Penn Hills girls aim for consistent play under 3rd-year coach DeVito

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 26, 2017 | 12:27 AM

After qualifying for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2007, members of the Penn Hills girls soccer team believe they can make back-to-back playoff appearances thanks to the culture established under third-year coach Ashley DeVito.

The Indians finished 7-10 overall last season, including a 4-6 record in Section 3-AAAA. The season came to a close after a 9-0 loss to Norwin the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

With the three-game improvement from DeVito's first season, Penn Hills seeks consistency with the return of key contributors from last year's team.

“We didn't graduate a lot from last season. Most of my starting lineup is returning so having that consistency transitioning from last season to this season is going to be a big help,” DeVito said.

“The fact that we in the past two or three years have been able to develop that camaraderie and the experience growing and playing and learning together is going to be a huge help and allow us to have our most successful season yet.”

The Indians return both of their all-section selections — senior defender Britney Anglin and junior goalkeeper Autumn Blair.

“Autumn is so solid for us and so consistent. She is someone we can always count on. It's been a pleasure over the last few years to make her job easier,” DeVito said.

Anglin will be one of the captains, along with senior defender Alyssa Lucas and senior midfielder Jalene Stroncek.

“They have been the role models for the other girls,” DeVito said. “They have been the girls running the offseason conditioning. They really have been leaders, and they have allowed us to transition from a team that was playing for fun to a team that is competing to win.”

The senior class has come a long way, and Lucas can't be more thankful for how much effort DeVito has put into the program.

“I never thought we would be where we are today coming from my freshman year where we had good players but we had so many goals scored on us,” Lucas said.

“It's just so exciting to see someone that cares to bring a team from such a low point to where we are right now.”

The Indians also return a sophomore class that includes center midfielder Taylor Clayborne, outside midfielder Sierra Hankey, midfielder Dayvona Hogan and defender Lily Slagle.

DeVito is excited for the prospects of freshman forward TaMaya Wolford.

“She is going to add a lot to our offense. She has a great ability to score goals. I think she is going to be a huge help to create offense for us this season,” DeVito said.

With favorites Fox Chapel and Plum playing in Section 3 with the Indians, DeVito has set her sights on two matchups against Allderdice, which finished one spot ahead of the Indians in the section.

“Our goals are different for each team we play because we know we are a team that is in the early stages of development,” she said. “If we know we are playing a team that is technically and tactically more developed, then our goal is to improve against them year-to-year.”

The Indians, who started 3-0 last season, open at home at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 against West Mifflin.

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn Hills