Former Southmoreland player Askin set to lead Scotties girls soccer

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | 7:33 PM

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When she was a high school freshman at Geibel Catholic, Aryn Askin played for a time on the boys soccer team. She was just too strong, talented and passionate for the girls program at the small, private school.

Years later, as she begins her first season as a high school girls coach at Southmoreland, Askin is looking for players with the same approach.

“We will truly look to every single athlete on our team to fill a necessary role for the season's success,” Askin said.

She's likely to get a taste of it when Southmoreland, with five returning starters, opens its schedule on Wednesday night with a WPIAL Section 3-AA game at McGuffey.

While a group of underclassmen will be counted on for key contributions, particularly junior Jenna Conty, sophomores Mercedes Smartnick and Olivia Barnhart and freshman Bailey Steban, who has been slowed by a meniscus problem, it is perhaps the senior class that offers the most.

“Our seniors will provide strength and invaluable playing experience,” Askin said.

That class is led by defender Mackenzie Blair, who is beginning her fourth season as a starter.

“She's been a standout in all departments,” Askin said. “In the classroom, she's ranked very high in her class; in character, she's a leader on and off the field; in the community, she volunteers within the local soccer community; and in competition, her ability on the field.”

Blair will be joined on the team by just two other seniors: Alison Huffman, who returns from an ACL injury after playing in her sophomore season as a starter, and Allie Shreffler.

“I've seen the girls team come a long way in a short time,” Blair said. “I'm happy where we are at this point. I honestly expect that we'll do well, despite the youth on our team.”

For as long as Askin had been playing competitively, she was determined to play college soccer at a Division I school.

A Connellsville native, Askin eventually left Geibel Catholic and enrolled at nearby Southmoreland when her family moved to Scottdale, where it operates Mid-Atlantic Inc., a firm that provides products to the natural gas industry.

She led the Southmoreland girls team to its only section championship and was an all-WPIAL selection in 2009 before signing to play at St. Francis (Pa.).

The 2009 season also marked the first time Southmoreland had won a playoff game. The Scotties' last playoff appearance was in 2012, when they dropped a 1-0 decision to Belle Vernon in the Class AAA first round.

Askin left St. Francis after her sophomore year in 2011 for personal reasons, but not before she saw action in a 1-0 loss to No. 17 Ohio State in a first-round NCAA playoff in her final college game.

She's also participated at times with various club teams and for an Olympic developmental squad.

By 2015, Askin had settled on coaching and took over the Southmoreland Middle School girls program. She was elevated to varsity assistant last season before taking over as head coach this season following the retirement of longtime coach Bob King.

Southmoreland is coming off a 5-9-1 season that included a 5-6-1 record in Section 3.

Askin's assistant is Sterling Flunder, who joined the Southmoreland staff while continuing as director of the Riverhounds Academy East at the Shallenberger Recreation Center in Scottdale.

“My vision is his vision,” Askin said. “It's why I was enamored with that facility. I want to change the culture of our team and so we trained there all this winter.”

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Southmoreland