Seniors Kelly, Brown pace Brentwood in section win

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 23, 2017 | 12:31 AM

A pair of seniors were instrumental last week in a key section win at home for the Brentwood boys soccer team.

The Spartans edged Chartiers-Houston, 1-0, as midfielder Ryan Kelly netted the game's only goal on a penalty kick, and goalkeeper Dylan Brown posted the shutout.

“The team has been great at home, but not so good on the road,” coach Ron DiNardo said.

The Spartans, who improved to 3-3 in section play with the win, handed Chartiers-Houston one of its only two section losses in the first half of the season.

• Brentwood's football team averaged 32.5 points in Weeks Zero and 1, and 16.5 ppg in Weeks 2 and 3. Overall, the Spartans scored at a 24.5 ppg clip through four contests; but they gave up 18.3 ppg.

“At times this team looks very good,” coach Kevin Kissel said. “Other times, we don't.

“We have to get more consistent in everything we do, and not just game to game, but from series to series. Penalties are killing us; other times we look great.”

• Brentwood is scheduled to play only three football games at home this season — against East Allegheny, Avonworth and Deer Lakes.

“The fourth scheduled home game was Vincentian Academy, and they did not field a team this year,” athletic director Rick Huffman said. “Due to the late cancellation by Vincentian we, like most of the other teams in our conference, were not able to find a replacement game.”

Brentwood's final three games are on the road — at South Allegheny (Oct. 6), Carlynton (Oct. 20) and Steel Valley (Oct. 27).

The Spartans have a unique “bye week” following the South Allegheny game; they originally were slated to host Vincentian Academy that week.

• On the college front, Brentwood graduates Bill Madeja, a junior linebacker; Ricky Gralish, a freshman quarterback; and Josh Moon, a freshman linebacker; are teammates in the Westminster football program this season.

Matt Rohe (RB) and Jordan Karafa-Jackson (OL) also are freshman teammates at Geneva.

Other former Brentwood gridders continuing their careers in college include Justin Vickless, a senior RB at Washington & Jefferson; Connor McWilliams, a redshirt sophomore QB at Alderson Broaddus; Dan Stiefvater, a sophomore OL at Waynesburg; Jacob Thomas, a freshman DB at Robert Morris; and Giovanni Segura, a freshman TE at Clarion.

• Four players in the Brentwood girls volleyball team's regular rotation — Anna Betz (middle hitter), Natalie Murrio (outside hitter) and Brooke McQuillan (outside hitter) and Brittany Stewart (right-side hitter) — also are defensive specialists.

Morgan Dryburgh (middle hitter), Abby Wolf (setter), Brooke Gilchrist (defensive specialist) and Jackie Drazdzinski (right-side hitter) round out the Spartans' rotation.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Brentwood