Westmoreland athletes of the week: Franklin Regional’s Jake Sciorilli, Penn-Trafford’s Samantha Doherty

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 | 4:15 PM

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Jake Sciorilli

School: Franklin Regional

Sport: Soccer

Class: Sophomore

Claim to fame: Sciorilli scored from 12 yards out with 9 minutes, 38 seconds left to lead Franklin Regional (20-0-1) to a 1-0 win over Cathedral Prep in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal Saturday at Slippery Rock High School.

“I just wanted to make an impact, and I was able to get that goal. We just had to hold on for nine more minutes,” Sciorilli said.

How does it feel to score your first goal in the state playoffs?

I play more defense this year. I just tried to adapt to that. I couldn’t believe it at first, but we are just going to go from here.

What was the key to the back-to-back state playoff shutouts?

We’ve just been keeping possession. We’re making sure everyone is contributing, and our defenders are playing solid in the back. If they don’t score, they don’t win. Everyone has stepped up their level of intensity.

What was the key for the team heading into your matchup against West Allegheny?

You have to play your game. If we play our best game, we will come out on top. Since we played them in the WPIAL championship, we got to see how they played. Our players know what to do.

Who is your favorite athlete?

LaDainian Tomlinson. The San Diego Charger is my favorite of all time because he had the best work ethic, he always knew the right thing to do, and his teammates looked up to him. That’s the kind of player I like to be.

What sport would you be playing if you weren’t playing soccer?

I played baseball up until seventh grade. I wasn’t the best baseball player. Or I’d play lacrosse. I’ve always wanted to try that sport.

Samantha Doherty

School: Penn-Trafford

Sport: Field hockey

Class: Junior

Claim to fame: Doherty, who made 172 saves this season, earned a shutout to lead Penn-Trafford to a 2-0 win over Latrobe in the WPIAL Class AA championship at Fox Chapel on Oct. 30. Doherty, who finished with a 0.78 save percentage, allowed four goals in the 9-1 loss against Twin Valley in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Nov. 6.

“I think we had a really good season. The girls all tried really hard since we had a lot of new varsity players. They were sophomores and did really well,” Doherty said.

How does it feel to win your third WPIAL title?

That makes me really happy. I hope we can win one next year so I can leave high school with four medals.

What do you think the team can learn from the loss to Twin Valley in the state playoffs?

They can see where our team can go. If we continue to work harder, we can go further to winning a state title.

How did it feel to earn a shutout in the WPIAL championship?

It always makes me happy when we have shutouts. It reminds me how hard the team works in games like that.

What is your earliest memory of playing field hockey?

The first time I ever I stepped on for two-a-days, we had to do a two-minute run, and I was dying.

What do you like about field hockey?

It has the most love in the sport. You have to play the way you feel about the sport. You have to put your all in it for you to get the performance you want in the game.

— Andrew John

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford