West Allegheny girls soccer earns 1st playoff berth

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 | 1:51 PM

West Allegheny’s girls soccer team earned the right to participate in the WPIAL playoffs for the first time.

The Indians aren’t ready to celebrate just yet, though.

“It’s an awesome feeling, and it’s crazy just thinking about it,” West Allegheny senior Dakota Gerst said. “We are not really thinking about playoffs, honestly. We’re just trying to win each game.”

West Allegheny (9-4 overall, 8-2 section) knows it can’t rest just yet since it could claim at least a share of the Section 4-3A title or a high playoff seed.

“We want to finish strong; we want to win out, maybe get a little help and maybe win the section,” West Allegheny coach Dave Tissue said. “It’s great for the kids. I am just really thrilled for them, their parents and the school. Hopefully, we get a good seed and maybe get a home game and enjoy the experience. The future is really bright, too. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling.”

Tissue believed the Indians had a good chance to break through and reach the playoffs this year. The players reinforced it with positive results in close games. The squad has a 7-2 record in one-goal games.

“We try to tell them that they have to have the mentality that they can win every game; if they get down, they have to keep battling. In the past, if we got down, we were done. They’ve done a really good job of not getting down and they just keep coming back at you. We were down to South Fayette, 1-0, (on Saturday) and came back and won 2-1. We were down to them earlier this year and came back to win 4-3,” Tissue said. “Almost every game has been a good battle. I figured this section was real even, and it’s proven to be that way.”

Gerst believes the team thrives in challenging situations.

“I honestly think, with the close games, we come out so much harder and play harder because we want it so much more. The close games keep us going,” she said. “In the past, once we were down a goal, we all got down on ourselves and blamed each other. There’s no blaming and no drama. Everyone is for the team, and that’s something we haven’t had. It’s so much better. It proves that, as long as you stay as a team, you can accomplish anything.”

The team-first mentality helped West Allegheny end its playoff drought.

“We’ve had some good players in the past, but not great teams. We don’t have superstar players, but they’ve come together as a team really well,” Tissue said. “There’s no drama or drama with parents. The parents have been real supportive and awesome.”

Amaka Joanis, Claire Mercurio, Alyssa Goldstrohm and Gerst are the squad’s senior captains. Gest and Mercurio are Cal (Pa.) recruits. The team has received contributions from all four classes, including freshmen Mackenzie Evers, Madison Pichi, Morgan Pichi and Ava Pustover.

“Going into the season, we were all kind of close. As the season went, we’re like one big family now. That’s something we haven’t had in the past. We’ve just all kind of rallied together and fed off of each other’s energy,” Gerst said. “With the group of girls that came up and with the players we have now, the starting 11 and players coming off the bench are strong.”

The Indians’ depth was tested recently when leading scorer Mackenzie Taranto was lost for the season with a leg stress fracture. She had eight goals in the team’s first eight games. Rhiana Bates and Evers have helped to pick up the scoring void.

“We don’t have that player who will score 30 goals, but we need everyone to chip in,” Tissue said. “That’s how we’re going to get through. We were doing really well with injuries until that.”

Janelle Amadio, Ali Block, Keri Quasey, Morgan Pichi, Pustover and goalkeeper Joanis have solidified the team’s defense.

“Right now, we are playing loose. With all the close, one-goal games, that’s helped with the pressure, too,” Gerst said. “Every game in the section has been a battle. It makes going into each game more and more exciting and more refreshing because there’s not a game you think will be easy. I think that’ll help us in playoffs.”

Joe Sager is a freelance writer.

Tags: West Allegheny