Plum girls soccer team eyes next step after winning sectional title
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Sunday, August 27, 2017 | 10:39 PM
The Plum girls soccer team snapped a long drought last fall, capturing its first section championship since 1988.
The Mustangs clinched a tie for the Section 3-AAAA crown with a dramatic 1-0 home triumph over Fox Chapel late in the regular season. The teams each finished with 9-1 section records.
Plum, however, couldn't carry that momentum into the playoffs, losing 3-2 to Mt. Lebanon in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
The bittersweet ending fueled the returning players in the offseason as they joined a group of newcomers to build toward what they hope is a second consecutive section title and a deeper postseason run.
“You always remember the last game that you played,” Plum coach Caitlin Schuchert said.
“The good thing is the girls have a lot of resiliency. They learned from the losses, including the one in the playoffs, but they weren't dwelling on them. It's a clean slate every season with who you lost, who other teams lost, who you have coming back and who each team returns as starters and letterwinners.”
The senior class, in particular, wants to make up for the way last season ended, Schuchert said.
“They came out in the summer and really worked hard,” she said. “They really improved from last year.”
Plum's summer of work coincided with the birth of coach Schuchert's baby in June.
“They were getting into shape, and I was getting into shape with them when I returned,” Schuchert said with a laugh.
The Mustangs got a chance to gauge their progression with a scrimmage last Thursday at Seneca Valley. The season begins this weekend, and for the second year in a row, Plum will open with a nonsection contest against neighboring rival Gateway. That game is at noon Saturday at Gateway's Antimarino Stadium.
The two teams were placed in different sections in different classifications when the WPIAL realigned girls soccer in December of 2015.
“Everyone is really excited for the season,” senior forward Jasmyn Floyd said. “We worked so hard over the summer. We had two practices a day the first week of camp, and we put in a lot of hours.”
Floyd and fellow senior Jordyn Huemme will provide a 1-2 scoring punch for the Mustangs. Both were front and center in the team's offensive plans last year.
The two combined for last year's biggest goal as Floyd tallied the winner against Fox Chapel off an assist from Huemme.
“We're looking forward to building on all the wins we had last year and all the good moments,” Huemme said. “Obviously, Mt. Lebanon wasn't the greatest moment, but we're all ready to make it further this year.”
Schuchert said the team has good depth.
“We can bring six or seven girls off the bench,” Schuchert said.
“In the September heat, that's going to helps us in those Saturday games. They can give us 10 to 15 really hard minutes and then they can get a break. They don't feel they have to save anything for the last 10 minutes of the game.”
Schuchert also is counting on two returning defenders: seniors Taylor Oravitz and Kereanna O'Donnell. Both scored in the playoff game.
Juniors Zoe Nonnenberg and Aly Bryner competed in camp to take over the starting goalkeeper job left by the graduation of Shannon Soboslay.
“The battle has been really competitive and positive,” Schuchert said.
Other returning players expected to play significant roles include senior Sara Pearlman, junior Mallory Ratesic and sophomores Patricia Fratangelo and Katie Patton.
Junior Elena Banta suffered a torn ACL in last year's regular-season finale against Kiski Area, but she is back.
Freshman Gina Proviano is expected to make an impact, and additional freshman talent are battling for playing time.
Schuchert knows the section will be a challenge again and that Fox Chapel looms as the favorite.
“Fox Chapel is the target, and you can't tie or lose any other game if you want to contend for the section title,” Schuchert said. “We have to take it one game at a time as far as that goes. There's no room for error when you know a team like Fox Chapel is there.”
Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.
Tags: Plum
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