Consistency could key season for Greensburg Salem girls soccer

By: Mike Kovak
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 7:00 PM

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When Greensburg Salem girls soccer coach Michael Rhea surveys his team, he sees a hard-working group with the potential for a couple of explosive scorers.

He also sees a freshman class willing to learn, but with several players stuck on the basics.

One thing Rhea wishes he saw was more players.

With 19 players, Greensburg Salem can’t afford an opportunity for its freshmen to earn valuable experience playing a junior varsity schedule. That means offseason workouts and training camp practices are geared toward getting underclassmen up to speed, so the Golden Lions can quickly adapt to the rigors of an improving Section 2-3A.

“It’s been about numbers for about the last five years,” Rhea said. “But this is a really good group. I’m hoping we can build up a little more endurance and skill work.”

Combine those attributes with more consistency and Greensburg Salem could improve upon last year’s 6-12-1 record. That included a 6-5-1 section mark, which was good for a fourth-place finish and a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs. The Golden Lions lost to WPIAL finalist Mars, 9-0, in the first round.

Getting to the postseason was a positive, but the regular season was filled with ups and downs. Greensburg Salem started 4-1 before a six-game losing streak. The season concluded with a five-game skid.

A trio of seniors — center back Emily Roble, center midfielder Maddie Gall and defender Erika Christeleit — hope to help steady a young team that kicks its season off Sept. 4 at section foe Laurel Highlands, last-year’s second-place team. Greensburg Salem starts its season with five consecutive section matches, concluding Sept. 16 at highly regarded Belle Vernon, before a nonsection match at Connellsville on Sept. 19. The Golden Lions also play crosstown rival Greensburg Central Catholic on Oct. 16 in their regular-season finale.

“It’s up to us to step up and take over the leadership,” Christeleit said. “We have to help keep the younger players motivated and with teaching them.”

Roble added: “There are a lot of new kids, but we also don’t have a lot of numbers. That makes it harder to practice because we can’t split up into full teams. We have players on so many different levels.”

Greensburg Salem’s success could hinge on how quickly the more inexperienced players catch up.

A pair of underclassmen who won’t need extra help are sophomore forward Kylie Smith and her freshman sister, Ashley. Kylie led the Lions in scoring last season.

“Kylie and Ashley Smith will be the face of this team,” Gall said.

The Smith sisters will be deployed at or near the top of Greensburg Salem’s various formations, which Rhea said will change depending upon opponent.

What won’t change is Greensburg Salem’s goals. The Lions want a return trip to the WPIAL playoffs, and the seniors hope maintain a positive attitude and having fun helps the process.

“Overall, we’re working hard as a group. The girls are really pushing forward,” Rhea said. “We want to see who can fight through everything. Who can keep pushing?”

Tags: Greensburg Salem