In synch
Charleroi head girls soccer coach Jim Rue did not know what to expect for this season. The Cougars lost five seniors to graduation, senior defender Marissa Johnson tore her meniscus in the spring and a large group of underclassmen would be counted on to fill the loss.
For Rue and Charleroi, the results so far have been good. The Cougars (10-1, 12-2) have won 10 straight matches, outscoring opponents, 49-4, over that span. The streak has the program on the cusp of a Section 2-A championship and a fifth straight playoff appearance under Rue.
The transition began at the end of last season and several injuries forced starters to miss Charleroi’s playoff push. Players such as forward Adrianna Gottheld, defender Jessica Day and defender Jensen Fleming gained valuable experience that prepared the Cougars for taking a leadership role this season.
“They are playing in synch. They are very much aware of where they are on the field,” Rue said. “I can’t really single one or two players out. That back five is really working harmoniously to make it work. We were strong defensively last year, but now we have some speed and some offense to go with the defense. That’s the key. We’re strong on both ends this year.”
While several players have scored goals for the Cougars, the leaders up front are the same as last season. Senior forward Halee Fedrick and senior midfielder Kyra Watkins each have 15 goals.
Junior goalkeeper Sydney Toth has eight shutouts with a defense that is limiting opportunities. In the Cougars’ 4-1 section victory over Chartiers-Houston Monday night, Charleroi was outshooting the Bucs, 15-2, at halftime. Though C-H held an early 1-0 lead, Rue’s squad fought back to claim its 10th straight victory.
If Charleroi defeats Serra Catholic today (7 p.m. start), the Cougars will clinch at least a share of the Section 2-A title, it’s first since Rue took over five years ago.
“I’m trying to take it a game at a time,” Rue said. “I don’t want these kids looking ahead. I know the school is getting exciting and their friends are getting excited. I’m trying to keep them grounded. Every team is dangerous, and we don’t take anyone for granted.”
History will probably be made Friday night when South Fayette hosts Steel Valley in a Century Conference football game. Not only are the Lions trying to extend their 21-game winning streak, but senior quarterback Brett Brumbaugh has a chance to break two WPIAL records.
Brumbaugh is 104 passing yards short of the WPIAL career passing yards record of 8,508, held by Sto-Rox graduate Lenny Williams. He also needs three touchdown passes to beat Williams’ career record of 102.
Peters Township graduate Veronica Latsko, a two-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year, is having a remarkable comeback from a knee injury that cut her high school career short.
Through 11 games with Virginia, which is ranked 18th in the country with a 10-1 record, Latsko is tied for third with three goals as a reserve forward. The 2013 Observer-Reporter Female Athlete of the Year also has logged 431 minutes.
Canon-McMillan graduate Mira Carrozza, a javelin thrower on the University of South Florida’s track and field team, was honored at the program’s annual cross country/track and field awards banquet Sunday.
Carrozza, who won the WPIAL Class AAA javelin title in 2012, was named the program’s Most Improved Female Field Athlete of the Year. This past season, she won the javelin title at the Texas Invite with a throw of 145-4, which ranked third in school history. She also placed 11th at the American Athletic Championships at USF.