Westmoreland County boys soccer preview: Trevor Kovatch back to lead young Belle Vernon

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 4:40 PM

Fifteen players accounted for points, and 11 scored goals last season for Belle Vernon’s boys soccer team.

The balanced production led the Leopards to a section title and a WPIAL Class 3A playoff spot.

While they will be young this season, the Leopards still could bounce the ball around and share offensive creation.

“This is the youngest team BVA has had for as long as I have known,” coach Al Yeschenko said. “I expect to still compete in every match. I believe we have a good locker room, and if the players continue to have chemistry, we should grow significantly this season. “

Belle Vernon, which has only three seniors, will rely on one of the top goal scorers in the WPIAL in junior forward Trevor Kovatch, who has 37 goals and 24 assists in his career.

Kovatch was the Section 3 player of the year. He also is playing for the Leopards’ golf team.

Junior midfielder Brandon Yeschenko and junior goalkeeper Bryce Burkhart also come back.

“I think our system will again be able to spread the scoring around,” coach Yeschenko said. “I also have confidence in our current team scoring leaders.”

A pair of PIAA swimming finalists in junior Mason Yeschenko and Tim Reda, and juniors Marci Mucci and Riley Nemoseck, also are looking to play key roles.

Al Yeschenko coached a Beadling 2006 club team to a national cup final in Denver, Colo.

Kovatch, and Brandon and Mason Yeschenko played on the team.

“I had a wild offseason,” coach Yeschenko said. “We didn’t win it, but it was still a super cool experience.”

Around the county

Some of the usual suspects should be playoff contenders again. How good they are and how far they will go remains to be seen as new scorers and defenders emerge and mesh.

• Norwin always seems to be in the hunt in Class 4A.

The Knights have a talented and versatile senior in Owen Christopher, a fourth-year starter who could be utilized more offensively. He was the Section 2 player of the year.

“He’ll make our engine tick,” coach Scott Schuchert said. “In my opinion, he is the best overall player in the WPIAL.

“We have a phenomenal incoming ninth-grade class, providing depth at every position. We will be led by two exceptional seniors (Christopher and Anthony Scalise), and Daniel Maddock will be the headline player in our attack.”

Senior goalkeeper Scalise, senior forward Alex Brown and junior midfielder Daniel Maddock bring experience to the Knights’ starting 11.

• Franklin Regional has been a perennial contender in 3A, and the Panthers should once again have a fast lineup.

Junior Joey Bayne should take on an increased role, and Aryan Selokar is an experienced, big-game senior in net.

“Our main strength will be our midfield,” second-year Franklin Regional coach Lukas Petersen said. “But our success will be contingent on our ability to control the game.”

• Senior Luke Rivardo will power Mt. Pleasant, a returning playoff team that is led by reigning Section 3 coach of the year Floyd Snyder.

• Jeannette is intriguing in Class 2A with standout Jordan Taylor back for his senior season. Taylor, a gifted forward, has 105 career goals. He had 34 as a junior when Jeannette made the playoffs for the first time.

Senior midfielder Austin Emery also fuels the Jayhawks’ attack.

• Jeannette (Steve Pons), Penn-Trafford (Ben Suchko), Greensburg Central Catholic (Ryan Kanner), Southmoreland (Brad Smith) and Greensburg Salem (Rich Christeleit) are local programs with new coaches.

• Greensburg Central Catholic has some key weapons to replace, but junior Jackson Vacanti brings energy to the midfield. He is one of only three returning starters.

GCC has to replace Trib Westmoreland player of the year Carlo Denis, the school’s all-time leading goal scorer with 145.

Players to watch

Zander Aird, Sr., F, Yough

Joey Bayne, Jr., F, Franklin Regional

Alex Brown, Sr., F, Norwin

Owen Christopher, Sr., , D, Norwin

Braden Crowe, So., MF, Hempfield

Bryce Burkhart, Jr., GK, Belle Vernon

Austin Emery, Sr., MF, Jeannette

Trevor Kovatch, Jr., F, Belle Vernon

Daniel Maddock, Jr., F, Norwin

Anthony Scalise, Sr., GK, Norwin

Luke Rivardo, Sr., MF, Mt. Pleasant

Aryan Selokar, Sr., GK, Franklin Regional

Jordan Taylor, Sr., F, Jeannette

Jackson Vacanti, Jr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic

Brandon Yeschenko, Jr., MF, Belle Vernon

Preseason rankings

Class 4A

1. Pine-Richland (14-5-1)

2. Fox Chapel (13-4-2)

3. Butler (13-5-2)

4. Seneca Valley (23-1-1)

5. Norwin (11-7)

Class 3A

1. Moon (19-1-2)

2. Hampton (12-7)

3. Montour (12-5-5)

4. Plum (19-3-1)

5. Ambridge (14-7-1)

Class 2A

1. South Park (19-2)

2. Deer Lakes (20-3)

3. Quaker Valley (18-4-1)

4. Beaver (13-8-1)

5. Shady Side Academy (14-4)

Class A

1. Charleroi (18-4)

2. Winchester Thurston (19-2-1)

3. Sewickley Academy (16-4)

4. Greensburg Central Catholic (15-3)

5. Seton LaSalle (13-4-1)

*Records from 2022

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

Tags: Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Jeannette, Norwin