Dec 6, 2016 By Eleanor Bailey 14 min read

Two years after Canon-McMillan’s last visit to Hershey, the athletic director asked David Derrico if his girls’ soccer team would be contenders for the PIAA title in 2015. The coach answered no but added that the Lady Macs would be “credible” contenders this fall. Derrico just felt a few of his young charges needed a little more seasoning. In 2016, players like Sabrina Bryan, Aideen O’Donoghue and Megan Virgin blossomed. Reaching their peak, they propelled Canon-Mac into history. The Lady Macs won their first state title.

“I believed we were going back to Hershey and it was difficult to keep the team on track, not looking too far ahead, but taking it one game at a time,” said Derrico. “I used that as the theme for the year. Even though I thought we had the best overall team in the WPIAL, we had to go out and prove it each and every game.”

With Derrico’s direction, the Lady Macs proved themselves the best. They captured the Section 2 banner, finished runner-up in Quad-A of the WPIAL, claimed the state championship and compiled a 22-1-1 record. For his efforts, Derrico garnered Almanac Coach of the Year awards but the skipper pushes the praise on his players.

“They didn’t quit and I am thankful for that. They never quit, even in the worst conditions possible to play in a final,” he said. “Their perseverance was rewarded.”

The Lady Macs continue to reap rewards for their efforts and their season. In addition to netting COTY honors, they dominate The Almanac’s girls’ all-star list. Sabrina Bryan headlines as MVP (see related story) and relative newcomer Addi Roman joins O’Donoghue and Virgin on the Elite Eleven list.

O’Donoghue followed Bryan in the scoring department with 27 tallies and 20 assists. The all-section and all-district performer changed from a forward to an attacking midfielder this season. “She did so knowing it would decrease the number of good opportunities that she would have to score but that is the player she is. Aideen doesn’t care who scores. She was just as happy to set Sabrina up,” Derrico said

“Aideen is a true leader. She leads by example. She works harder than anyone every minute of every practice day in and day out,” Derrico continued. “She was our real engine in the midfield.”

During the playoffs, Derrico put O’Donoghue in front of the defense. She plays defense for the U-17 national team pool. So it was a great fit for the Lady Macs as they were able to maintain leads against Norwin, Seneca Valley and Erie in the playoffs. Despite a dislocated shoulder, she managed to play against Cumberland Valley and in the state final at Hershey.

Additionally, O’Donoghue was the role model for the freshmen and sophomores. She worked with many of the young players. “I assigned her to work with several of them on their shooting and finishing skills,” Derrico said. “She looked after the younger players as if they were her sisters.”

One of those younger players was Roman. The sophomore registered 20 goals, seven of them in the playoffs, including the game-winning tallies in the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA championship match. Roman also collected 12 assists.

Meanwhile, Virgin was relied upon to stop goals from heading into the nets. She obliged, making 188 saves and recording nine shutouts this season. After taking over the slot when Kyra Murphy moved on to Duquesne two years ago, Virgin has posted 22 shutouts and 332 saves. Offensively, she scored six goals and managed five assists.

“Megan should have had more shutouts. However, we were playing a defense of younger players who struggled with mistakes and lapses of concentration at times during the season leaving Megan exposed,” Derrico said. “She really shined during the state playoffs in general and the semifinal and final in particular.”

Duo guide Lebo

Mt. Lebanon reached the Final Four in the WPIAL tournament thanks in part to the play of center midfielders Blair Proteau and Jess Wilhelm.

The pair captained the Blue Devils to a 10-9-2 record and a third-place showing in Section 2-AAAA, which produced the PIAA champion. The Blue Devils took Canon-McMillan into double overtime before succumbing in the semifinals of the district playoffs.

Both Proteau and Wilhelm garnered all-section as well as all-WPIAL recognition.

A senior, Proteau scored three goals, all game-winners. She also picked up seven assists.

“Blair was a huge presence for us in the middle of the field,” said coach Cara Senger. “She was able to keep the ball in our attacking half by winning balls in the air and keeping possession for us.”

A junior, Wilhelm led the team in goals and assists. She racked up 10 tallies and dished up nine assists.

“Jess is one of the hardest working players on the field,” Senger said. “She made it difficult for opposing teams to keep possession in the middle of the field because she was always so busy. She also provided an attacking spark for us when she went on a seven-game scoring streak at the end of the year to help with the run we made in the playoffs.”

Two for SF, too

South Fayette placed two players on the Almanac Elite Eleven list.

Katie Nelson makes here second appearance on the all-star team. The senior defender and captain was also an all-section performer for the fourth year and an all-WPIAL pick for the third season. She will continue her career at West Liberty University.

