Goalie turned midfielder Stein leads Jeannette girls into new season

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | 9:45 PM

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In his last seven years as girls soccer coach at Jeannette, Brian Snively has seen the numbers dwindle. While there is new hope with a seventh- and eighth-grade feeder program, it may be a couple of years before success starts to trickle down.

“We've been relying on girls who it's their first year of competitive soccer for some of them,” he said. “There's a lot of learning on the fly.”

At 3-13 last season, the Jayhawks had trouble keeping up with tough section competition.

“This year we had no spring travel team,” he said. “I'd say about nine of them, when they came out in high school they had not played soccer before high school. Depth and experience really do work against us.”

There are a couple of bright spots for Jeannette. The team sports only one senior, which bodes well for the future — and that senior is a good one.

Chloe Stein returns to the field after playing goalie the past season and a half. She started her high school career at center midfield.

“I really enjoy it actually,” Stein said. “Everybody looks up to me and only me. It feels good.”

“Hopefully, that will help,” said Snively of Stein's move. “She's the only captain we've made on the team so far. She leads the team in drills, and we feel comfortable with her.”

Junior Hailey Rundle, who had seven goals last year to lead the team, also returns.

“She's really stepped up her leadership this year,” Snively said. “We expect her to have another good year and lead the team in goals again.”

There's more talent on the back end, too, as sophomore Hannah Streussnig will line up at sweeper, and junior Sam Shaw will be one of the primary outside defenders. Freshman Aubrey Etling will replace Stein in goal.

Snively is excited to have a player who knows the position.

“She's really the first goalie in eight years that played in junior high and travel soccer before coming to the team,” he said. “Not that some of the ones before her didn't do well, but it's really nice to have someone with experience coming into camp.”

Junior Bella Cilli, who finished tied for second on the team in goals last year, also returns.

“Last year was her first year playing, and she brings speed,” Snively said. “She's a really smart girl who knows her place very well, and can use that speed for some goal-scoring opportunities.”

The Jayhawks will need to capitalize on as many opportunities as they can. WPIAL realignment drew them no favors last season, when it kept the team in the same section as Shady Side Academy and Greensburg Central Catholic, two schools that routinely top the Class A ranks and battle each other for WPIAL supremacy.

That's four of 16 games a year against top-ranked programs that few have success against.

“Really the goal is to get better each day and to work on what didn't work last game,” Snively said. “It's going to be a learning year. We don't believe in moral victories, but I would say work on the daily improvements so by the time the season rolls around we will be competitive.”

The Jayhawks feel good after downing McKeesport, 3-1, in a scrimmage Wednesday evening.

“I think that was amazing,” Stein said of the win. “Especially for a team as young and inexperienced as we are.

“We have a lot of potential. I think what we lack in experience we have in chemistry. We're a lot closer as a team on and off the field. I think we should win more games this year than we won last year for sure.”

Devon Moore is a freelance writer.

Tags: Jeannette