South Fayette ends soccer season

As disappointed as South Fayette was in being eliminated from the PIAA AAA playoffs, the Lions had reason to celebrate the 2017 soccer season.
While a 1-0 loss in overtime to Erie Cathedral Prep ended the year at 15-6-2 for the Lions, the Ramblers are ranked No. 1 in the state. Additionally, the Lions lost a section banner on what coaches called a “questionable” call.
They finished 8-1-1 and runner-up to rival Chartiers Valley. The Lions also fell in the semifinals of the WPIAL tournament, losing, 3-2, to West Allegheny.
“We lost some difficult games this year,” coach Rob Eldridge said. “As I reflected on the season, I realized all the heartache our kids experienced.”
That was clearly evident as the Lions pushed the Ramblers out of their comfort zone in the state tournament.
“We had our opportunities to win the game,” Eldridge noted. “That’s all we hoped for going into the game. We wanted to take their team to places they’ve never been before and make them uncomfortable. Clearly, we achieved that but came up short.”
For seniors such as Tim Locher, Rudy Panda, Conor Egan, Eshan Kadakia, Zack DiGiacomo, Dylan Bollinger, Jakub Olszewski, Joaldy Landaverde and Jared Renz, their careers hardly came up short.
Renz led the team with 11 goals. Locher posted 11 shutouts in the nets. Locher and Panda both earned all-section and all-district honors.
Collectively, the group captured a section banner and raised a WPIAL flag in 2015. The seniors participated in three PIAA tournaments.
“They were winners on and off the field,” Eldridge said of the Class of 2018. “It was a very tight group that represented our school admirably and raised the standard for current and future players.”
As a result, the program is in a good place, says Eldridge. “The success we’ve had over a significant span is a reflection of commitment our kids make to competing. We will always believe that the task is not finding the 11 best players. It’s finding the 11 players that are most likely to help us win.”
Ethan Sanders, Colin Martincic and Chad Eldridge are certain parts of that nucleus. A freshman defender, Sanders gained all-section and all-WPIAL honors as did Martincic, a junior midfielder. Eldgride led the Lions in points with 27. He scored five goals and collected 17 assists.