Westmoreland County boys soccer notebook: Former Monessen standout, 25, takes WPIAL coaching job

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | 11:01 AM

California has one of the youngest coaches in the state — and one of the better goal scorers in recent Monessen history.

Tyler Caterino is only 25 years old, barely out of college, and he is leading the Trojans this fall.

The former goal-scoring forward went on to become an all-region player in college at Westminster, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“I wanted to coach because I still have a lot of love and passion for the game and want to give local players the opportunity to connect with a younger coach who went through the same thing they did relatively recently, and who played at a high level,” Caterino said.

Seeing the game from a different perspective has given Caterino a greater sense of purpose.

“Coaching definitely has its pros and cons, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives and setbacks that you experience,” he said. “I really like connecting with student-athletes who care about being part of something bigger than themselves while playing the sport that they love.

“One of my favorite parts is to witness the progression of an athlete on and off the field as a player and as a person.”

Going streaking

Hempfield already broke one losing streak. Then the Spartans doubled down with another.

They blanked Penn Hills on Tuesday to snap a 47-game section losing streak that dated to Oct. 10, 2019, when the Spartans edged Latrobe, 1-0.

The team had not posted a shutout since 2021.

Earlier this season, Hempfield beat Derry, 4-2, to end a 41-game losing skid.

Wildcats on top

Latrobe moved into first place in Section 3-3A with an impressive 5-0 win over Belle Vernon.

Roman Agostoni registered his second hat trick of the season.

The Wildcats (3-1, 3-0) hoped to take the momentum into this week with games against Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional.

“I added an assistant coach this year, and he asked what makes us a good team,” coach Jake Rice said. “I told him, ‘When there is a big game, our boys show up.’ ”

Latrobe never has won a section title or a playoff game, so the expectations and goals are clear.

Rice said the team does not have an identity but is learning to tailor its playing style to fit the opponent.

“If we’re going to do something, this is the year to do it,” Rice said. “I can’t tell you what our style is. Going into a game, we adjust to what the other team is doing. Against West Mifflin (for example), they were more scrappy and there were more fouls. We played more soccer against Belle Vernon. It’s different every game.”

Agostoni also is the kicker for Latrobe’s football team, which also has seen an uptick in success and outside interest.

“The football team is one big family,” Agostoni said. “Every Latrobe team right now has that sense of community.”

Last year, Latrobe set a school record with 13 wins.

Johnson back

Mt. Pleasant senior Aidan Johnson was medically cleared to return because his leg injury is not as serious as first thought.

The senior midfielder was injured during a home game Sept. 3 against Belle Vernon. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

He leads the team with seven goals.

“Our boys are pretty excited to know they have their captain back on the field,” Vikings coach Floyd Snyder said.

Sassak officiating

Former Belle Vernon star Daniel Sassak is a PIAA soccer official, working junior varsity and junior varsity games.

He was home Thursday to work the Latrobe-Belle Vernon game at James Weir Stadium.

Dual role

Franklin Regional defender Mitchell Murray worked a double shift last week.

In a matter of hours, Murray shot a 1-over-par 37 in a golf match against Penn Hills, then helped the Panthers soccer team post a 10-0 shutout against Uniontown.

Shutout day

Last Thursday must have been laundry day for local teams. There was one big stack of clean sheets.

All 11 games involving Westmoreland County teams produced a shutout.

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

Tags: California, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Monessen, Mt. Pleasant