Thomas Jefferson boys riding high after defeating Keystone Oaks

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 12, 2018 | 8:39 PM

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Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team has been a perennially WPIAL playoff contender.

The Jaguars wrapped up their fifth consecutive WPIAL playoff berth with a third-place finish in Section 4-3A this year.

The TJ boys attained an 8-3-1 section record, behind Franklin Regional (11-0-1) and South Fayette (9-2-1). Chartiers Valley placed fourth at 6-5-1.

Thomas Jefferson, 11-4-1 overall, started out 7-2-1 this season, and posted a pair of 1-0 signature wins — Sept. 15 against South Fayette, and Oct. 9 against undefeated Class AA No. 5 Keystone Oaks.

“Anytime you defeat an undefeated team, it is an accomplishment for our players,” TJ coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “I would have to say the overtime victory against South Fayette earlier in the season was our biggest win due to the fact it was against a section opponent.

“Throughout the year we have continued to be challenged due to our strength of schedule against some top competition (such as Canon-McMillan, Franklin Regional and South Fayette).”

The Jaguars have been sparked offensively this season by senior midfielder A.J. Meshanko, with 16 goals, and senior forward Preston Lutz, with 13. Lutz switched positions from the midfield area to forward this year. He has three hat tricks.

Meshanko netted the game’s lone goal against then-undefeated Keystone Oaks off an assist from junior midfielder Justin Finnegan.

Junior goalkeeper Jack Wessel posted the shutout, the Jaguars’ seventh whitewash of the season.

Wessel was flanked by a staunch TJ defensive corps in seniors Ty Folk and Seth Thompson, junior Will Morano and freshman A.J. Getsy.

Meshanko, an offensive catalyst, and Folk, the backbone of the defense, are the team’s co-captains.

“Both A.J. and Ty are tremendous leaders,” Kulish said. “Their actions on the field speak for themselves. Their work ethic, skill level and knowledge help lead this team. They are both good role models for the younger players to look up to.”

Other key players for the Jaguars include Trystan Alava, a sophomore forward, Jeremy Marshall, a senior midfielder, and Jack Sella, a sophomore midfielder.

“We also had great contributions from Owen Richter, Jake Vrabel, Marshall Richter and Luke Giger,” Kulish said following the win against Keystone Oaks.

Meshanko is a two-time first-team all-section selection, and also has been named All-WPIAL. He has been a kicking specialist on the TJ football team the past two years, and was an all-conference selection in football last season.

Meshanko ranks among the Jaguars’ leading scorers on the gridiron with 36 PAT kicks.

The top five teams in Class 3A in the Tribune-Review HSSN boys soccer rankings are West Allegheny (16-1), Franklin Regional (13-0-1), Moon (12-3-1), Mars (14-1-1) and Blackhawk (11-2-2).

TJ, which owns a 45-20 overall scoring advantage in 2018, lost a 4-1 nonsection decision to Franklin Regional early in the season.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson