Greensburg Salem girls soccer hopes to be playing its best in postseason

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 | 5:45 PM

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The Greensburg Salem girls soccer team will close out the regular season with three games over the next week and hopes to be playing at a high level just in time for the WPIAL postseason.

Coach Michael Rhea said as he recently sat back to reflect on how the season has progressed. Unsure what his expectations were in the summer, he is pleased with the direction the girls took.

The Golden Lions (6-8-1, 6-4-1) clinched a playoff berth last week and sit behind Belle Vernon (10-0), Laurel Highlands (7-3) and Elizabeth Forward (6-3) in Section 2-3A.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into the season,” he said. “You never know with a newer group of girls … especially being lower on numbers.

“I think we did a great job, and the girls really pulled it together and showed how they can work as a team. I’m proud of them.”

The Golden Lions had a somewhat tumultuous regular season with ups and downs and a losing streak that could have crushed their postseason potential.

After opening the campaign on a four-game winning streak, Greensburg Salem went on a six-game losing skid that began Sept. 18 and ended Oct. 1. Rhea said nothing changed tactically, but as the calendar turned to October, the girls rallied and vowed to end the drought.

“It is difficult for any team to go through a losing streak like we did, but perseverance is really what drives people,” Rhea said. “For the girls, enough was enough and they really pulled through that and I think came out stronger.”

Greensburg Salem was led on and off the field by seniors Autumn Sarsfield, Nikki Mellinger, Kierra Jackson, Emma Turin, Katie Leonard, Emily Roble and Mackenzie Soriano.

A talented cop of juniors led by Maddie Gall, Riley Stoner and Erika Christeleit provided a glimpse of what the next leaders will look like.

“I can’t stress enough how this group, really the whole team worked together,” he said. “I think as far as a group of seniors, those girls really did push the team to be better and work together and train harder.”

Sarsfield and Turin have taken their leadership roles seriously this season. Their experience was evident when the Golden Lions played through a rough stretch.

“It was difficult, but as a captain you have to motivate your team and keep their heads up to get them to get going. That really helped bring our season back up,” Turin said.

Sarsfield added: “We worked hard and pushed ourselves, and I think we’re better than we were last season and even earlier this season and have a lot of good players who are assets to our team.”

Rhea said not to expect the Golden Lions to play any differently when the playoffs kick off next week. Rhea said he’ll continue to preach what has been discussed all season.

There won’t be any tactical changes, rather he said this team will play the style of play they’ve shown capable of all year.

“Go out and play your game, do your best, do what you can do and listen to everything we’ve said all season and you’ll be prepared,” Rhea said. “It’s pretty much your turn to show us what you’ve got. You can do it, and I know they can.”

Brian Graham is a freelance writer.

Tags: Greensburg Salem