Chartiers Valley players honored after special soccer season

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, November 16, 2017 | 11:00 PM

The resurgence of Chartiers Valley as a WPIAL boys soccer power continued this season.

While the Colts were unable to capture a second straight WPIAL title, they did make several strides this season, including another trip to the semifinals and the program's first section title since 2008.

“Any time you win 16 games during a high school season, you can call it a successful year,” Chartiers Valley coach Garrett Mac­Kenzie said. “We set out with the goals of winning the section, WPIAL and state title every year. But you also have to realize only one team finishes the year with a win.

“We are not going to hang our heads too low for being in the final four a season after winning the WPIAL.”

Chartiers Valley finished with a 16-5 record. The Colts were 9-1 in Section 4-AAA to claim the section title.

The team saw its season come to a close with a 1-0 loss to rival South Fayette in the WPIAL third-place consolation match. It was the Colts' second loss to the Lions this season after falling 2-1 on Sept. 21 during the regular season.

“They are a well-coached team,” said MacKenzie, who was an assistant at South Fayette before taking over at Chartiers Valley. “We played them three times this season, and each one was a one-goal game. I am glad it is a rivalry. It means both teams are doing well and battling it out to finish on top of the section.”

Josh DiMatteo led the team in scoring with 19 goals. The West Virginia recruit received both All-WPIAL and all-state honors and was named Section 4's Player of the Year.

“Josh played center-mid as a freshman, center back as a sophomore and was an attacking midfielder as a junior,” MacKenzie said. “He played forward as a senior. He is such a versatile athlete and meshed so well with the team.”

Jimmy Boyle, Baxter Eckenrode and Nathan Wood all received All-WPIAL honors. Boyle finished second on the team in goals with 12. Wood added nine goals, and Eckenrode finished with eight.

A total of five players were named to the all-section team — DiMatteo, Eckenrode, Boyle, Wood and Johnny Henderson. Anthony Molinaro was an honorable mention, and MacKenzie was named the section's Coach of the Year.

“I think (goalkeeper) James Moore could have been named to the section team,” MacKenzie said. “He hadn't played soccer in a few years and just came out for his senior year and had 13 shutouts for us.”

Chartiers Valley will look to rebuild during the offseason heading into next year as it loses 17 seniors and nearly all of its starters to graduation.

For MacKenzie, this large senior group will hold a special place in his memory as they were freshmen when he took over the program. The 2018 senior class was pivotal in the team going from four wins in its first season to winning the program's sixth WPIAL title as juniors and the section crown as seniors.

“These guys reaped the awards of hard work,” MacKenzie said. “This is our first graduating class that has been with us for all four years. They all have good grades, all worked hard and all came to practice ready to go.

“I am proud to say I coached these guys at Chartiers Valley.”

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Chartiers Valley