South Fayette working hard to fashion another championship season
Lady Lions off to fast start
South Fayette working hard to fashion another championship season in girls soccer
By Eleanor Bailey
Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanc.net
Having labored in the U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works plant in Dravosburg for nearly 22 years, Nick Rosser knows a thing or two about taking raw materials and molding them into the building blocks for successful construction projects.
In his fifth year as head coach of the South Fayette girls’ soccer team, he is doing precisely the same thing. He has fashioned the Lady Lions into a championship club.
South Fayette has won back-to-back titles, edging Moon, 1-0, in overtime for the 2023 crown and blanking Fox Chapel, 4-0, for the 2024 title.
“Work ethic and blue-collar mindset are things I try to bring into our soccer culture at South Fayette,” Rosser said.
“Our ultimate goal is to defend our title, but at this point in the season, there’s always a lot of work to do.”
The Lions are blending in “new faces” into the line-up. They return six starters from last year’s undefeated (10-0) Section 3 championship team that finished 20-4 overall after falling to Mars, 1-0, in the second round of the PIAA tournament.
“Building chemistry and coming together as a unit is our first priority,” Rosser said.
“We need to establish our identity as a team and grow week by week. It’s about embracing the process, staying disciplined and competing every day.”
The Lions kicked off the 2025 campaign playing even with defending Class 4A champion, Peters Township, battling to a 1-1 draw in overtime.
Sophomore Gabby Beinecke scored the goal with an assist from Mia Deramo, a senior.
The Lions then captured the Avonworth Tournament. They edged Cathedral Prep, 1-0, in the championship match. Freshman Silvi Rossi scored the game-winning goal and again Deramo assisted.
In the tournament opener, a 4-0 win against Bethel Park, senior Quinn Miller garnered two goals while sophomore Alexa Deutschendorf and Deramo secured single tallies. Rossi and freshman Stella Medvec picked up assists.
Four girls made the Select 11 tournament team including Deramo, Rossi, Deutschendorf and Caitlyn Thompson, who earned both shutouts in the nets.
After dropping a 2-1 decision to West Allegheny, South Fayette roared back with a 10-0 triumph against Oakland Catholic as well as an 8-0 shutout against Albert Gallatin.
In the win against the Eagles, Beinecke and Deramo scored two goals each. Rossi, Lily Chiappetta, Paige Deklewa, Cameron Goldstein, Kate Morally and Emma Ferrari picked up the other scores.
In the win against the Colonials, Deramo racked up two tallies. Rossi, Beinecke, Deutschendorf, Chiappetta, junior Kate Black, and senior Nora Davidovich supplied single scores.
The Lions are led by four All-WPIAL players in Deramo, Beinecke, Thompson and Abbey Spalla, a junior defender who recently committed to Penn State, as well as senior defender Rylee Binion.
Miller, Deramo and Thompson are both team captains and Division I recruits. Thompson is a Miami (Ohio) commit while Deramo and Miller are bound for Youngstown State after graduation.
“I’m excited about the potential of this group,” Rosser said. “We return six starters from last year’s team and have a core group of younger players – particularly in the sophomore and freshman classes – who bring a lot of talent and will provide much-needed depth as the season progresses.”
In addition to Rossi and Medvec, Lainey Kuglar, Emily Freeman, Chloe Young, Savannah Breltich, Katlyn Fleck, Ellie Brennan, Tanusri Bharani, Brynn Davis and Aubrie Bailey are ninth graders on the roster.
In addition to Beinecke, Goldstein, Deutschendorf, Chiappetta and Morally, Maya Kegler, Riley Patton, Kali Chapman, Harper Zapf, Milan Pennetti and Elizabeth Jenks are 10th graders on the roster.
Rosser is also “confident” that the sophomores who gained valuable playing experience last season will “take a step forward” this autumn. He also noted the squad has many “strengths and weaknesses” on both sides of the ball. “Our focus is on developing consistency and trust throughout the line-up,” he said.
The Lions get that, plus maturity, with its remaining upper classmen. Among them are seniors: Camdyn Johnson, Maria Gabriel and Lyla Tarin; as well as juniors Masey Duchess and Judith Hiller.