Improvement key to Bethel Park girls’ soccer success
Day-by-day improvement determines success for the Bethel Park girls’ soccer club this fall. That’s because the Lady Hawks graduated eight seniors from last year’s WPIAL Final Four club.
“Our main disadvantage is that many of our starters have little or no varsity experience and therefore many question marks remain,” said BP field boss Jonathan Gentile. “In order to be successful, we must continue to become better soccer players daily.”
The Hawks must improve in the back first as they reconstruct on defense. BP lost five key players that contributed to 15 shutouts and allowed just eight goals during an 18-4-1 campaign that ended with a double-overtime loss to Seneca Valley in the PIAA tournament.
BP’s defense is comprised of all new faces. Kristi Roth, Lauren Barr, Jordan Mehalko, Lindsey Hulbert, Kelsey Tischler, Delaney Scott and Kaitlyn Vacca will fill the vacancies in the back. “We look to build from the back and will focus on defending well in every match-up,” Gentile said.
Though Tara Nath served as goalkeeper last season, she will see more time this fall in the midfield or striker position because the Lady Hawks graduated Tatiana Ruzzini along with her 26 goals and nine assists.
Halle Hammer and Megan Barr return to anchor the midfield. Hammer fired in 20 goals and provided nine assists. Gentile anticipates similar production from Hammer, now a senior. “We expect Halle to continue her role as an offensive threat,” he said.
Marisa Johnson should continue to develop. As a freshman midfielder and striker last season, she came on late, providing four goals and three assists to the attack. “We look for Marisa to continue to create chances up top for us,” Gentile said. Junior midfielders Mia Wohlgemuth and Molly Gorges should also ‘make an impact,’ adds Gentile.
BP welcomes two freshmen to the varsity roster. Bailey Farabaugh is a midfielder while Mehalko is a defender. Both were fighting for starting slots. Sophomore Maria Winzek and Rachel Toogood add to the attack on the flanks as outside midfielders. “We have great camaraderie and the girls work hard,” explained Gentile of the team’s strengths. “They have a desire to become better players every day.”
A strong schedule will also contribute to BP’s daily improvement. The Hawks contend with Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon and Baldwin for the section title. They will host perennial district and state finalist Peters Township Sept. 13 at 11:30 a.m. plus play Mars Oct. 1 at Highmark Stadium, the site of the WPIAL championships in November.
“These will be key games for us. We always have good matches with these teams. Hopefully they will prepare us to reach our goals, which remain the same. Section, WPIAL and state titles,” rattled off Gentile.