“Katie has been the leader of our team for seven years,” said coach Wayne Capra. “She was critical in leading our defense in, without question, was the toughest section in AAA. Katie will be a success in what ever path she chooses to follow with her life.”

Jayna Fittapaldo racked in the honors for her play in the midfield. The senior gained all-section and all-district accolades. She also earned a scholarship to the University of Illinois. Fittapaldo scored nine times and dished up nine assists.

“Jayna organized our midfield and forwards into a cohesive unit that led South Fayette and helped us keep the string of playoffs for 11 of the last 12 years,” Capra said.

Mertz repeats

Though just a sophomore, Landy Mertz makes her second appearance on the Almanac’s Elite Eleven list. In fact, she also claimed all-state laurels to go along with her selection as all-section and all-WPIAL.

Last year, Mertz exploded onto the scene, scoring 13 goals and picking up five assists as Upper St. Clair captured an undefeated section banner and a PIAA championship with a 20-2-1 record. This fall, Mertz picked up the pace and pumped in 21 goals to go along with eight assists.

Obiri top Rebel

Unstoppable. That’s what Mofoluke Obiri is on the pitch.

Obiri ranked among the top scorers in the WPIAL while leading Seton-La Salle to Section 2-A runner-up honors and a playoff berth. The Rebels finished 10-2 in the league and 11-5 overall after falling to Riverside, 2-0, in the WPIAL tournament. A junior, Obiri fired in 23 goals to go along with 12 assists. The two-time all-section performer garnered all-WPIAL laurels this season. “Mo is such a dangerous forward,” said SLS skipper Brooke Quertinmont. “She is fast and skilled and was able to score so many goals while being the focus of the other team.”

LaVigna paces PT

Though only a sophomore, Regan LaVigna guided Peters Township to the playoffs in challenging Section 2 of Quad-A. The Indians finished 5-4-1 in the league and 10-6-3 overall after falling to Seneca Valley in the WPIAL playoffs.

A midfielder, LaVigna earned all-section as well as all-district honors. She ranked among the team’s top scorers with 12 goals and dished up eight assists.

“Regan is a tenacious and strong competitor,” said PT coach Pat Vereb. “She was asked to move to forward at the end of the season and led a strong, two-pronged attack for us.”

Ball leads CV

Though only a junior, Allie Ball dominated play for the Colts. She filled in for all-district player, Morgan Henderson, when she suffered an injury prior to the season. Though she usually played centerback or holding mid, Ball led the team with 11 goals and eight assists.

“Without a doubt, Allie was our best all-around player that meant the most to our team in all aspects of the game,” said CV skipper Ron Moreschi.

Honorable mention

Among the players garnering honorable mention recognition are:

• Paige Schindehette, Meredith Heh and Lauren Barr from Bethel Park. Schindehette maintained a 93 save percentage in goal for the Hawks. Heh led the team in points with four goals and three assists. Barr anchored the defense and garnered Quad-A All-Section 2 honors.

• Kayla Marks and Maddie Walters from Bishop Canevin. Both girls earned all-section recognition for the Lady Crusaders, who finished 5-14 overall.

• Cheyenne Trest, Lexey Finney, Isabel Scheidenhelm, Riley O’Korn, Madison Whipple from Canon-McMillan. Trest, who excels in basketball, plays soccer only during the high school season. Her four goals and 23 assists pushed her career numbers to 22 tallies and 52 assists respectively. A captain, she played outside midfield for the Lady Macs. “She was a good leader,” said David Derrico. “Cheyenne has nice technical skill but even better vision. Her distribution was outstanding.”

A senior midfielder, Finney provided four goals and six assists to the offense. A senior captain, Scheidenhelm racked up 12 assists. A junior, O’Korn collected eight assists and added a goal. She also organized the defense. A junior midfielder, Whipple pumped in three goals and totaled 12 assists.

• Alyssa Daugherty and Erin James from Chartiers-Houston. This duo led the offensive attack and helped the Lady Bucs to a third-place showing in Section 2-A with a 7-5 slate. Both scored 16 goals during the regular season. C-H finished 8-11 overall.

• Tia Horew and Lauren Lohman from Chartiers Valley. According to coach Ron Moreschi, Horew was the squad’s “most dangerous” scoring threat. Double-teamed most games, her numbers, he added, “don’t do her effort and ability justice.” Horew registered seven goals and collected seven assists. Another junior, Lohman played left back and did not allow any player that she marked to score a goal this season. She anchored a defense that recorded eight shutouts and allowed only 1.52 goals this fall. “With her speed and ability to play the long ball,” Moreschi noted, Lohman was also a big part of the Colts’ offense out of the back. She managed one goal and an assist.

• Julie LaLama from Mt. Lebanon. This defender earned Quad-A Section 2 honors for the Blue Devils, who recorded five shutouts.

