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Upper St. Clair’s Hasco named MVP

By Eleanor Bailey 6 min read
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For Emma Hasco, soccer provides solace.

“Truly (soccer is) the greatest passion I have in my life. I’ve been playing the sport I love for as long as I can remember and I’ve always I had a ball at my feet,” said Hasco, who was born in Texas and lived in England for nearly four years.

“Soccer has always been my escape from having a bad day. I know I can come down to this field,” continued the 18-year-old daughter of Michael and Buffy Hasco as she stood on the stadium turf at Upper St. Clair High School, “and kick a ball around and just feel at peace.”

Thanks to Hasco, there is peace among the Panthers. Because of her talent and unselfish ways, they are state champions for the first time in program history. Back on Nov. 21, Upper St. Clair defeated Central Bucks East, 2-1, to capture the PIAA Class AAA title.

“It wasn’t your average Saturday night,” said Hasco of that triump. “It was incredible. For us to make it there, play a phenomenal team and beat them, I couldn’t ask for a better ending. It was a night I will never forget.”

Nobody in Upper St. Clair will every forget Hasco’s two-goal performance that capped the 20-2-1 championship campaign. “To finish off my senior year, to score two very important goals in my career and win this gold medal, is special.”

Hasco is special, notes Dave Gray. He had the luxury of coaching her this season as well as her freshman year, when she broke onto the local scene as a starter for the Lady Panthers.

“Emma has set the bar very, very high. The level of play at Upper St. Clair has always been high but Emma has set the bar even higher,” said Gray. “One of the special things about her is not how good a player she is, it’s how good a leader and a person she is that makes her special. She has a calming effect on a game when things seem to be getting out of control. When things get dramatic, she reaches out. She has the ability to take the team on her shoulders and say ‘hold on’ or ‘let’s go.’ No doubt, she’s the best I’ve coached on any level, regardless of male or female. She’s that good.”

Coaches at all levels agree. The National Soccer Coaches Association dubbed her All-America. She gained that status nationally as well as regionally. In addition to all-WPIAL and all-section acclaim, Hasco was named the 2015 Pennsylvania Player of the Year.

In leading USC to a perfect record in section slate and to the WPIAL finals, Hasco racked up 19 goals. She dished up a team-high 25 assists.

“At the end of the day, awards are great but being on the field and playing more for something like school and with friends,” Hasco began. “Well, nothing compares to that. USC has been a huge part of my life. At the time as a freshman, I did not appreciate the impact. I’ve had two fantastic coaches,” she said of Gray and Natasha Dirda, who coached her sophomore and junior years. “They taught me so many important life lessons. I cherish those and knowing the impact we’ve had on the program. It takes a second to realize how special being the first team is but I think I’ve gained two times more than I’ve given the program. It’s made me appreciate the game and where its brought me.”

Soccer has brought Hasco much success and opportunity. In addition to her years with USC, she played 10 years with the Beadling Soccer Club, winning more than a half dozen PA-West championships and participating in the national finals. Thanks to her talents, she earned a scholarship to Penn State, which recently won a national championship.

“I am so lucky I can further my career with soccer in college,” said Hasco, who plans to major in marketing. “I knew I wanted to go (to Penn State). I loved it when I visited the campus and I hadn’t even looked at the facilities yet. It has a great college feel. A main street I love. I met the coaches and I knew I wanted to be under their program. It’s the perfect place for me and I am fortunate to be going to one of the best programs with some of the best coaches.”

Hasco has set high, yet attainable, goals for herself. She said she wants to get playing time as a freshman and help the Nittany Lions win “those championships.”

“I think that is so doable,” she added.

Gray sees Hasco being successful at Penn State. “She is definitely going to have a positive impact because Emma is going to do what’s best for Penn State. She will contribute significantly because for Emma, it’s not about the individual.”

Hasco says that is why USC proved so successful this fall. “One of the big aspects was how this team worked together,” she said. “When you looked at this roster the past four years, you wouldn’t have picked this team to go this far. All the girls worked together. They love each other. They were all passionate to make it to states. Another team with excellent players would not have made it click.”

That’s why playing for USC proved beneficial in the long run for Hasco. She said she learned many valuable lessons this season that she can take with her to Penn State and through life. “How to handle adversity. Work together with your teammates. Which I learned in this past year has been key. The collective effort from everyone with no drama. Caring about people around you. Those things can take you so far.”

Talent does the rest. Hasco, who played basketball until her sophomore year, is athletic. She admitted that she needed to work on her dibbling skills and keeping a level head throughout the competition. “Those are my weaknesses,” she said. “My strengths are I am a strong person with an athletic build, though. I like jumping, getting headers, taking hard shots, sprinting. I like more the athletic side of the game. That gives me a rush,” she said.

Being named Almanac MVP gave Hasco a rush of a different sort, however. “I’m very honored. There are a lot of great players out there, including in our section and the entire WPIAL. So to be named the top one out there is very humbling.”

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