Herald roundup: Shady Side Academy in hunt for WPIAL playoff berth

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 16, 2017 | 12:31 AM

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Shady Side Academy's football team was on the road to take on Avonworth (2-5) on Friday in nonconference play. The Indians bounced back from a 21-10 halftime deficit to post a 37-28 win.

SSA outscored Avonworth 20-7 in the fourth quarter.

Skyy Moore rushed for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns and completed three passes for 158 yards and three TDs. He scored on runs of 2 and 33 yards while connecting twice with Dino Tomlin for 71 and 42 yards and Billy Frohlich for a 45-yard strike. Connor Leemhuis connected on a 28-yard field goal and four PATs.

“It was a great effort by our guys to respond in a difficult situation on the road,” SSA coach Chuck DiNardo said. “We were able to come together and put together an inspired comeback win. I can't say enough about the team's ability to persevere in the face of adversity.

“Billy did a great job. That's his second game-winning touchdown this year. He can stretch the field and make plays in the air. He has big-play capabilities every time he touches the ball.”

The Indians (5-2) will return to Allegheny Conference play Friday, hoping to clinch a playoff berth as they host Deer Lakes (1-6, 0-5).

“We'll have to work hard,” DiNardo said. “We'll be facing a team that's been improving each week.”

Cross country

The Shady Side Academy girls cross county team improved to 7-2 after a four-team meet Oct. 5. The Indians beat Freeport, 21-40; Ellis School, 15-50; and Redeemer, 15-50. Jeanne Lauer finished first in 21 minutes, 51 seconds. She was followed by Emmie Lau in third, Josie Szlachetka in eighth, Julianna Bem in ninth, Elaina Gagnon in 11th, Carolyn Woll in 12th and Isabella Cavagna in 13th place. Other SSA finishers were Natalie Capretto, Alicia McLaughlin, Lucia Santos and Jaya Patel.

“We still have a few invitationals to compete in before the WPIALs start,” SSA coach Sue Whitney said. “Right now, we're on the outside looking in as far as the team competition, but individually we're optimistic. Last year, Jeanne Lauer was the only one on the team to make it to states. We're optimistic we can send a few more with her this year.”

Girls soccer

The Shady Side Academy girls soccer team picked up a pair of Section 1-A wins last week, edging first-place Greensburg Central Catholic, 1-0, on Oct. 7. Callie Davis scored late in the second half for the game-winner. On Oct. 10, the Indians beat Apollo Ridge, 7-0, with two goals each by Callie Davis, Sophia McMahon and Krystyna Rytel and one goal from Melissa Riggens. The Indians improved to 8-2 in the section.

Boys golf

The WPIAL Class AAA team semifinals were held Oct. 10 at Linden Hall. Fox Chapel finished first with a 377, two strokes better than Peters Township.

The Foxes were led by Gregor Meyer with a 2-under-par 71, followed by Aidan Oehrle at 72, Amani Dambrosio at 77, Grant Thiele with a 78, Scott Bitar 80, Andrew Friend 79 and Amani Dambrosio 77. Mt. Lebanon was third at 406. All three teams advanced to the team finals Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course, where a shorthanded Fox Chapel team finished sixth. Three starters were missing from the lineup after getting into a car accident the day before.

• Shady Side Academy's semifinal was held at Ponderosa Golf Course, and the Indians also advanced after taking second with a 384. Central Catholic won with a 379 and Pine-Richland was the final qualifier as their 391 was good for third. At the finals, Shady Side Academy finished third, behind Central Catholic and Pine-Richland.

Girls golf

The Fox Chapel girls finished in second place to North Allegheny at the WPIAL championships Oct. 12.

“That was our best finish since the 2010 FC team won the championship,” FC coach John Broderick said.

Hannah Conroy shot an 81, followed by Cara Levicoff at 88, Jessica Paper at 93, Nicole Garcia-Tunon at 95 and Emily Schleffler at 106.

“We utilized a balanced scoring attack,” Broderick said. “Jessica and Nicole collectively improved by 10 strokes on the back nine when the pressure to perform was the greatest. Emily's score was one of the best for a player in the No. 5 position.”

Girls tennis

Fox Chapel tennis player Amanda Nord captured the Section 3-AAA singles title on Oct. 10 after defeating teammate Charlotte James, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0, in the championship match. Shady Side Academy's Elle Santora defeated teammate Aya Yousseff, 6-0, 6-4, in the section consolation match.

At the WPIAL singles tournament, Nord and James each advanced to the quarterfinals but lost to Montour's Isabela Paixao and North Allegheny's Ashley Huang, respectively. Both SSA players were eliminated in the first round.

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.