With multiple players stepping up, Franklin Regional sets stage for special season

By: Paul Schofield
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Montour has been the nemesis of the Franklin Regional girls soccer team for the past two seasons.

The Panthers fell to the Spartans in overtime in the the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs each of the last two years.

But when the Panthers got their revenge Sept. 13 in a nonconference game, coach Scott Arnold knew his young team was special.

Franklin Regional blanked Montour, 3-0. Earlier this season, the Panthers also defeated Thomas Jefferson.

“We graduated 11 seniors, and I did not know what type we would have,” Arnold said. “It has been fun. This is like a new team, and they have been excellent.

“We have a bunch of new kids, and they are adapting to their roles. We have a lot of girls stepping up.”

Arnold is counting on a strong crew of returning starters: senior goalkeeper Addison Ayres, senior forward Allyssa Velasquez, junior defender Grace Copeland and junior outside attacker Elliana Canfield.

Ayres has been a stalwart in goal; Velasquez has been the team’s leading scorer with 11 goals; Copeland has been strong defensively; Camfield has been effective in the attack zone.

“Allyssa missed 80 percent of her season in 2024,” Arnold said. “She has really looked good.

“Grace has been a defensive anchor. She does a good job limiting opponents’ chances.”

Four freshmen have been playing well. Center midfielder Ella Copeland, center back Amelia Bertucci, forward Reese Regelski and forward Kate Silvis have shined.

Regelski scored four goals in the Panthers’ 7-1 victory against West Mifflin. She has 10 goals this season.

“We knew we had a chance to be good,” Arnold said. “We have been coming together, and we are healthy. We are getting good leadership from the seniors.”

Other players stepping up include sophomore defender Payton Benson, sophomore center mid Madison Wilder and senior midfielder Jocelyn Bertagna.

“Jocelyn is a strong defender, Madison wins a lot of balls and Payton defends well,” Arnold said.

Franklin Regional (7-2, 4-1) has won five consecutive games.

Its only loss in Section 4-3A was to Plum, 3-1, early in the season.

Arnold said his team is playing much better, and he was looking forward to the rematch scheduled for Sept. 22.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional