Upper St. Clair wins first PIAA girls’ soccer title
To become state champions, Upper St. Clair had to accomplish things it had never done before in girls’ soccer.
In winning the first PIAA title in school history, the Lady Panthers knocked off undefeated squads in back-to-back matches. After avenging their WPIAL championship loss, handing Norwin (24-1) its first defeat, 2-1, in the semifinals, the Lady Panthers topped previously unbeaten Central Bucks East (24-1-1) by the identical score in the PIAA final played Nov. 22 at Hersheypark Stadium.
Humbled by the achievement as well as being the architect behind the 20-2-1 campaign that resulted in the state banner, USC head coach David Gray said, “I am honored to be the guy that is behind the first state championship but there is a long list before me of people who have done a tremendous job. All their history,” he added. “I am just a part of what has been happening.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls,” Gray continued. “They came to battle. They played their hearts out throughout the whole game. They found a way.”
USC found a way by using a goalkeeper, who had not played the position until this season. Nikki Gibbons spearheaded a strong defensive front that weathered more than a dozen corner kicks. The freshman had been a field player before the 2015 campaign. Of her game in the nets, Gray said, “Nikki plays like a 25-year-old professional back there. Nothing fazes her. She doesn’t get down. She’s been brilliant all year for us.”
So, too, has been USC’s defense. Elaina Walnoha, Brianna Murgi, Reilly Ford, Mia Snyder and Jessica Murphy played like pros, too, in the back while the Panthers relied on Emma Hasco to produce the offense. The Penn State recruit responded with both Panther goals.
“Those were two world-class goals,” Gray said of Hasco’s tallies.
With 6:59 left in the game, she scored the decisive goal. Hasco received the ball at midfield and dribbled past a couple defenders. Then she combined with Rachel Witte on a give-and-go before she finished into the lower right-hand side of the net.
Even though the Patriots had tied the contest with 16:51 to play on a short-range shot taken by Emma Loving, there was no doubt in Hasco’s mind the Panthers would prevail.
“Honestly, when it went to 1-1, I felt we had the momentum. We wanted it more. I thought that we would get the second goal. I knew we would. We were playing our hearts out all game.
It was a great lead up. I was kind of surprised we had the momentum but in the end, it made sense, that score 2-1, there is no team that deserve it more than this group. It’s incredible. It’s a great feeling.”
Hasco gave the Panthers that feeling and assurance late in the first half. With 6:18 remaining, she launched a rocket into the net for the first tally. Hasco took a pass from Abby Perri around the 35-yard line and lofted the ball high and long into the back of the net.
“I just saw a great 1-2 pass from our forward and I saw the opportunity and I decided we had the wind on our side so I just shot it and I just gave it my hardest shot,” Hasco said. “Fortunately, it just went right into the goal. So it was a great goal.”
Gray added that the score was one that he has seen before. “Dozens of times. Against Norwin, goalkeeper made an unbelievable save on that same shot but Emma got it this time. It’s not the first time we’ve seen that from her.”
It was, however, the first time such a shot resulted in such an accomplishment. The Panthers were only making their second appearance in a state final for girls’ soccer. In 1994, they fell, 2-1, to Great Valley.
“It’s incredible,” Hasco said. “You realize how special it is when no other team in Upper St. Clair has done it.”
The Panthers would not have been able to win a state title without the assistance of Landy Mertz, Maddy Rocks and Melody Vissman. They made strong contributions during the championship match while Kelsey McCown came off the bench and provided a strong physical, ball-winning presence in the middle of the field.
Other members of the squad also included: Samantha Smith, Lauren Dudley, Corrin Bogan, Tommie Lackner, Katherine Miller, Lauren Hamel, Jessica Sourbeer, Peyton Bayer, Breighan Szajnecki, Andie Villella and Carey Stief.
Gray’s coaching staff included his assistants: Greg Wagner, Mike Gray, Brittany Findley, Alex Jaffe and Sharon Sumansky.