Near-freezing temperatures can’t slow Waynesburg soccer
CORAOPOLIS – It was unusually cold for a soccer match Monday night – almost too cold.
The 10-15 mph winds made 42 degrees feel like 32 degrees at Moon Area High School, and the steady rain only made it worse.
In the WPIAL Class AA girls semifinal between Freeport and Waynesburg, Freeport’s players were almost all understandably wearing extra layers – leggings, long sleeves and gloves. For most, from the media in the press box and the mothers in the stands, it would have been inconceivable to not wear extra clothing on this raw night.
For No. 3-seeded Waynesburg, though, it would have been more inconceivable to focus on the weather as the Raiders defeated second-seeded Freeport 7-0 to advance to the program’s first WPIAL final and clinch a berth in the PIAA tournament.
Waynesburg (18-1) will take on top-seeded Freedom (19-0) in the WPIAL final at Highmark Stadium. The date and time of the match has not been determined.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Rhea Kijowski is defended by Freeport’s Kaitlyn Ritter Monday during a WPIAL Class AA semifinal match at Moon High School.
“To be honest, I wasn’t even thinking about (the weather),” said freshman forward Rhea Kijowski, who scored four goals. “That’s the last thing on my mind. When you walk out, it’s cold, but once we got warmed up, we were getting so pumped that I just didn’t even notice it.”
The Raiders don’t think they beat Freedom because they didn’t wear layers. That would be a farcical suggestion. They won because they’re simply more talented and they played a better match.
But, head coach Joe Kijowski did say his team didn’t wear layers because they’re winners.
“They’re not a bunch of babies. They never have been. Ever since they’ve been little they don’t believe in it. They believe it’s a sign of weakness,” Joe Kijowski said. “They don’t let the weather affect them, no matter what they’re playing in. That’s how they play. That’s how they’ve always played.”
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Madison Clayton is defended Monday by Freeport’s Emily Wolfe during a WPIAL Class AA semifinal match at Moon High School.
In addition to achieving school history, the Raiders also avenged its 3-1 semifinal loss to Freeport last season. Senior forward Madison Clayton, who tallied two assists, said while the team expected to win, they didn’t envision a 7-0 victory.
“I think all of us thought it was going to be a close game,” Clayton said. “We knew it was going to be really competitive, because they’re a really good team. They were obviously ranked above us, so we knew it was going to be a close one. I don’t think I ever imagined it would be 7-0.”
It only took Kaley Pell and the Raiders five minutes to get on the scoreboard. Pell buried the shot after a Kijowski shot was deflected right to the senior forward.
The Raiders controlled possession much of the next 15 minutes, but that came to an end when Rhea Kijowski took a cross from Clayton, a Pitt commit, and scored to put the Raiders ahead 2-0.
Slick passing opened up the next Waynesburg goal, when Kylie Sinn, Clayton and Rhea Kijowski executed a three-on-two, with Kijowski scoring off a Clayton pass.
“We always work on passing every practice,” Joe Kijowski said. “Passing the ball and possession is our game. It was a beautiful play. They really have formed a nice chemistry up top.”
After the Raiders entered halftime with a 3-0 lead, Sinn scored a goal about 10 minutes into the second half off a perfect cross from Rhea Kijowski.
Eight minutes later, Pell and Kijowski put the match out of reach as each scored goals exactly 30 seconds apart.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Kylie Sinn fights for possession of the ball Monday with Freeport’s Hannah Stokes during a WPIAL Class AA semifinal match at Moon High School.
Kijowski capped the scoring with two minutes remaining with another goal, her fourth of the night.
Joe Kijowski said if anything about his team this postseason has surprised him, it’s the defense. Goalkeeper Mckenzie Booth and the Raiders’ defense tallied their second shutout of the playoffs and 12th of the season.
For Clayton, one of the few seniors on Waynesburg’s roster, clinching a PIAA playoff berth and playing in a WPIAL final is something she’s dreamed about for the last six years.
“It’s been a goal of the team’s for so long,” Clayton said. “Joe (Kijowski) told me when I was in seventh grade that we would win it all, and I have not forgotten that since he told me that, because I’ve wanted it so badly. That’s what started it, and I never gave up, because I knew it was something we could accomplish.”