Penn-Trafford girls soccer ready to defend WPIAL Class 4A title
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Tuesday, August 28, 2018 | 8:57 PM
Kiley Dugan and her teammates enjoyed winning a WPIAL soccer championship so much they want to do it all over again.
The Penn-Trafford senior midfielder returns, along with six other starters, to lead the defending Class 4A champion Warriors. Dugan, a Valparaiso recruit, scored the game-winning goal in overtime as Penn-Trafford edged past rival Norwin, 2-1, in the WPIAL final last November at Highmark Stadium.
“It won’t be easy, but winning the WPIAL last year gave us an energy that we hope will take us even further this year,” Dugan said. “That WPIAL title was something that the team and the community will never forget and gave us a confidence that we maybe didn’t have in previous years.”
Penn-Trafford (17-4-1) had not won a WPIAL championship in the sport since 2003.
“Obviously, we want to win section first and then go from there,” Dugan said.
That likely means having to get around Norwin again, something the Warriors negotiated doing quite well in three meetings last year, going 2-0-1 against the Knights while ending their 47-game winning streak with a 1-0 win at home.
Norwin was the No. 1-ranked team in the country at the time by Top Drawer Soccer.
“The girls now know the expectations and what it takes to get there,” said coach Jackie Bartko, who is expecting a baby in January. “That’s motivation for them to keep the bar raised. We have increased the expectations in practices and training sessions.”
With three, one-goal wins in the playoffs, the Warriors showed the ability to handle tight games.
That all-staters Hannah Nguyen (Duquesne), McKenzie Aunkst (West Virginia) and Lauren Stovar (Army) graduated doesn’t make continuing that knack for handling pressure situations any easier, but there is talent back.
Junior goalkeeper Megan Giesey, who played a dynamic, yet quiet role in the championship run, is a major returnee. She made 12 saves in the WPIAL final.
Senior midfielder Erin Brady, senior forward Jordan Lawrence and junior center-back Sarah Nguyen are other key players who should allow the Warriors to remain a speed-driven team that gets the ball upfield quickly.
Senior forward Alexis Garia is a Seton Hill recruit.
“We have a closely knit team this year, and I think that makes a big difference in a successful season,” Bartko said. “This being year four for me, it is my first year that this is fully my team, where I have been their only high school coach, so I am looking forward to that piece of it, as well”
Junior Emma Rain is set to come back around mid-season, Bartko said, from a torn ACL.
Newcomers also will have an impact, Bartko said.
“We have a lot of girls fighting for positions right now and stepping up to prove themselves,” the coach said. “We are really excited to see the team as a whole when we get into our games.”
The Warriors also are seeking a return to the PIAA playoffs. They lost to North Allegheny, 2-0, in the first round last year to end their season.
Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Penn-Trafford
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