Penn-Trafford’s Alexis Brown earns 2024 TribLive Westmoreland Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors
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Saturday, November 30, 2024 | 11:31 PM
Penn-Trafford’s Alexis Brown works past Latrobe’s Alexa Yurko during their game on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Harrison City.
Latrobe’s Annalyse Bauer fights for the header with Penn-Trafford goal keeper Rease Solomon off of a corner kick Sept. 4, 2024 at Greater Latrobe High School.
Mt. Pleasant’s Rylin Bugosh controls the ball during a game against Deer Lakes on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in West Deer.
Norwin’s Julia Bursick celebrates her goal against Penn-Trafford during the first half on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Harrison City.
Mt. Pleasant’s Morgan Gesinski battles Southmoreland’s Kayla Ladowitz for possession during their game on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, at Viking Stadium.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Riley Kerr works past Springdale’s Ashley Ross during their game on Aug. 30, 2023, at Springdale.
Franklin Regional’s Abby Paterline heads the ball against Plum on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Murrysville.
Latrobe’s Maddy Petruzzi works against Plum’s Alexis Rodda during their game on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, at Plum.
Southmoreland’s Aubrey Seder controls the ball during a game on Sept. 20, 2023, at Mt. Pleasant.
Penn-Trafford goalkeeper Rease Solomon makes a save on Norwin’s Bella Buscemi during the first half on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Harrison City.
Latrobe’s Robin Reilly works against Pine-Richland’s Aubree Bennett during their WPIAL Class 4A first round playoff game on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Pine.
Penn-Trafford’s Alexis Brown celebrates with Miley Currie (5) and Avery Bosack after scoring her scond goal against Latrobe on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Harrison City.
Franklin Regional’s Abby Paterline works against Plum’s Alexis Rodda during their game on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Murrysville.
Mt. Pleasant’s Rylin Bugosh celebrates with Morgan Gesinski after scoring against Deer Lakes on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in West Deer.
Latrobe’s Annalyse Bauer
2024 Girls Soccer All-Stars
Player of the year
Alexis Brown, Sr., MF, Penn-Trafford
Unsure of how she would return from a fractured kneecap that tore down her junior year, Alexis Brown set out to reset her career and have a memorable bounce-back season.
The Penn-Trafford senior wanted to stay healthy and prove to herself and her teammates she could play at a high level.
The season didn’t have to be great, but it was. Brown came out of nowhere to power an impressive return to Class 4A.
The TribLive Westmoreland Girls Soccer Player of the Year also could have qualified for comeback player of the year, if that award existed.
“My senior season had challenges that I had to overcome,” Brown said. “I had to work harder than I have in the past to get back to where I was a year ago. All in all, I thought it went better than expected.”
In a tight race, Morgan Gesinski of Mt. Pleasant and Robin Reilly of Latrobe also were considered for player of the year.
Brown, who wore a clunky, black brace on her right knee — more battle armor than protective caliper — led the Warriors to a Section 1-4A title and a 13-5 record.
The fast and physical player who is a Cal (Pa.) commit scored 18 goals to lead Penn-Trafford, becoming the focal point of many opposing defensive formations.
“I can’t say enough about the season she had,” Penn-Trafford coach Jimmy Mastroianni said. “She goes down halfway through the 2023 season with a fractured patella. She challenged herself in physical therapy all winter and spring, not just to get back on the field but to get back on the field even stronger. As it turns out, I think she accomplished her goal.”
Brown, also a kicker on the football team, was an All-WPIAL soccer selection. She had 35 goals and 15 assists in an abbreviated career. Brown said she surprised herself.
“A little,” she said. “I knew I could do it. Then I started to see the success of the team and myself. I would say I was more relieved than surprised.”
Once that relief set in, Brown shifted gears. She knew she was all the way back when she scored both goals in a 2-1 win over visiting Latrobe, a sweep-capping victory that helped the Warriors secure the section.
“The Latrobe game at home a year ago, almost to the day, changed my junior season and my club season,” Brown said. “I knew the game was going to be tough as they always are against them, so I was nervous before this game. But when the whistle sounded to start the game, I was focused and ready to play. When I scored the first goal, it gave me such an emotional ride that I can’t explain it with words. Then I scored the second, and it filled me with excitement for me as well as my team.”
Asked what she would change this season if she had the power, Brown mentioned a playoff loss to Canon-McMillan.
But that was about it.
“Our team worked very hard all season and would have liked to make a deeper run into the playoffs,” she said. “Besides that, I don’t think I would change anything. This journey has made me a stronger person and player than I ever thought I would be. If I changed anything, I would not be the person I am today.”
First team
Annalyse Bauer, Jr., F, Latrobe
An All-WPIAL pick and Eastern Michigan commit who showed a knack for scoring, she led Latrobe with 28 goals and added eight assists.
Rylin Bugosh, Sr., F, Mt. Pleasant
She helped lead Mt. Pleasant to another section title as she scored 23 goals, had 16 assists and earned All-WPIAL honors. She finished with 92 career goals.
Julia Bursick, Sr., MF, Norwin
All-WPIAL player who returned after a year away from prep soccer, the Duquesne commit led improved Norwin with 14 goals and 10 assists.
Morgan Gesinski, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant
An all-state, All-WPIAL and Moe Rosensteel Award finalist, she led the WPIAL in goals during the regular season with 36. She has 97 career goals.
Riley Kerr, Sr., F, Greensburg Central Catholic
A St. Francis (Pa.) commit, she came back from injury to earn All-WPIAL honors, scoring 20 goals to lead GCC. She finished with 122 career goals.
Abby Paterline, Sr., MF, Franklin Regional
A playmaker who set up scoring chances, the Edinboro commit had eight goals and six assists while earning All-WPIAL recognition.
Maddy Petruzzi, Sr., MF, Latrobe
An All-WPIAL selection an all-round talent, the Valparaiso commit had nine goals and 12 assists.
Robin Reilly, Sr., MF, Latrobe
The West Virginia commit earned all-state and All-WPIAL honors and was a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Award. She had 14 goals and 10 assists.
Aubrey Seder, Sr., MF, Southmoreland
An All-WPIAL performer, she scored 25 goals, 42 over the last two years, after playing defender early in her career.
Rease Solomon, Sr., GK, Penn-Trafford
One of the top goalies in Class 3A, the Robert Morris commit was an All-WPIAL player, making 127 saves and allowing 20 goals.
Second team
Maddie Barrick, Sr., F, Mt. Pleasant
Lizzy Boone, Sr., D, Southmoreland
Anna Coy, Jr., D, Penn-Trafford
Daisy Miller, Fr., MF, Yough
Raygan Mizikar, Jr., D, Mt. Pleasant
Jiana Patterson, Jr., F, Hempfield
Laurel Rummel, Jr., GK, Mt. Pleasant
Carmella Simco, Sr., F, Norwin
Liv Smith, Sr., MF, Greensburg Salem
Addison Vacanti, Sr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic
Grace West, Sr., MF, Belle Vernon
Eden Williams, Sr., MF, Franklin Regional
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland, Yough
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