Jackson Vacanti grows into big-play threat for Greensburg Central Catholic boys soccer

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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From a 5-foot-3, 97-pound freshman to a senior who now stands 5-foot-7 and weighs 125 pounds, Jackson Vacanti has grown. But so has his game.

All the diminutive soccer player does is make big plays.

“I feel like I have gotten better every year,” the midfielder from Greensburg Central Catholic said. “I made a big jump when I was a freshman playing with some great guys. For me, it’s never been about the goals. Winning is top priority.”

Vacanti is coming off an impressive stretch for GCC (5-7-1), which is getting set to start the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

He had four goals and three assists in a 10-0 win over Chartiers-Houston, then went for five goals and an assist as the Centurions thumped California, 11-2.

He also had a penalty kick goal in a tight 2-1 loss to Winchester Thurston, which served as a quality playoff tuneup.

“He’s a special player,” GCC coach Ryan Kanner said. “Leadership is a big thing with him. He was a captain last year, too. He is trying to spread the ball around. That is elevating everyone else.”

The highlight for Vacanti was his reverse bicycle-kick goal against California.

“I have been trying to do that for so long,” Vacanti said. “I have done it before at an I.D. camp, but people don’t believe me.

“I told my dad, ‘OK, I got my bike. Now I can rest.’ ”

Vacanti, who is from Latrobe, is up to 63 career goals, including 21 this season. He has progressed each year, netting 12 as a freshman, 14 as a sophomore and 16 as a junior.

“I got two more each year,” he said. “We played our last home game last week, and I got emotional. It went by way too fast.”

Vacanti overcame an injury to return to his speedy, elusive self. He had medial patellofemoral reconstruction, which creates a new ligament to stabilize the kneecap.

He was out four months, but he said it was worth it.

“It kept popping out,” Vacanti said of his right knee. “I wasn’t used to sitting out. My club team went to the state cup final, and I was on the bench. I couldn’t wait to get back.”

Kanner is glad the surgery worked. Vacanti plays center mid and is the focal point of the offense.

“We want to get the ball to his feet,” Kanner said. “He is the engine that makes the team go.”

Vacanti could be taking a unique path to college soccer. He is going to visit the University of Chester in England next month. The UDA Soccer Academy teams with Chester to give student-athletes a year-round soccer experience as they earn a degree.

Chester is about 200 miles north of London.

“I can always come back after a year,” Vacanti said. “We have been reading about it, and it looks like something I might like to do. I have been to England before with Beadling for 10 days.

“I want to play soccer after college.”

Bellarmine, a Division I school in Louisville, Ky., also has shown interest in Vacanti.

But first, the playoffs.

GCC fell to Burrell in the first round last year. Two years ago, they lost to Charleroi in the quarterfinals as a No. 1 seed.

When Vacanti was a freshman, GCC made the WPIAL final and lost to Winchester Thurston, 3-1, at Highmark Stadium.

“We’re starting to heat up now,” Vacanti said. “We’re ready. It doesn’t matter what seed we get.”

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

Tags: Greensburg C.C.