Sewickley Academy boys soccer shows promise, room for growth in early going

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Sewickley Academy’s boys soccer team started out with four home games this season at Nichols Field.

Halfway through the four-game stretch, the Panthers were 2-0 with nonsection victories against Serra Catholic and Trinity Christian.

“While we did a lot of good things and have a good foundation to build upon, we still have a long way to go to be at our best by October,” coach Joel Stewart said. “I am obviously happy with the results, but I have also learned we can play a lot better and have a lot of things to work on.”

Finn Wentz, younger brother of former Sewickley goalkeeper Cooper Wentz, kicked things off in outstanding fashion in leading the Panthers to an 8-0 victory Aug. 26 against Serra Catholic.

The talented senior midfielder led the Panthers’ charge with a hat trick plus three assists, playing a role in six of the team’s eight goals.

Nick Day, also a senior midfielder, contributed two goals and two assists while senior defender Blake Wilmot added two goals. Junior midfielder Jake Donesec chipped in with one goal.

Sewickley’s freshman goalkeeper, Haden Haley, recorded a shutout in his first varsity start and surrendered just one goal in his second game.

The Panthers edged Trinity Christian, 2-1, on Aug. 28 as Wentz, on an assist by Day, and Wilmot registered Sewickley’s two scores. Wilmot netted the decisive goal in the game’s final minutes.

Wentz is a fourth-year competitor in soccer and will be in his fourth year in the boys tennis program in the spring.

He indicated that the soccer team is gearing up for a vigorous 2025 playoff run, one that will include a WPIAL championship.

“Our team is very strong,” Wentz said, “and now that we have many of our players back from injury, the team is looking really good. Now that is my senior year, the WPIAL (title) is really the only thing left to win.

“Our strength is our middle of the field. We build through the middle, and our midfield and central defenders know our defensive roles.”

Senior defender Luca Peluso is a three-sport standout at Sewickley. He is a four-year starter in soccer, has skated on the varsity hockey team for three seasons and will be a fourth-year player in the boys lacrosse program in the spring.

Peluso has elevated standards for Sewickley soccer in ‘25.

“I’m expecting a lot from this team,” he said. “This is one of the best teams we’ve had in a while, and even though we might not have the largest roster, I still expect to have a very successful season.”

Peluso believes all the experience on this year’s squad will help lift the Panthers to positive results.

“I would say the biggest strength of our team is the number of experienced players that we have that are dedicated to winning,” he said.

Tags: Sewickley Academy