Plasko scores all 4 goals to lead South Fayette past Latrobe in boys soccer playoffs
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Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 5:55 PM
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko celebrates with James Casillo after scoring his first goal against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko heads the ball into the net to score his first goal past Latrobe defenders on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Luke Gillen celebrates with Mike Plasko after Plasko scored his hat trick goal against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
Latrobe’s Sam Kiesel battles South Fayette’s Mike Plasko for a header in front of the net on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko scores his hat trick goal next to Latrobe’s Brady Kring on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko celebrates after scoring his hat trick goal against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko celebrates his third goal against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
Latrobe’s Sam Kiesel heads the ball away from the goal against South Fayette on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Adam Thompson heads the ball against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Colin Dadey heads the ball against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette goalkeeper Dylan Janoski makes a save against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette goalkeeper Dylan Janoski celebrates with James Casillo after defeating Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko celebrates between Latrobe defenders after scoring on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mike Plasko reacts after scoring his fourth goal against Latrobe on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at South Fayette.
Senior Michael Plasko is one of South Fayette’s best basketball players. A fiery guard who can shoot 3-pointers, he averaged 17 points per game last winter.
But he also plays a mean forward for the soccer team.
In the first half of the Lions’ opening playoff game, the call was, Plasko for three. Then, the senior added an and-1.
A catalyst from the start Saturday afternoon, Plasko netted all four goals for a career high, including a first-half hat trick, as No. 8 seed South Fayette blanked No. 9 Latrobe, 4-0, in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round game at South Fayette Stadium.
“I knew I was going to score a few but not that many,” said Plasko, who has a team-leading 17 goals. “The game plan was for my teammates to get me the ball and to play off me. They did that today.”
With the well-organized win, South Fayette (11-2-3) advances to play at No. 1 Plum (18-1) on Wednesday.
It will be a quarterfinal rematch of last year’s 2-1 win by Plum on penalty kicks.
Latrobe (13-4), which hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2020 and hasn’t won a postseason game, looked to be in control in the opening 10 minutes before Plasko jumpstarted the Lions.
“I thought we moved the ball better than they did for the whole game,” Latrobe coach Jake Rice said. “It’s just that they beat as at what we’re not good at. We’re not good with the ball in the air. They have some big kids and got the ball up.”
It was the first time Latrobe was shut out all season.
South Fayette’s first corner kick produced the opening score.
Senior Adam Thompson sent a bender to the front of the cage, and Plasko headed it top shelf in the 12th minute.
Plasko worked his way around a defender six minutes later and finished past junior keeper Reece DiCasolo to make it 2-0.
His third goal came in the 27th minute as junior Ryan Bradley sent a high cross in front, and sophomore Luke Gillen nipped it to his right, where Plasko was waiting to complete his hat trick.
The early deficit was too much for Latrobe to overcome. The quality attempts the Wildcats did get were stopped by Lions keeper Dylan Janoski, who made six saves.
“They are really good defensively,” Rice said. “Their keeper is a (River) Hounds kid so I know what he can do.”
The Lions possessed the ball in the second half while they nursed the lead.
With 5:30 remaining, though, Plasko struck one last time as he ran in from the wing and scored off a touch pass from senior Nate Belcufine.
Plasko is getting college interest in basketball from some Division II and III schools.
“I actually wasn’t going to play (soccer) this year,” he said. “But I love this team. We’re a very scary team right now.”
DiCasolo had eight saves for the Wildcats.
Latrobe set a team record for wins this season. Suddenly, the Wildcats are turning their attention to next year.
Rice said he was disappointed the Wildcats did not get a home game in the first round.
He said he was “99% sure” they would.
“It will hit me Monday,” Rice said. “It was a good year for us. If it’s a different draw, maybe we win our first-round game.
“There was a losing mentality here before. Now, the kids want to win.”
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Latrobe, South Fayette
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