Back-to-back shutouts spark Thomas Jefferson girls soccer

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 1, 2018 | 9:21 PM

Thomas Jefferson’s girls soccer strung together back-to-back shutouts — their first two of the season — in recent section games at TJ Stadium.

The Jaguars ended the first half of section play with an 8-0 win against West Mifflin. Two days later, the TJ girls began the second half with a 7-0 victory against Woodland Hills.

“I really feel like we are turning a corner,” coach Jason Vozar said. “Many of our younger players were struggling a bit early in the season with their assignments. They have begun to focus, and I feel like we are now in a position to make a run.

“Alaina Mulvihill, a first-year junior starter, has really grown into a solid center-back for us, and Mia Maksin has done a nice job distributing the ball in the midfield.”

Maksin, a junior defender, sparked TJ offensively against West Mifflin with a hat track, and was complemented by a trio of midfielders in junior Dalaney Ranallo (2 goals), sophomore Ava Lutz (2 goals) and freshman Ashley Sukal (1 goal).

Sophomore goalkeeper Maddison Sippey posted the shutout.

Against Woodland Hills, Ranallo racked up four goals to lead the charge, giving her a team-leading 15 goals on the year.

“Dalaney has become a goal-scoring threat with both feet,” Vozar said.

Maksin, Lutz and Julia Saltzman, a junior midfielder, netted one goal apiece.

Sippey and junior Bailey Keck split goalkeeping duties versus the Wolverines.

TJ improved to 4-3 in Section 3-3A and 4-6 overall with the two shutouts.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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