Blue-collar approach works wonders for Mt. Pleasant boys soccer

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 4:24 PM

Mt. Pleasant boys soccer players don’t do a lot of trash talking during games. In fact, they don’t do a lot of talking at all.

Floyd Snyder, the team’s 16th-year coach, called them a “reserved group.” But he loves their approach.

“They are not showboaters,” Snyder said. “They are bring-your-lunch-pail-to-work, meat-and-potatoes type of guys.”

The Vikings quietly have let their play do the talking as they try to chase down Belle Vernon for a Section 3-2A title.

Senior-led Mt. Pleasant (10-2, 10-1) only had a pair of one-goal losses on its record as the second half of section play began. The team takes a five-game winning streak into Thursday’s home game against McGuffey.

Snyder appreciates the team’s togetherness and ability to work together in tight situations.

“This group gets along very well, and that goes a long way when your backs are against a wall and things are not going your way,” he said. “They do not bring each other down when someone is having a poor day on the pitch; there are no ‘negative Nellies’ out there. Instead, they try to lift each other up, sometimes with their words, but mostly with their actions.”

Mt. Pleasant had six shutouts in its first 10 games, a credit to an experienced group.

Senior Luke Rivardo is on pace to lead the team in points for a third straight season. He had eight goals and five assists through 10 games.

Snyder appreciates the talent Rivardo brings, but “this team is more than just Luke,” he said.

Seniors Luke Domasky and and Austin Ulery have produced six goals with Ulery netting the winner in a 1-0 win over McGuffey.

Another senior, Eli Duvall, has held together a quietly effective back line.

“He doesn’t get his name in the paper but has been a keystone to any successes we have had over the last three years,” Snyder said. “He is another quiet kid but one of the best defenders I have had the privilege to work with in the 20 years I have been coaching. When you talk to him off the field, he is a quiet, shy young man, but when he steps onto the pitch and the ref blows his whistle, he flips a switch and plays big and bold, still not making much noise besides his vicious tackles.”

Senior Aden Geary is more vocal than the others, Snyder said.

“He is a captain and defender who talks a lot and brings a clean physical game to our back line,” Snyder said.

Senior goalkeeper Jacob McGuinness, an on-again, off-again starter in net for three seasons, has become one of the top shot-stoppers in the section.

“He is all heart and the best teammate anyone could have,” Snyder said. “He will do whatever it takes to stop the ball. He has started every match for us this season. Also, fellow senior Adam Russell works off the bench and offers a cerebral approach to the game.”

Juniors Aiden Johnson (four goals, five assists), Jarett Garn (four goals), Aydan Gross and Ryan Karfelt also have been keys to victory, and sophomore Damien Ohler is another top defender, durable and strong.

Snyder’s deep rotation has also featured several sophomores.

“This group responds well to coaching,” Snyder said. “Some groups you have think they know everything. This group is a smart group, so they realize they do not know everything. They take everything in from our film sessions, to lessons from the training grounds to in-game adjustments.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant