Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Super start for Southmoreland

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Southmoreland picked a fine way to open the boys soccer season: by winning a championship.

Second-year coach Brad Smith, a Norwin alum, celebrated with his players after the Scotties won the South Allegheny Classic last weekend in Glassport.

The Scotties defeated South Allegheny, 4-0, before topping Derry, 4-2, in the championship game.

In the opener, Liam Smith, Ethan Kenney, Landon Delara and Hunter Ryan scored goals.

Jack Smith, Connor Dillon and Ryan scored in the title game, with Derry putting in an own goal.

Southmoreland had not started 2-0 in more than a decade. The team has not posted a winning season since 2015.

Section openers

Section play will begin for several area teams Thursday.

In Section 3-3A, Franklin Regional will visit Penn-Trafford, and Latrobe plays at Uniontown.

Ligonier Valley makes the trip to Seton La Salle in Section 3-2A, while Brownsville-Yough, Derry-Mt. Pleasant and Greensburg Salem-Southmoreland highlight the start of play in Section 4-2A.

Lightning at the Beach

Belle Vernon’s first game in Class 3A didn’t have fireworks. It had lightning. Eight minutes into the second half, the Leopards’ game against visiting Uniontown was called Tuesday, resulting in a 2-0 victory in Section 3-3A.

Teams must play a full first half for the game to be official.

Senior Trevor Kovatch scored both goals, and freshman goalkeeper Morgan Bunch posted his first shutout.

Four score

The top multiple-goal game in the area goes to Michael Vargulish-Graver of Ligonier Valley.

The junior scored all four goals Monday as the Rams defeated Jeannette, 4-1.

Ten spot

Mt. Pleasant opened Section 4-2A play with a 10-goal output against Brownsville.

Aiden Johnson had a five-point night with three goals and two assists, and Tyler Kurtz added two goals and two assists in the victory.

Sasko tournament

A Labor Day weekend tradition will continue at Belle Vernon with the Paul Sasko Kickoff Classic. This year’s event will be Saturday and Sunday at James Weir Stadium.

Sasko, a former Leopards soccer coach, died in 2016.

Proceeds from the event go to the Sasko scholarship given to one male and female player.

On Saturday, it will be the the Baldwin and Belle Vernon girls playing at 9:30 a.m., followed by Belle Vernon and Baldwin JV at 11:30, the Connellsville and Baldwin boys JV at 1 p.m., Connellsville and Baldwin boys at 2:30, Connellsville and Belle Vernon girls at 4:30, followed by two boys games: Thomas Jefferson and Belle Vernon JV at 6:30 at 8.

The schedule Sunday has the Baldwin and Connellsville girls at 10 a.m., Thomas Jefferson vs. Connellsville boys JV at noon, Thomas Jefferson vs. Connellsville boys at 1:30 p.m., Baldwin vs. Belle Vernon boys JV at 3:30 and the Baldwin vs. Belle Vernon boys at 5.

Ranking ‘em

Defending WPIAL champion Norwin opened the season ranked No. 1 in Class 6A by TribLive HSSN.

Another county team, Latrobe, began the season ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, and Greensburg Central Catholic was rated No. 3 in Class A.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Greensburg C.C., Latrobe, Norwin, Southmoreland