Young players get chance to shine as Fox Chapel girls soccer starts strong

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, August 31, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Emily McKee has much to live up to during her sophomore season for the Fox Chapel girls soccer team. The pressure is different after pocketing 24 goals during her freshman season.

She’s grabbed people’s attention, and now McKee is faced with challenging herself to get better.

“There’s pressure, but it’s exciting knowing what I did last year,” McKee said. “I know I’m able to score. I have a goal set for each game.”

McKee found her scoring touch during Fox Chapel’s 10-0 win over Penn Hills on Aug. 28. She scored two goals to help the Foxes extend their record to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Section 1-3A play.

Fox Chapel hasn’t allowed a goal yet. The Foxes’ first significant hurdle in section play will come Sept. 9 when it travels to take on perennial power Mars.

Opening up section play with Shaler and Penn Hills allowed Fox Chapel to get younger players experience.

“Based on the new section, we don’t play these teams much,” Foxes coach Carlo Prati said. “We are still trying to figure out who fits well with who. Being preseason is only one week, it’s hard to get into the swing of things. The girls have been putting up a good effort.”

Cassie Classen also scored two goals for the Foxes during their win over Penn Hills. Fox Chapel saw several younger players score.

“A lot of different girls scored at different times,” Prati said. “We are trying to build their confidence up so when we get closer to playoffs, we have everyone clicking at all cylinders.”

Playing in the sweltering heat, the Foxes focused on wearing down Penn Hills, which has a smaller, inexperienced roster.

“We just had to pass a lot and find a rhythm with your team because of how hot it is,” McKee said.

Fox Chapel hopes to find the combination to keep attacking late into the second. After the Foxes won the WPIAL and reached the second round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs, Fox Chapel is eager to keep taking on new challenges in Class 3A.

“I’m looking forward to the good competition,” Mckee said. “Like Moon, we’ve all heard that they won state, so it’s going to be exciting to play them and make that run later in the season.”

Tags: Fox Chapel