Keeper Matt Potock anchors Shaler boys soccer team that hopes to be more competitive in tough section

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, August 27, 2017 | 11:00 PM

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Having a formidable presence on defense was a given this season for the Shaler boys soccer team. The Titans bring back senior keeper Matt Potock, who earned All-WPIAL honors last season.

Shaler hopes to show its backline and offense can take pressure off Potock. When mistakes are made, Potock can help steady the ship.

“I know when I play well for the team, it helps the team calm down,” Potock said. “When they see me making saves and see me playing stable and solid, it helps keep people solid. They think, ‘He's got our backs, and everything will be fine.' I know I need to play at my best every game.”

Senior midfielder Jake Jashinski is ready to help Shaler shore up its defense. Winning, he said, will require the Titans to work in concert.

“I think we're going to have to improve our team speed in the back,” Jashinski said. ‘We can't allow goal after goal.

“I think our midfield is going to have to buckle down and work together.”

Improved defense could help stop a trend. The Titans haven't had a winning season since they finished 9-6-3 in 2009.

After starting last season 4-1, Shaler struggled. The Titans ended the season on a seven-game losing streak and finished 5-11-2 overall and 1-7-2 in Section 1-4A. Surviving the section won't be easy as all three of the WPIAL's Class 4A PIAA qualifiers — North Allegheny, Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland — came from Section 1.

“Toward the end of the year, we didn't work as a team,” Potock said. “The only way we're going to win in the tough section we have is to work as a team.”

Titans coach Adam Hunter said he believes a deeper roster should allow the offense to apply more pressure on the opponents' defense.

Being able to prove they can be more formidable on offense will require the right approach. Sophomore Sam Bens, senior Tanner Grzegorczyk and junior midfielder Cohen Wilkins will play big roles.

“They learned discipline and resilience,” Hunter said. “We didn't have much depth last year. We were going 13-14 players. The senior class this year has been fantastic and set a precedent on our conditioning and fitness. The whole squad, they've included everyone including incoming freshmen.”

Potock said he believes in his teammates. Now, Shaler needs have the same belief throughout the roster.

“Being confident in themselves individually as well as their team,” Hunter said. “They need to rely and be confident in their ability to come together as a team. Not be afraid of the talent that teams in the section have.”

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: Shaler