Perennial boys soccer powers Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy set big goals

By: George Guido
Saturday, August 27, 2022 | 11:01 AM

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Fox Chapel and Shady Side Academy look to again have strong boys soccer teams. The top four teams from each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

A team earns three points for a section victory and one point for a tie.

The schools end the regular season with a head-to-head matchup Oct. 18.

Fox Chapel has lofty goals

Fox Chapel has made the WPIAL boys soccer playoffs for 21 consecutive seasons.

But the Foxes have greater aspirations this year than simply keeping their playoff streak alive.

“We have other goals,” said coach Erik Ingram. “We always want to get to the WPIAL finals. The last couple years, we’ve come close but not able to get over the hump.”

Fox Chapel made it to the Class 4A semifinals before dropping a 1-0 decision to Seneca Valley. The Foxes were 8-3-1 in section play, 15-4-1 overall. Two of the four losses came to Seneca Valley, along with a 2-2 tie against the Raiders on Oct. 5.

First, Fox Chapel must navigate through one of the WPIAL’s toughest sections. The Foxes are aligned in Section 2 against Butler, Central Catholic, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland and Shaler.

“In our section, anything can happen, you can never take for granted that you’ll make the playoffs, but we will with the team that we have,” Ingram said. “We’ll get some tests in our section. Those teams are so talented”

Ingram welcomes back all-state forward George Tabor and defender Colin Westerberg. Senior John Brach, junior Colin Lazzara and sophomores Carson Krushansky and Pablo Linzoain are expected to be major contributors.

Another advantage is Fox Chapel’s depth.

Said Ingram: “We have 15 guys trying out. They all look pretty good. It’s a good class of guys who are able to knock the ball around fairly well. Once they get into some real junior varsity games, that may get them some varsity time.”

The Foxes are also strong in goal with juniors Owen Levy and Connor Scanlon.

“They both look great,” Ingram said. “They’re very technical and very competitive goalkeepers. It’s nice for us to have two guys where we can start either one of them.”

As has been the case for many years, Fox Chapel has benefitted from a strong youth program.

“Our youth program does a great job,” Ingram said. “They have great numbers down there. We see a lot of the parents and coaches from youth programs at our games.”

Fox Chapel has won 17 section titles and five WPIAL crowns, the latest coming in 1995 and have been WPIAL runners-up five times — the latest in 2015.

The school won the 1990 PIAA title and was the 1987 runner-up.

The Foxes hope to add more hardware this season.

“We’re going for broke this year,” Ingram said. “Our goal is the WPIAL championship and we’re going to do everything we can to get there.”

Shady Side looks to extend streak

Hopes are also high for Shady Side Academy boys soccer as the Bulldogs will strive for a 19th consecutive WPIAL playoff berth.

Shady Side was 9-1 in section play last season, 11-3 overall. The Bulldogs defeated Freedom in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs before dropping a 2-1 decision against Ambridge.

“We think we have a good team,” said coach Ed Ellsworth. “We’re also looking to grow. We lose 11 or so to graduation. Eight or nine were starters and three others were regular contributors. You don’t replace that in a few weeks.”

Shady Side jumped right into Section 2-2A play over the weekend against Freeport. Others in the section are Derry Area, Deer Lakes, Greensburg Salem, Jeannette, Knoch and Leechburg.

“It’s important that during the first month of the season, players will have to grow into their roles,” Ellsworth said. “We’re excited to have Freeport back in the section. We’ve missed them the past couple of years. It’ll give us a good barometer as to where we’re at. And we have Knoch back, too. That’ll only strengthen the section with them and Leechburg and Deer Lakes.”

Junior forwards Jackson Suski, an all-state player last season, and Amir Awais will be team leaders this season, along with midfielder Drew McKim, a junior and third-year starter.

Senior captain Charlie Stafford and junior Santiago Maiz will return on defense.

Said Ellsworth: “Santiago is just a fantastic leader for us and Charlie was a contributor on our third-place team as a freshman and started in the finals his sophomore year. He’s been around a while for a lot of big games. ”

Ellsworth is excited to see how quickly a strong freshman class can contribute.

“You don’t know any of their names now, but in a month you will,” he said.

That’s important because Shady Side’s history is to qualify for the playoffs, then make the most of it — such as the champion 2017 and ’18 squads.

“We won a WPIAL as the 15th seed and another as an 11th seed,” Ellsworth said. “The point is, each team had a tough section road and that section road led them to strength no matter what the seed was. Last year we didn’t necessarily have that. This year, we have a strong section and it is going to make these guys grow up quick.”

While many coaches guide their teams through summer workouts and tournaments, Ellsworth didn’t see his team until Aug. 15, the first official day of practice.

“That’s my policy. I’m the outlier. I think I’m completely different than every other coach,” Ellsworth said. “The team gets together regularly, they organize it on their own, and we have great leaders at Shady Side Academy.”

Tags: Fox Chapel, Shady Side Academy