• Maria Mastrangelo and Kaylee Russman from Seton-La Salle. A senior midfielder, Mastragelo recorded eight goals and five assists. She also gained all-section honors. “Maria was our leader on and off the field,” said SLS coach Brooke Quertinmont. “She is hard working and a great example to all of the girls. Maria was our playmaker. She is so skilled with the ball.”

A junior, Russman registered five shutouts in the nets for the Rebels. “Kaylee is a very athletic goalie,” Quertinmont said. “She kept us is many tough games with great saves.

• Sarah Rofosco, Isabella Nanni, Samantha Doleno, Brenna McGuire, Autumn Heineman, Madison Burnside, Lexie Brown, Lexie Keeling, Rachel Helbling-South Fayette.

A senior defender and captain, Rofosco started four years on defense for the Lions and earned all-section acclaim. “She is not a flashy player but makes good decisions and never gets flustered during a match,” said Wayne Capra. The SF field general also added that he would consider Rofosco one of the top players that he coached during his 27-year tenure, which included seasons at the helm at Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.

Nanni is another senior defender and captain from South Fayette that gained all-section honors. She grew and matured into a very solid part of SF’s defense and was talented enough to play any Defense or Midfield position.

A senior keeper, Doleno made key saves in wins over Central Valley and Ambridge and sparked the upset playoff win against Oakland Catholic. “She worked hard and grew into a very solid goalkeeper,” Capra said.

McGuire scored seven goals and collected seven assists. The junior forward and captain was named to the all-section team for the second time. “Brenna will continue to mature and grow into one of the “go to” players for South Fayette next season,” Capra said. “Her knowledge of the game grows every season and will lead to good things next season.

A junior forward, Heineman posted six goals. Capra predicts she will be a formidable force on SF’s forward line next fall.

A junior, Burnside supplied two goals and an assist to the SF attack. She also anchored the defense and will be the only returning starter next season in the back.

A junior, Brown started on defense and in the midfield. According to Capra, she was instrumental in getting the Lions to the playoffs.

Keeling, who also scored a goal, was another versatile player, used on defense and in the midfield. She gives the team options next season, says Capra.

Helbing managed four goals and three assists. The junior midfielder possessed the fastest speed on the team as she is a two-time WPIAL champion in track. “And it showed,” Capra said. He predicts she will be “a force” next season and “difficult to deal with for anybody”.

• Nikki Gibbons and Mia Snyder from Upper St. Clair. This duo earned all-section honors; Gibbons as a forward and Snyder as a defender. They helped the Panthers to a runner-up showing to Canon-McMillan in Section 2-AAAA and an 11-6 overall record. USC reached the quarterfinals in the WPIAL playoffs.

PT has top newcomer

The future of Peters Township girls’ soccer is extremely bright as Hannah Stuck dominated the action in only her first season of varsity action.

The freshman exploded for 16 goals. She also collected six assists. Plus, she was the only freshman named to the all-WPIAL team in Quad-A.

“Hannah is a multi-talented athlete that played every position but goalkeeper,” said PT coach Pat Vereb.

Players to watch

Among the area players to watch are:

• Olivia Mandus and Coleeta Ozbey from Chartiers Valley. A sophomore, who appeared in only one varsity game last year, Mandus moved into the starting line-up this season and fired in nine goals from her attacking midfield position. Three of her tallies were game-winners. She also notched an assist. A freshman forward, Ozbey managed five goals and an assist. “She was extremely effective,” noted CV coach Ron Moreschi until she suffered a season-ending injury against Oakland Catholic.

• Annabel Thomas from Canon-McMillan. This freshman alternated as a starter with Addi Roman. She compiled six goals and 10 assists. “She is big, strong and skilled,” said David Derrico. “She is strong enough even as a freshman to hold the ball with defenders on her back. She worked very well with Addi.” Thomas scored game-winning goals in overtime against USC and against Norwin in the PIAA quarterfinal match.

• Bridget Caste from Mt. Lebanon. This sophomore stepped in as a center back and started every game for the Blue Devils, who reached the semifinals in the WPIAL playoffs, falling in overtime to Canon-McMillan.

• Helina VanBibber, Sarah Meindl, Rachel Weis of South Fayette.

A sophomore, VanBibber totaled two goals and three assists as a midfielder. She also kicked for the football team.

A sophomore, Meindl scored a goal and had an assist. Tall and rangy, she who would have been more of a force this season had she not been hampered by an injury. “She will be a danger to opposing defenses next season,” predicted SF coach Wayne Capra.

A sophomore, Weis managed 11 goals and three assists. “Rachel has exceptional speed and intensity,” said Capra. “She will clearly be a force for the next two seasons at South Fayette.”