Boys soccer players to watch across the WPIAL

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, August 27, 2018 | 9:45 PM

Boys soccer season will officially begin with kickoff tournaments Friday and Saturday. Section play gets underway on Sept. 4.

And just nine short weeks later, teams will be playing for WPIAL championships.

Here’s a look at some of the WPIAL boys soccer players to watch this season:

Will Andrews, Quaker Valley, sr., M: Andrews scored 13 goals and assisted on six more as a junior and will be looked to replace the scoring touch and leadership of the graduated Landon Grant and Ian Rodgers.

Markello Apodiakos, Belle Vernon, sr., F: The star striker broke the school’s single-season goals record last season with 37, leading the Leopards to the WPIAL playoffs and becoming their first all-state player. He enters his senior season seven goals shy of tying the career record of 69 goals.

Carter Breen, Norwin, Sr., F: Dangerous in the open field because of his speed, Breen had 19 goals and 13 assists last season. All-WPIAL player has 32 career goals for the Knights.

Nathan Dragisich, West Allegheny, sr., M: A Duquesne commit, Dragisich scored 21 goals and added 13 assists to lead the Indians to the WPIAL Class AAA championship last season.

Joe Kearney, North Catholic, jr., F: Kearney led all WPIAL players last season with 55 goals, giving him 84 in his two-year career. He led the Trojans to the WPIAL Class A championship and a runner-up finish in the PIAA tournament.

Kellen Krebs, Seton LaSalle, sr., M: Krebs became more of a goal-scorer as a junior, surpassing 20 to help the Rebels reach the PIAA playoffs. He’ll be counted on to do more of the same after the graduation of Darryl Daniels.

Tate Mohney, Butler, sr., F: The all-state player can play both midfield and forward and proved his scoring ability as a junior with 18 goals and 18 assists for the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinalists.

Luke Peperak, Connellsville, jr., F: Peperak broke the school single-season scoring mark as a sophomore, firing 22 shots into the net to earn all-section honors, and again will carry the load for the Falcons this season.

Luke Mort, Greensburg Central Catholic, sr., F: The speedy forward scored a team-high 35 goals for the WPIAL quarterfinalist Centurions. Fellow forward JoJo Schwerha is another talented scorer but is considering a transfer away from GCC.

Zak Schwarzel, South Park, sr., D: A standout on a strong defensive team, all-state selection Schwarzel anchored a group that recorded 10 shutouts on the season, paving the way for a Section 1-AA title.

Mike Zolnierczyk, Springdale, sr., GK: Recently offered by Harvard, the four-year starter in net posted a dozen shutouts last season to lead seventh-seeded Springdale to a berth in the WPIAL Class A championship game.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Belle Vernon, Butler, Connellsville, Greensburg C.C., Norwin, Quaker Valley, South Park, Springdale, West Allegheny