Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Greensburg Central Catholic’s Jackson Vacanti

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, September 9, 2024 | 11:46 AM

Greensburg Central Catholic’s boys soccer team is no stranger to winning, having claimed two of the last five WPIAL titles in Class A and playing for a third in 2021.

Last year, with a younger group, tournament play for the Centurions ended in the first round when they fell to Burrell.

With a talented group of seniors playing for a second year under a coaching staff led by Ryan Kanner, the bar is high.

“For me, in my last season, I want to make a WPIAL final. “I was there once before (in 2021), and it’s a great feeling. The atmosphere is insane,” senior midfielder Jackson Vacanti said. “It’s going to be hard. We’re going to have to work together.”

That journey began with a tough nonsection matchup against Eden Christian, and GCC held its own, forcing a 1-1 draw.

“Eden’s a good team, very physical,” Vacanti said. “They have a huge roster. We have a smaller roster. It’s not about the size of your team, it’s about who you have, and I think our team fought so hard that game and got a draw.”

Tough nonsection games prepare GCC for a tough section schedule, which includes last year’s Class A champion in Bentworth.

“We’ve got to stay tight on defense, not let any easy over-the-top balls happen,” Vacanti said of those section matchups. “When we get the ball, we gotta make some stuff happen.”

Along with playing in a WPIAL final, Vacanti is no stranger to big moments, netting the winning goal GCC’s 6-5 overtime victory over Eden Christian in the 2021 semifinals.

Vacanti has not made a decision about his life after high school, but he’s leaning toward attending a school in England for soccer, which he’ll be visiting in November.

In the early part of the year, Vacanti took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with soccer?

I have a twin sister, so we both started playing when we were about 3 at Latrobe Parks and Rec.

What kind of motivation do you have coming into this year?

I mean, definitely a lot of motivation. Our team has so much more fight in them, so much more grit. We showed that in our game against Eden. Last season, it was a rough end to the season. We played a good team, but this year we look like we want it way more. It has a lot to do with going out early.

What can we expect to see in the second season with Coach Kanner?

About the same. I think he’s doing a really good job with what we have. I don’t think much will change. I think. once again, our team this year has so much fight in them. A lot has to do with him as a coach, our assistant coaches. We have two this year. Last year we had one. They’re all helping, making sure we have an intense atmosphere.

What kind of a leadership role do you have this year?

I’ve got to make sure everyone understands that our team can do it. If we work together and figure some stuff out, then we will do it. It won’t be easy, obviously. We have a smaller team. But I feel like, as a captain, as a leader, I have to make sure every practice, every game, we’re 100 percent focused. We know what the goal is. We want to make it as far as we can.

Was your overtime goal last year your favorite moment? If not, what is?

That probably is up there. It was unbelievable as a freshman to get that goal in overtime. It was a great comeback. If you remember, we were down a couple goals. That definitely is up there. I would say my goal last year against Ligonier, there were about three seconds left. I hit a volley from a very far distance. But playing in the WPIAL final, it’s hard to beat that also, with the group we had that season. I’ll never forget that.

What is one thing that people may not know about you?

I had a surgery this summer that I was recovering from. A lot of people probably wouldn’t know that. Since my freshman year, I’ve been dealing with dislocations, and I couldn’t finish my club season. I was having a really good club season, and I ended up having surgery at the end. My club team actually won the state cup, and I was on the bench recovering. I really focused on lifting, and right now I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I feel very strong, with a huge desire to play soccer right now because I missed so long this summer.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.