Thomas Jefferson boys soccer again has look of WPIAL contender

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, September 22, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team is a regular WPIAL playoff contender.

Last year, the Jaguars racked up a 15-1-1 regular-season record after finishing 12-1-1 in Section 3-3A.

TJ outscored the opposition 64-8 and posted 11 shutouts. The Jaguars then edged North Catholic, 1-0, in the first round of the playoffs before losing a 2-1 decision to Hampton in two overtimes in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

This year, TJ has been ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Trib HSSN. The Jaguars were 3-0-2 in the section and 4-0-2 overall. All four wins were shutouts.

“As always, our goal is to qualify for the playoffs,” TJ coach Michael “Doc” Kulish said. “We hope to contend for the section championship, although with the addition of McKeesport and defending WPIAL champion South Fayette, to go along with Trinity, Ringgold, Bethel Park, Laurel Highlands and Albert Gallatin, we know we have to play our best each and every game.”

The Jaguars have seven returning starters from last year’s top-flight squad led by senior midfielder Brayden Miller, who netted a team-leading 24 goals in 2023. Miller was named Co-Section Player of the Year, All-WPIAL and all-section.

After six games this season, Miller had scored a team-high seven times.

Four other senior returning starters in 2024 are Jake Shoemaker, at forward, midfielder Dylan Legeza, and defenders Bryce Kameg and Logan Schaffer.

Shoemaker paced the Jaguars in assists last year with 17 and contributed 11 goals. He was named to the all-section team.

Junior goalkeeper Sam Wessel and junior forward Owen Householder also were returning starters at the season’s onset. Wessel collected eight shutouts and was an all-section selection. Householder clicked for nine goals and six assists a year ago.

Shoemaker has complemented Miller this season with four goals and four assists while Householder added three goals and four assists. Junior defender Will Moser chipped in with two assists.

Wessel had four shutouts on the pitch so far.

Kulish said the performance of Wessel and the Jaguars’ defense — Kameg, Moser, Schaffer and senior Kolton Smith — has been the strength of the team.

“Through six games, we have four shutouts and have only given up three goals,” the veteran field boss said.

But it hasn’t been all roses for the TJ soccer team.

“We have been hampered with several injuries to key players,” said Kulish, mentioning Andrew Callaghan (torn ACL), Legeza (fractured hip), junior MF Logan Barron (broken collarbone) and sophomore MF Jacob Surrena (broken toe). “A key loss to this year’s team is the absence of junior midfielder Andrew Callaghan, who had knee surgery in the offseason and will not be able to play this year.

“Even though we have been hampered by these injuries, it has allowed other players to have the opportunity to step in and contribute greatly.”

Helping fill the void have been junior MF Aydin Hajiyev, and sophomores Benjamin Powell, at MF, and Tyler Schrello, Gavin Kern and Nathaniel Rice at F/MF.

TJ’s starting lineup includes Wessel in goal, the four defensive players, Miller, Hajiyev, sophomore Evan Olson and Powell at midfield, with Shoemaker and Householder at forward. Miller, Shoemaker, Kameg and Wessel are co-captains.

Kulish began the 2024 campaign with a 433-186-37 career record.

Tags: Thomas Jefferson