South Fayette wins first PIAA girls soccer crown

Lady Lions beat Radnor, 3-1

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Captains Quinn Miller, Mia Deramo and Caitlyn Thompson eagerly accept the PIAA trophy while teammates in the background applaud and Radnor teammates at right console themselves after South Fayette's 3-1 triumph in the Class 3A championship soccer match.

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Silvianna Rossi heads a shot toward the goal during PIAA Class 3A soccer championship action. Rossi scored the game-winning goal in South Fayette's 3-1 win against Radnor.

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Harper Zapf (center) is mobbed by her teammates after scoring an insurance goal in South Fayette's 3-1 win over Radnor.

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Mia Deramo (17) and Alexa Deutschendorf (18) help head the ball away from Radnor’s Ailsa Gilmour during PIAA Class 3A soccer championship action.

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Harper Zapf (28) jumps for joy while being swarmed by her teammates after scoring an insurance goal in South Fayette's 3-1 win over Radnor.

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Mia Deramo (back) and Quinn Miller (33) battle Radnor’s Kayla Cormier (2) for the soccer ball in PIAA Class 3A soccer championship action. South Fayette defeated the Raptors, 3-1, to claim their first state title in girls soccer history.

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Silvianna Rossi reacts after scoring the game-winning goal for South Fayette.

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Mia Deramo advises her teammates during a break in the action of the PIAA Class 3A soccer championship match against Radnor.

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The South Fayette girls soccer team captured its first ever PIAA championship when the Lady Lions defeated Radnor, 3-1, in the Class 3A finals played Nov. 15 at Northeastern High School in Manchester.

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Kate Black (25) and Lyla Tarin (24) savor the sweet taste of victory while Nora Davidovich (23) laughs in delight after South Fayette beat Radnor, 3-1, to win its first state title for girls soccer in school history.

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Gabby Beinecke takes a hard shot on goal that is deflected by Radnor defender Bridget Hickey.

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South Fayette players react with excitement after scoring a goal in a 3-1 win against Radnor in the PIAA Class 3A championship game.

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South Fayette players show off their gold medals and other spoils of victory after beating Radnor, 3-1, to claim the PIAA state championship in soccer.

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Caitlyn Thompson hoists the PIAA trophy as her South Fayette teammates join in the celebration after defeating Radnor, 3-1, in the Class 3A championship match. At far left, Harper Zapf joins the fun as do Abbey Spalla (1) and Silvi Rossi (behind Spalla). All three scored goals in the game. Spalla had the equalizer on a penalty kick. Rossi had scored the game-winner. Zapf tacked on the insurance goal. The state title was the first in South Fayette girls soccer history and second of the year for the school as the girls basketball team completed the feat in March.

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Abbey Spalla (1) is hugged by Mia Deramo before she is mobbed by her teammates after helping South Fayette beat Radnor, 3-1, in the state championship match. Spalla scored on a penalty kick to tie the match, 1-1, with 25 minutes remaining.

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Harper Zapf never doubted South Fayette would be wearing the PIAA Class 3A soccer crown.

The sophomore defender never wavered in her thinking even when the Lady Lions fell behind, 1-0, to Radnor in the championship match played Nov. 15 at Northeastern High School’s Bobcat Stadium in Manchester.

It was the third time in the state tournament that had happened. South Fayette was forced to come from behind to beat undefeated Cocalico, 4-3, in overtime during the quarterfinals and Dubous, 6-1, in the semifinals before toppling the Raptors, 3-1, for the state championship.

“From the start, I knew it. I was like we’re coming back. We’re winning. We’re going all the way,” Zapf said with emphasis. “At no point were we coming here and not winning. That’s what we all said.

“Yeah, we were a little bit concerned but I have faith in our team. I knew that we would get right back into it because we’ve been down by a lot and we’ve been able to come back.”

South Fayette roared back with three unanswered, second-half goals to secure the school’s first state title in girls soccer history.

Zapf scored the insurance tally off a set piece with 10:27 remaining, but for much of the match she contributed on the back line.

Zapf shared defensive duties with center backs Abbey Spalla and Rylee Binion along with Nora Davidovich and Maria Gabriel while Caitlyn Thompson anchored the unit in the nets, making three critical saves.

“It’s just so awesome and crazy to score a goal in a state championship game,” Zapf said.

Goals were hard to come by for Radnor opponents because the Raptors rode a seven-game postseason shutout streak into the state final.

The Raptors also made Keira Mucksavage’s tally in the fourth minute hold up until 25:12 remained in the second half.

At that point, Gabby Beinecke was tackled in the box, near the left side of the end line, and South Fayette was awarded a penalty kick. Abbey Spalla converted the shot to tie the match, 1-1.

“We were creating so many opportunities, which also helped create that penalty shot because we were driving,” said South Fayette head coach Nick Rosser. “We pretty much work on (penalty kicks) every day in practice and Abbey is one of four girls who are pretty good at them.

“Once we get that one goal, then we just keep going,” Rosser added.

With 20:43 to play, freshman Silvi Rossi scored the game-winning goal. While racing down the ride side, she took a pass from senior Emma Ferrari and deposited a crossing shot into the net.

“Silvi’s a workhorse,” Rosser said. “As a freshman, she has really come along and learned so much. She has benefited from great leadership.”

Rosser cited team captains Mia Deramo and Quinn Miller specifically for taking Rossi under their wings. Both are seniors bound for Youngstown State to continue their playing careers.

Deramo had high praise for Rossi.

“Silvi’s amazing,” she said. “She’s just a little freshman and I’m so proud of how far she’s come. I know she’s going to do even more as she grows up because she is just awesome.”

Deramo noted that all three girls who scored for the Lady Lions were underclassmen. “That showed they all did this for the seniors. It was our last game and that was really just a heartfelt effort that resulted in the win.”

While Deramo and Miller shared captain duties with Thompson, they represented a small senior class that also included Camdyn Johnson, Paige Deklewa, Gabriel, Binion and Davidson. Nevertheless their kinship with the underclassmen proved the cohesiveness that produced the championship.

“We all played for each other and that resulted in a very important win,” Deramo said. “This is a group that has faced a lot of adversity and battled back because we just love each other and keep playing every single minute and every game for each other.”

Rosser agreed that the team’s chemistry, camaraderie and fortitude propelled them throughout the season, a season that saw the Lady Lions claim a section banner but fail to win a third-straight WPIAL championship only to rebound to win the PIAA title.

South Fayette finished 22-2-1 overall while Radnor ended the season with a 20-5 record.

“This is a group that just never gives up,” Rosser said. “The girls love each other and they pull for each other. They all can go onto the field and contribute. They never give up. They just keep going.”