Westmoreland County girls soccer preview: Mt. Pleasant primed for more playoff success

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 4:55 PM

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After a WPIAL runner-up season that included a trip to the PIAA Class 2A girls soccer semifinals, Mt. Pleasant is primed for another postseason push.

The Vikings, who went 21-3, could have the best lineup their soccer program has seen, and with it, speed, technique and a sense of belonging among the WPIAL’s top contenders.

Another drive to Highmark Stadium could be in their future, but coach Rich Garland is not letting his team’s collective mind wander much past picture day.

“We will be taking this season one game at a time,” he said. “We will be a competitive group with a significant amount of expectations. But we are still a young group.”

With only two starters gone, Mt. Pleasant has the majority of its lineup back — and that is a scary proposition for opponents.

That means junior 29-goal scorer Rylin Bugosh and sophomore Morgan Gesinski (33 goals, 15 assists) are back to lead the attack.

Bugosh and Gesinski are a quick-strike pair. But there is a framework around them.

Senior Riley Gesinski and Maggie Piper, juniors Maddie Barrick and Adi Belanger and sophomores Brooklyn Ulery, Raygan Mizikar, Caitlyn Fullman, Regan McCormick, Jaden Kantorik and Laurel Rummel (goalkeeper) also are returning starters.

Garland said another strong freshman class is coming through and will push for varsity time.

Isabel Overly, Addie Czekaj and Camryn Kapr are among the ninth-graders looking to keep the program among the classification’s best.

“We want to compete for a section title as well as a WPIAL title, but we need to challenge ourselves to be better teammates and establish a certain level of play to accomplish that,” Garland said. “Challenging all of our players to pay attention to the details and focus on the basics of play and tactical awareness should enable us to achieve those goals.

“Last year’s team was a phenomenal group of girls, and they made a lot of history. This year’s team hasn’t accomplished anything yet. In order to make their mark, they can’t take anything for granted and must approach every match prepared, focused and committed to the highest level of team play.”

Garland said the Vikings will change fluidly with formations.

“Which, if done effectively, will confuse our opponents some,” the coach said.

Around the county

Championship hopes will not stop with Mt. Pleasant.

• There is plenty of promising talent at Latrobe, as well. Low roster numbers, yes, but this team should still be dangerous.

Don’t be surprised if it makes another lengthy playoff run.

The Wildcats, who made it to the WPIAL 3A semifinals and the PIAA postseason for the first time, bring back a number of key players, including Regan Reilly, Robin Reilly, Maddy Petruzzi and Ava Yurko.

Regan Reilly (Bowling Green), senior Ella Bulava (Maryland) and Petruzzi (Valparaiso) are Division I commits.

Bulava, an all-state selection, will miss the season after having surgery to repair a torn ACL.

Robin Reilly, who is targeting a mid-September return after an ankle injury, also is a Division I prospect.

Regan Reilly had 18 goals, and Robin Reilly added 17 goals and 13 assists.

Petruzzi’s importance likely will increase, and the Wildcats should benefit from the return of Yurko from ACL and meniscus tears she suffered last season.

Still, the team only had 18 healthy players in camp. The Wildcats won’t field a junior varsity team.

“We have to keep healthy,” coach Jamie Morrison said. “This is a different team. We have small numbers, but their heart is immeasurable. They love to come out and play the game, and they are all supporters of one another. We have a solid core, and we’re going to rally around them.”

• Meanwhile, Franklin Regional is another potent 3A team.

A group that prides itself on defense and possession soccer, the Panthers have one of the top goalkeepers in the state in senior Aris Lamanna, a Coastal Carolina commit and United States Youth Soccer East Region Olympic Development Team selection who had 11 shutouts as a junior.

A key loss will be senior midfielder Leah Brockett, who is likely out for the year with a torn ACL.

“Little by little, we are putting the team together for this year,” Franklin Regional coach Scott Arnold said. “Still, our expectations are to be as good as last year. We should still be strong defensively, and we have some ideas to score more goals than last season. We will see. It will be an experienced starting lineup for the most part composed of mostly juniors and seniors.”

Abby Paterline is another one of the team’s 10 returning starters, some of whom might change positions.

• Penn-Trafford was another 3A playoff team, one that gave juggernaut Mars all it could handle in a 1-0 loss in overtime.

Junior goalkeeper Rease Solomon and sophomore midfielder Emily Oslosky are top returnees for the Warriors.

• Norwin junior Julia Bursick decided not to play this season after committing to Duquesne. The Knights still are reeling after missing the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in program history. They are eager for a return to the postseason.

• New coaches have taken over programs at Hempfield (Jim Jones), Greensburg Central Catholic (Derek Cuthbert) and Yough (Robert Broadwater).

• Hempfield is looking to snap a 46-game losing streak. The Spartans were outscored last season 164-0.

• Southmoreland, another regular in the playoffs, has seven starters back. But senior Gabby Fabery decided not to play this season.

• Kataira Rhodes and Grace West are back to pace Belle Vernon.

• GCC should remain an upper-echelon team in Class A, led by junior Riley Kerr, who had 38 goals last year.

Juniors Sophia Fisher, Jillian Botti and Ella Machusko also are back.

The Centurions have made four straight trips to the PIAA semifinals.

Senior Alexia Graham transferred to Norwin. She led GCC in assists last year and was the third-leading goal scorer.

• Monessen has an underrated scorer in senior Sam Saylor.

Players to watch

Maddie Barrick, Jr., MF, Mt. Pleasant

Rylin Bugosh, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant

Morgan Gesinski, So, F, Mt. Pleasant

Riley Gesinski, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant

Riley Kerr, Jr., F, Greensburg Central Catholic

Aris Lamanna, Sr., GK, Franklin Regional

Emily Oslosky, So., MF, Penn-Trafford

Abby Paterline, Jr., MF, Franklin Regional

Maddy Petruzzi, Jr., MF, Latrobe

Regan Reilly, Sr., MF, Latrobe

Robin Reilly, Jr., MF, Latrobe

Kataira Rhodes, Jr., MF, Belle Vernon

Rease Solomon, Jr., GK, Penn-Trafford

Ava Yurko, Jr., MF, Latrobe

Preseason rankings

Class 4A

1. North Allegheny (21-2)

2. Peters Township (15-3)

3. Upper St. Clair (9-8)

4. Mt. Lebanon (16-3)

5. Seneca Valley (13-2-2)

Class 3A

1. Moon (24-0)

2. Mars (19-2)

3. Latrobe (12-5-2)

4. Franklin Regional (11-6-2)

5. Plum (18-3)

Class 2A

1. Avonworth (19-4)

2. Mt. Pleasant (21-3)

3. North Catholic (16-3)

4. South Park (14-6)

5. Shady Side Academy (10-6)

Class A

1. Freedom (20-4)

2. Springdale (17-5)

3. Greensburg Central Catholic (16-5)

4. Waynesburg (16-5)

5. Winchester Thurston (9-1-1)

*Records from 2022

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant, Penn-Trafford