Rybacki’s return provides boost for Carlynton girls soccer

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 26, 2017 | 12:51 AM

All three Carnegie-area girls soccer teams advanced to the WPIAL playoffs last season. But the other trait the three shared was an early exit.

Chartiers Valley (Class AAA) and Bishop Canevin (A) were first-round casualties. Carlynton (A) was knocked out one round later by the same team that eliminated the Crusaders: eventual WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy.

The good news is all three teams return experienced lineups and will look to make deeper playoff runs this season.

Carlynton (12-3-2 in 2016) returns seven starters for coach Andy Bogats. One of those, junior Lacey Rybacki, missed practically all of last season after suffering a broken collarbone before section matches began.

Bogats called her a “difference-maker” and said he believes her presence will make the Cougars more potent.

Other starters returning are senior Giana Darencamp and sophomore Savannah Savecko, who were among Carlynton's leading goal scorers. Keeper Morgan Harding returns to anchor the defense.

Also back to the starting lineup are Bryce Bogats, Anya Carassco and Olivia Robb.

“I see tremendous improvements over the past couple weeks,” Bogats said. “I think we should be right up there. I know what we can deliver.”

The Crusaders (5-13) are under the direction of first-year coach Pat Egan. Though he has coached at other levels, this will be his first time directing a high school program.

Egan said his aim is for the team to raise its level of play and be able to compete with teams like Shady Side Academy.

“They weren't fully prepared to play up to another level,” he said about last year's team, “so that's what we've been talking about since I got here. It's nice to make it (to the playoffs), but you have to be ready for the competition.”

Returning captains Kayla Marks and Maddie Walters lead Bishop Canevin. Egan said he also will have a third team captain that will be selected on a game-by-game basis based on effort — a carrot he can dangle to encourage players to compete harder.

Junior Caroline Collantonio spearheads the offense, keeper Annie Meier anchors the defense, and Jennifer Burton “will be asked to carry a lot of the load,” Egan said, in the midfield.

Chartiers Valley (11-7) returns all but two starters and is setting its sights high.

The Colts' strength starts in the back, where Makayla Walker and Liz Magnelli make up a solid 1-2 tandem at keeper. Walker is the presumed starter, but Magnelli, coach Ron Moreschi said, is able to spell her without missing a beat.

A trio of all-section players return: Allie Ball, Tia Horew and Lauren Lohman. Ball is committed to Robert Morris.

“She's athletic, loves the game, plays at a high rate of speed and energy all the time,” Moreschi said of Ball. “I could pretty much play her at any position. She's got all the tools.”

The other returning starters are Emma Comis, Alex Ferrella, Coletta Ozbey, Emily Gillot and Olivia Mandus.

Moreschi said the team is deep at some positions but lacks depth at others. He also has several players who are involved in other sports and not year-round soccer players.

Once those players get into soccer condition, he said, the Colts should be able to compete with just about anyone in Section 3-AAA.

“We want to try to win the section title,” Moreschi said. “That's something we've never done.”

Chuck Curti is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at ccurti@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CCurti_Trib.

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Carlynton, Chartiers Valley