Senior-heavy Springdale girls soccer ready to contend in Class A

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 28, 2018 | 9:12 PM

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Senior night might be a couple months away, but Springdale coach Jerry Concannon joked he already had his starting lineup in place.

With 11 seniors on the roster, it makes that particular decision fairly simple. But the Dynamos hope their experience helps them in more ways than one.

Springdale begins the 2018 season in its former Class A home after playing the past two seasons in Class AA, with a deep and experienced roster as it pursues its first WPIAL championship since 2009.

“I think the seniors this year are all good leaders,” said Concannon, in his 12th season as coach. “They lead in a different way. Some of them are a little more vocal, some lead by example, but they’re all on the same page, which I think is very important. They’re all moving in the same direction.”

Right now, that direction is up, even if Springdale moved down in the offseason.

The Dynamos played the past two seasons in Class AA, electing to “play up” in the larger classification despite having the enrollment size of a Class A team. An inexperienced team finished 3-13-1 in 2016, snapping a 10-year playoff streak.

Last season Springdale rebounded to an 11-6-1 record and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, falling to Avonworth in the first round. And when the WPIAL realigned in the offseason, the Dynamos elected to play the next two seasons back in Class A.

“I think building as the season went on (last year) helped us this year,” senior Sydni Henley said. “The seniors directed us in the way they wanted us to go. If we didn’t get it in the season last year, we definitely have it now.”

Springdale’s section might be the most difficult in the WPIAL, as it includes defending PIAA champion Shady Side Academy and defending WPIAL champ Greensburg Central Catholic, familiar rivals from the last time the Dynamos played in Class A.

“The last time we played them, we were freshmen,” Henley said. “Going from freshman year and playing them to senior year playing them, we’ll definitely see the outcome and see how far we came.”

Springdale boasts experience on all levels of the field. Senior Rylie Patterson and junior Marina McCutcheon return in goal for the Dynamos after splitting time there last season, and Concannon expects to follow the same procedure this fall.

Senior Laurel Black will anchor the Springdale back line, with sophomore Julia Parfitt also playing a significant role. Seniors Anna Yaksich and Breanne Hurley will play in the center midfield, senior Jaden Domaratz is an attacking midfielder and senior Erica Crail should see time on the outside.

Henley, senior Jade Vrabel and sophomore Miranda Shock are among the top forwards. Henley and Domaratz provided prolific goal-scoring numbers in recent years. Many of the Dynamos’ upperclassmen have three or four years of experience, as Concannon generally tries to get his players involved early.

“I feel really good about our team, and I feel we can give (the top teams) a run for their money,” Vrabel said.

Another potential strength for Springdale comes with the team’s versatility, as Concannon said several players can slot in to multiple positions depending on the matchup.

“You might see that again, wink-wink, nudge-nudge, this year,” Concannon said.

One benefit of playing in Class AA the past two seasons came in the ability to play a consistent junior varsity schedule. With the Dynamos back in Class A, they don’t have that — six JV games are scheduled now, but Concannon said he’ll also look to get the younger players experience by working them into varsity games.

Concannon said the Dynamos’ offseason work and a tri-scrimmage against Southmoreland and Valley went well, and the team played a second scrimmage Tuesday against Sewickley Academy.

Always on the lookout for better practice procedures, Concannon last season went to more of a scrimmage-heavy approach among his own players. He’s continuing that now, the idea being that Springdale can more easily take those experiences into games.

“We’re not going to do a lot of drill-y stuff,” Concannon said. “That’s efficient and effective in the sense that it gives you game fitness and situational decision-making and works on your skills all at the same time. It’s sort of an economical form of training, and it’s been working so far.”

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Tags: Springdale