Penn Hills notebook: Soccer team takes positives from defensive improvement

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The Penn Hills boys soccer team is searching for positives in every result this season.

The Indians are rebuilding, and they are seeing turnover in the program from last year to this year. Penn Hills coach Kevin Truman was proud of how the Indians recently played against Norwin in Section 1-4A.

“We switched to a slightly different, more defensive formation,” Truman said.

While the Indians couldn’t score against the Knights, Penn Hills limited a team averaging 3.1 goals per game to just two. The Indians have been dedicated to trying to become a more possession-oriented team.

The Indians have made some switches to their lineup recently to try and provide a spark.

“We moved captain Chase Delahanty to defense,” Truman said. “He, along with goalkeeper Jadon Robbins, have excelled on and off the field in their leadership.”

Penn Hills (1-7, 0-4) has some problem-solving to do in the attack. The Indians have scored six goals so far this season. Three of Penn Hills’ goals came in a nonconference victory over Carrick.

When section play resumed after the win over Carrick, the Indians hit a skid, losing to Hempfield, Plum and Norwin. Penn Hills was outscored 10-0 in those three matches.

The Indians got a break from the rigors of section play with games against Burrell and Riverview. Penn Hills would like to see some of the lessons learned from playing the bigger schools pay dividends when the schedule grants them some release.

Truman said the program expects to take some bumps and bruises along the way this season.

“We had nine new starters who are getting good experience,” Truman said.

Tennis sectionals

The Indians girls tennis team had a pair of players compete at the WPIAL Section 3-3A championships. Penn Hills sophomore Joy Oranwa was seeded 14th and lost to Shady Side Academy’s Brooke Henderson in the first round. Indians senior Isabella Pivirotto lost to Baldwin’s Chelsea Luxemburger in the first round.

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