Sewickley Academy, Quaker Valley boys soccer working to climb section standings

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Sewickley Academy and Neshannock have been in the hunt for the final playoff spot in boys soccer in Section 1-A.

As of Oct. 1, the Panthers (3-3-1) were a game head of the Lancers (2-4-1), trailing Eden Christian (5-1-1), Beaver County Christian (5-2) and Freedom (4-2-1).

“Our team has dealt with a lot of adversity this season,” Sewickley coach Joel Stewart said. “We got off to a slow start as we had to replace five quality starters from last year’s section championship season, and we incorporated a new formation.

“We started the year with two blowout wins, but then lost four of our next five games as the competition increased. We were dealing with multiple injuries and trying to figure out where everyone fit in the new system.”

The Panthers closed out last month by going 2-2-1, defeating Beaver County Christian, 1-0, and Greensburg Central Catholic, 3-2 in overtime; losing to Shady Side Academy, 5-0, and Riverview, 2-1; and tying Eden Christian, 1-1, in two overtimes.

They opened October with a 1-0 overtime win over Freedom.

“After our worst game of the season at Neshannock, our team started to pick up their level of play,” Stewart said. “Our injured players were back on the field and we finally had our full roster healthy. We are getting close to where we want to be, and we can all feel the momentum swinging back our way with a few recent wins and a tie against the first-place Eden Christian team.

“The boys have never quit or made any excuses. They come to training every day to get better so that we can be peaking at the end of the season. While we did not start the season the way we wanted to, our expectations have not changed. We expect to get better every day, make the playoffs and be playing our best soccer come playoff time.”

Sewickley’s starting lineup includes three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.

The strikers are junior Luca Peluso and sophomore Mason Baker. Juniors Finn Wentz and Nick Day, along with senior Andrew Colletti and freshman Owen Brooks, are midfielders.

Carson D’Antonio is a freshman goalkeeper who is supported by junior Blake Wilmot, sophomore Max Soderstrom, and seniors Dov Kanner and Will Straka on defense.

As of Oct. 1, Peluso and Wentz were tied for the team goal scoring lead with eight. They were complemented offensively by Day (3 goals), Colletti, Wilmot, Kanner, Baker and Brooks.

Wentz led the Panthers in the assists department with eight. Peluso and Wilmot were credited with three apiece.

Colletti, who is serving as team captain this season, Day, Kanner, Baker, Brooks and Straka also chipped in with assists.

“This team is a great group of kids that not only excel on the field,” Stewart said, “but also excel off the field. They work hard every day and strive to always get better.”

QV in section title hunt

Three teams — Quaker Valley, Central Valley and Avonworth — have been fighting for the top spot in Section 2-2A in boys soccer.

The trio was bunched as closely together as possible at the end of September.

Quaker Valley, a WPIAL and PIAA finalist a year ago, held onto first place with a 9-1-1 section record. Central Valley was right behind at 9-1 and Avonworth was next at 8-1-1.

QV defeated Central Valley, 2-1, in two overtimes and meets the Warriors again in mid-October.

“The team has been playing very well while it has been finding its identity,” QV coach Sean Ryan said. “When you have talent across four grades, it can be tough as a coach to identify how to use that talent, and in which role.

“Over the course of last month, our coaching staff has been able to mold our core of talent to fit our style of play and helped them to identify their specific role within the team.”

The Quakers played to a 0-0 tie with Avonworth and lost a 3-0 decision to the Antelopes earlier this season.

“We expect our team to battle in every game for the remainder of the season to make sure that we keep that loss column to a 1,” Ryan said.

QV allowed just one goal in eight games in September, outscoring the opposition 52-1 with eight shutouts.

The Quakers indeed have been most impressive, rolling past Riverside (8-0), Mohawk (10-0), Keystone Oaks (2-0), Hopewell (6-0), Ellwood City (14-0), Central Valley (2-0), Beaver (3-0) and Riverside (7-0) again, along with tying Avonworth.

Defensive stalwarts Tanner Schultz, a junior, and Andrew Vescio, a senior, are QV’s captains this season. Senior Nathan Pribik is the starting goalkeeper.

“Our state finalist backline returned, though some are in new roles,” Ryan said. “Nathan retained his position in goal with Andrew and Tanner in front of him. Matt Henry, Elliot Thompson, Asher Muretish, Liam Miller, Will Meagher and Mike Semonik have all been consistent contributing factors to our defensive success.”

Pribik had accounted for seven clean sheets.

QV is led in the midfield by senior Carter Turk, who is joined by Charlie Pylie, Levi Carver and Patrick Connors.

“They have done well to understand the responsibilities of the game plan, which require calm and quality in the face of tons of physicality and pressure,” Ryan said.

Senior Colin Benge paces the front-line play along with Sutton Hoehl and Issac Williams.

“Finn Thompson and Corben Hopkins are also huge energy boosts off the bench,” Ryan said.

Benge had generated a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists through 11 games, followed by Hoehl with 10 goals and nine assists.

“We have had more players score their first varsity goal this year than any year in the last decade,” Ryan said.

QV is a member of the nine-team Section 2-2A. Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Keystone Oaks, Mohawk and Riverside are the other section teams.

The Quakers competed in Section 4-2A last year. QV, Avonworth, Beaver and Hopewell advanced to the WPIAL playoffs.

The Quakers were 18-2 against WPIAL competition in 2023, outscored their WPIAL playoff opponents 20-5 and held an 11-3 scoring edge in the PIAA tournament.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy