched a tie for the Section 1 title going into Monday’s match against Norwin.
Penn-Trafford (11-3, 8-0) has already clinched a WPIAL playoff berth, the fifth straight since Jimmy Mastroianni took over as coach.
“I’m very pleased with how the team has embraced our move back up to Class 4A,” Mastroianni said. “We’ve also been able to overcome a couple season-ending injuries. This group has a grit that is unmatched.”
Mastroianni took over a program that has had great success. The Warriors have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs at least 25 consecutive years dating back to 2000. Playoff brackets prior to that season are not available.
“It’s a more physical and fast paced game in Class 4A,” Mastroianni said. “We did our best to train for that over the summer. The girls have responded very well. I’m excited to see how we do in the playoffs.”
The Warriors feature nine seniors, including a pair of four-year starters in forward Alexis Brown, a PennWest California recruit, and defensive center midfielder Chloe Walton.
“Alexis has returned from a fractured patella that kept her out part of last season. She leads the team with 16 goals,” Mastroianni said. “Chloe controls the midfield for us.”
Another key returnee for the Warriors is senior goalkeeper and three-year starter Rease Solomon.
“Rease has been amazing between the posts,” Mastroianni said. “She’s saved our bacon a few times. We’re lucky to have her in goal.”
Penn-Trafford has also had its share of injuries. Freshman forward Tori Yurt, the team’s second-leading scorer with seven goals, suffered a season-ending injury.
Also out for the season is senior forward/midfielder Jessica Gadagno, who suffered an ACL injury halfway through last season. Mastroianni was hoping to have her back this year, but her recovery has taken much longer than expected.