Fox Chapel girls soccer meeting challenge of new faces in new places in lineup

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Caylie Wilkinson, a junior defender for the Fox Chapel girls soccer team, felt like this year’s team was significantly different from the previous two iterations. Wilkinson is the only returning starting defender from the Foxes team that reached the WPIAL Class 3A final last season.

With six new starters in the lineup, three of them on the backline, Fox Chapel would need to do some growing.

“I think our whole team is very new,” Wilkinson said. “At the beginning of the season, it was rough. We were all just trying to work together. But I think just talking and the help from everyone, and we were all so close already starting from the summer sessions, we all got really close really fast.”

Fox Chapel, which beat Penn Hills 10-0 on Sept. 24 in a Section 1-3A matchup, has been dragged into a few back-and-forth matches this season. The Foxes (10-1, 7-0) have recorded three shutouts and only allowed 10 goals.

But Shaler and Seneca Valley both tested the Foxes in 3-2 contests.

“We have a lot of girls playing defense that aren’t used to playing defense,” coach Carlo Prati said. “They are trying to jell together. That’s been our toughest part right now.”

Wilkinson said she has been trying to work on being an effective communicator.

“I think everyone didn’t really know what to expect going into the season,” Wilkinson said. “Carlo told me at the beginning that our team’s going to be very young, but we just need to talk and get through it and work together and we’ll be good.”

The Foxes showed their toughness during a come-from-behind section win over Shaler Sept. 22 at home. Fox Chapel fell behind 2-0 in the first 15 minutes.

Pitt commit Emily McKee led the comeback, scoring all three of the Foxes goals. McKee also scored two goals against Penn Hills. The Foxes had eight other players score once against the Indians.

Prati said Fox Chapel will likely be tinkering with the lineup all season.

“I think there’s still a lot of stuff we need to work on,” Prati said. “They are still having trouble realizing who’s playing where and where to go.”

Prati said Fox Chapel is going to continue to work on getting everyone to play well together.

“Most of the time, it’s getting minutes and getting quality time together, and we’re trying to keep a lot of the same girls together at practice,” he said. “Even if we’re not doing defensive work, we’re still keeping that same group together so they are comfortable together.”

Tags: Fox Chapel