C-M relishes underdog role
When the WPIAL boys soccer playoff pairings were announced, it came as a surprise that Canon-McMillan received the fourth seed, despite finishing first in a section that has produced four consecutive PIAA champions.
While some coaches might have complained about a perceived oversight, Big Macs head coach Larry Fingers embraced the underdog role. It’s that mindset that helped C-M win the WPIAL title in 2012 as the 13th seed and reach the state playoffs in 2013 as the 11th seed.
The Big Macs’ three losses this season came when they were overwhelming favorites. Though Canon-McMillan (17-3) enters tonight’s WPIAL Class AAA championship match at Highmark Stadium as the lower seed against No. 2 Fox Chapel (17-1-1), a victory over top-seeded Seneca Valley could change expectations.
“My biggest fear is after beating Seneca Valley was that the kids don’t come in with the same type of mindset,” Fingers said. “They have to play the underdog role, which is something I think we’re very good at. I don’t think we’re as strong being the favored team.”
Canon-McMillan defied the odds Monday night by defeating a strong, athletic opponent in Seneca Valley, which had an eight-match winning streak. Big Macs senior striker Nick Sodini scored with just under 11 minutes remaining to lift them to a 1-0 victory and its first trip to the WPIAL championship since 2012.
Kickoff tonight is 8 p.m., and Fingers is not sure what to expect from Fox Chapel. The Foxes won the Section 3-AAA title and have five consecutive shutouts. They are led by senior center back Kota Furuhata, a two-time all-state selection, and sophomore forward Michael Snowball has a team-high 23 goals.
“It will be interesting to see if they change anything,” Fingers said. “As a whole, they’re a strong team. I’m in the mind that in the playoffs, you have to be results oriented. You have to get it done whether it’s pretty, ugly, last minute or first minute. Our guys have embraced that.”
The Big Macs are led on offense by Sodini, who has a team-high 28 goals, but its their defense that helped them defeat Penn-Trafford and Seneca Valley. The group includes senior goalkeeper Christian Snatchko and senior Alex Ablak.
Canon-McMillan’s six seniors are in a unique position. They witnessed the program capturing a WPIAL title as freshmen in 2012 and now are ready to establish their own legacy. A victory would give the program its second WPIAL championship and a third trip to the PIAA playoffs in the last four years.
“We’re on the cusp of winning it again and these seniors have the opportunity to make it their own, as opposed to being a part of something they marginally contributed to and this could be something they led us to,” Fingers said. “It would be a beautiful combination for the seniors to go through this four-year process and have that opportunity twice.”
Class A girls
Charleroi’s girls soccer team is looking to continue its memorable, yet unexpected run tomorrow morning. The Cougars are back in the WPIAL title match for the first time since 1999, but face a tough test at Highmark Stadium.
Second-seeded Charleroi (17-1-2) will take on top-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic (20-1) at 10 a.m. The Centurions have won three of the last four WPIAL titles, two of the last three PIAA titles and lost in the state championship match last fall.
The faces have changed, but the success continues. GCC has scored five or more goals 16 times this season and is on a 20-match winning streak. Junior striker Bailey Cartwright is leading the WPIAL with 73 goals this season.
“Their record speaks for itself,” Charleroi head coach Jim Rue said. “They’re perennial champions. Cartwright must be a phenomenal player. To score 73 goals in a season is quite outstanding and I’m sure she has a strong supporting cast. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them in terms of their ability.”
Charleroi’s impressive run continued Monday with an overtime victory against Shady Side Academy and has the program on the verge of its first WPIAL championship.
“It’s tremendous,” Rue said. “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of kids. They have stayed the course in terms of doing what’s asked of them, their relationships with one another and how they represent our section, the WPIAL and our school district. You don’t get to play at a facility at Highmark Stadium unless you are in a situation like this.”
Class AA boys
South Fayette (17-3) is back at Highmark Stadium for the first time since 2013, but claiming the program’s first WPIAL title won’t be easy.
The fourth-seeded Lions will face second-seeded Mars (18-2-1) tomorrow at 4 p.m. South Fayette lost in the PIAA semifinals a year ago, but losing six seniors did not affect its run of success under head coach Rob Eldridge.
South Fayette has a 49-15-4 record over the past three seasons and upset top-seeded South Park in the semifinals. Mars’ only two losses this season came against Class AAA opponents and is searching for its first WPIAL title since 2009.