Thomas Jefferson girls soccer uses challenging nonsection slate to prepare for playoff run
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Sunday, September 22, 2024 | 11:01 AM
Thomas Jefferson’s Ashlynn Fry celebrates her goal with teammates during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Abbey Spalla works against Thomas Jefferson’s Aislin Majoris during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
Thomas Jefferson’s Olivia Della Lucia connects on a header next to South Fayette’s Mia Deramo on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mia Deramo battles Thomas Jefferson’s CeCe Wessel for possession during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
Thomas Jefferson’s Ashlynn Fry heads the ball into the goal to score on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
Thomas Jefferson’s Aislin Majoris works past South Fayette’s Harper Zapf and Mia Deramo during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Harper Zapf battles Thomas Jefferson’s Aislin Majoris for a header during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
South Fayette’s Mia Deramo battles Thomas Jefferson’s Kamryn Marcinko for possession during their game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at South Fayette.
She is no longer a super sophomore.
Sami Maglicco fulfilled her role as a team leader in 2023 in only her second year of varsity competition.
Now a well-polished junior midfielder, Maglicco accounted for 26 goals for last year’s high-flying girls soccer team at Thomas Jefferson. She also finished in double figures in assists; she’s looking to net at least 20 goals this season.
“Sami is a player. She can score or assist,” TJ coach Sean Richter said. “Sami is smart and will play the right ball. She’s a quality player we can move around. She will find her goals. She’s a team player.”
The Jaguars clinched first place in Section 2-3A with a 14-0 record last season and were 16-1 overall. They outscored their opponents by a 119-13 margin, which included a 113-10 advantage in section play.
The Jaguars posted nine shutouts, including wins by 19-0, 18-0, 12-0 and 10-0 scores, and averaged seven goals per game.
“We need to stay healthy,” Richter said. “We are not as deep as past seasons, and we play a pretty loaded schedule. Hopefully, we can learn and improve from these (early season) games and make a good run.”
The 5-foot-3 Maglicco was expected to step into the role held by then-senior forward Natalie Lamenza in 2023. Lamenza was a four-year starter who earned multiple All-WPIAL and all-section status.
Maglicco wanted the Jaguars to start off on a winning note.
“This year will definitely be more challenging,” she said. “It was definitely a difficult challenge to the start of the season, but one we were definitely excited for.
“With a more difficult schedule, it will be a tough challenge although I think we have prepared well for it. A difficult nonsection schedule will prepare us for playoffs and give us a lot more competition.”
Maglicco was granted her wish as the Jaguars opened the season with a 4-1 record, which included a 3-0 mark in Section 3-3A. The TJ girls rolled past Laurel Highlands, 7-0, Oakland Catholic, 4-1, and Uniontown, 7-1, in section play, defeated Franklin Regional, 3-1, and lost to Upper St. Clair, 5-1.
Other offensive standouts for TJ include senior midfielders Olivia Della Lucia and Aislin Majoris, and junior forwards Aubrey Little and CeCe Wessel.
Senior Ashlynn Fry started the season as a returning starter on defense.
The team’s starting lineup has consisted of freshman Kayla Marcinko and junior Adi Fenlock on the backline; Fry and junior Anna Kondos, as center backs; Della Lucia, Majoris and junior Kamryn Marcinko at midfield; Maglicco, Little, Wessel and sophomore Denika Bergman rotating at forward; with sophomore Nyla Kiral and senior Annemarie Graham sharing the goalkeeper position.
“The early season is hard when you’re trying to figure out the puzzle pieces,” Richter said. “The positives are that a lot of players we need to impact games are producing. Each game we want to improve, and hopefully peak at the right time.”
Della Lucia plans to continue her career at Seton Hill. She has been named all-section three times.
“I’m hoping to make all-section for the fourth time,” she said, “and my goal is to get All-WPIAL, as well. I’m also working on getting myself mentally and physically prepared to play college soccer next year.
“I’m very proud of all the girls for putting in the work. I’m very excited to compete and enjoy my senior season with this team before I get to experience college soccer at the next level.”
Maglicco also is hoping to earn all-section and All-WPIAL honors in 2024.
The TJ girls have enjoyed a sensational two-year run on the pitch, particularly in the regular season. The Jaguars were section champions in 2022 with a 13-1 record; they are 27-1 in league play over the past two years.
After losing their first game last season, the Jaguars reeled off 16 consecutive regular-season wins and ended up 17-2. The four previous years, they were 6-0, 7-2, 11-2 and 3-2 prior to finishing 17-3, 12-7, 14-3-1 and 12-7-1 overall.
“I have high expectations for this team and can’t wait to see what we accomplish this season,” Della Luca said. “We had early games against very competitive teams. If we’re able to compete against these teams, I think that will show we can be a team to watch in 3A.”
Tags: Thomas Jefferson
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