Canon-McMillan, South Fayette emerging at soccer powers
While balance epitomized the girls’ soccer scene this autumn, the shift of power appears to have gravitated south as Canon-McMillan and South Fayette have emerged as contenders with Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.
The Lady Macs capped a Cinderella season with an appearance in their first-ever PIAA championship game. Canon-Mac also competed for its first WPIAL title. The Lady Macs finished 19-5-1 after a sudden-death overtime loss, 2-1, to Central Bucks West in the Class AAA state final back on Nov. 15 in Hershey.
“Competing for a state title is a once in a lifetime thing,” said C-M skipper Dave Derrico. “Our girls did so well to get so far and they played good soccer. I am not unhappy with their play. I am just disappointed with the result.”
Regardless of the state final result, the Lady Macs capped a near-championship campaign with plenty of post-season honors. With three selections, Canon-McMillan, along with the Lady Lions, leads the list of players picked for The Almanac’s Elite Eleven. Peters Township follows with two choices, as well as the MVP. (See related story on Laurel Carpenter.). Upper St. Clair placed two repeat performers while Bethel Park added one all-star on the squad. The list was compiled based on a survey of the area coaches as well as statistics and games viewed by the sports department.
Kyra Murphy headlines Canon-Mac’s representation. The senior goalkeeper posted 14 shutouts. She surrendered eight goals during 18 of the regular season games for a 0.44 goals per game average. She allowed six more tallies during district and state playoff action, finishing with .56 goals against mark. A three-year letter winner and team captain, Murphy registered 28 career shutouts.
In addition to recognition as an all-section and all-district performer for three seasons, Murphy gained her second all-state honor this fall. She is a two-time all-regional and all-East performer and this month gained NSCAA all-America honors. Murphy will play for Duquesne University.
Noting her career shutouts could have been greater had he not substituted younger players when the Lady Macs commanded big leads, Derrico noted Murphy’s leadership qualities. “She was an outstanding captain. She led the team during fitness training by example and she kept the girls focused this year when we had a couple of losses. Kyra was a great role model for the younger players on the team,” he said.
One of those younger players was Sabrina Bryan. The sophomore forward ranked among the top scorers in the area. She racked up 27 goals, including a tally just 32 seconds into the state championship game, giving the Lady Macs a 1-0 advantage that held up until 5:50 remained in regulation. The all-section performer also dished up nine assists. In two seasons, Bryan has collected 43 goals and 15 assists.
“Sabrina is another player with a great work ethic,” said Derrico. “She never stops moving on the field. She takes on bigger and stronger defenders. She is very quick, a good finisher and she keeps defenses under pressure.”
On defense, Abby Gillespie handled the pressure the Lady Macs’ faced from opposing forwards. The senior gained all-section and all-district honors for her play in the back. The three-year letter winner, however, could strike on offense as she finished with four goals and seven assists, giving her six tallies and 14 dish-offs for her career. A team captain, she shared in 14 shutouts.
“Abby took charge of the defense,” noted Derrico. “She kept them organized and focused. She was the emotional leader of our team and she demonstrated an amazing work ethic. She was a key player on a defense that only permitted a total of 14 goals during the season.”
Defense proved a specialty at South Fayette. The Lady Lions recorded 10 shutouts and surrendered 16 goals during a 14-5-1 season. South Fayette finished runner-up in Section 5-AA to South Park, which went on to compete for the PIAA title. The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals in the district playoffs.
Senior Corrine Loffler and sophomore Katie Nelson anchored the defense. Both netted all-section and all-WPIAL honors for their efforts this fall.
“She was tough hard-nosed defender who was very good at causing opposing teams to not want to attack up the middle of the field,” said head coach Wayne Capra of Loffler, his team captain.
Of Nelson, who had a goal and an assist, Capra said, “Katie clearly was one of the top defenders in the WPIAL. I would match her with anyone,” he said of his center back.
In the midfield, Maggie Pine has few rivals technically, says Capra. The junior also gained all-section and all-district acclaim. Pine finished with eight goals and four assists.
“Maggie’s our most gifted player technically,” Capra said. “She controlled the middle of the field. She also was a solid forward when we asked her to play there.”
At striker, however, the Lady Lions featured Autumn Heineman. The freshman forward claimed Rookie of the Year honors and helped propel the Lady Lions into the playoffs for the 10th year out of the past 11 under Capra’s guidance. Heineman exploded for 11 goals and two assists. Included in her tallies was the first goal scored against Yough after 19 straight shutouts this season. Despite the score, the Lady Lions lost to the Cougars, 3-2.
“Autumn is a difference maker up front,” Capra said. “She and our other freshman, Brenna McGuire, will be a deadly combination for opponents to handle in the years to come. With Autumn and the rest of our youth, the future is very bright for South Fayette soccer.”
At Upper St. Clair, the future proves promising as Emma Hasco returns to the line-up. The junior forward is already committed to Penn State. She gained all-section, all-district and all-state laurels in leading the Lady Panthers to a 12-3-5 season that included a playoff appearance and a Section 5 banner. USC finished 10-0-2 in the league thanks in part to Hasco’s 26 goals and 25 assists.
“Emma was a game changer,” said USC head coach Natasha Dirda. “And, our team MVP,” she added.
Sami Lackner proved USC’s MVP on defense. She helped the Lady Panthers post 10 shutouts while securing all-section and all-district honors. “Sami anchored our defense,” Dirda said. Lackner will play collegiately at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Virginia Commonwealth University is Maddie Santo’s college choice. The senior midfielder led Peters Township in goals and assists. She finished with 17 goals and 11 assists for the Lady Indians, who won the Section 4-AAA crown with an 11-1 record and finished 16-2-2 overall. Santo gained all-section and all-WPIAL recognition.
A four-year starter, Carly Johns also provided similar leadership for Peters Township. The all-WPIAL performer is best known for her versatility as head coach Pat Vereb pointed out her ability to play every position, including goalkeeper. Johns excelled in that spot during the Lady Indians’ state championship season in 2012.
Despite a rebuilding year, Bethel Park finished runner-up to USC in Section 5-AAA with a 9-1-2 record. The Lady Hawks finished 10-5-4 overall after losing to Moon in the WPIAL playoffs.
Halle Hammer excelled for the Lady Hawks. The senior midfielder fired in 15 goals. She gained all-WPIAL as well as all-section honors.