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Preview: Pine-Richland hosts rival North Allegheny in section finale

Photo courtesy Pine-Richland boys soccer twitter

Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s Featured Match Preview:

WPIAL Boys Class 4A, Section 1

North Allegheny (9-6-1, 7-5-1 in section) vs Pine-Richland (7-9, 6-7 in section)

Thursday, October 10 – 7:30 p.m. – Pine-Richland Stadium

Reporting: John Krysinsky  

Matt Gajtka provides audio play-by-play broadcast on PSN Facebook Live

Photography: Ed Thompson 

Jordan Wiegand is building Pine-Richland’s boys soccer program in his first year, and even as it’s a year of transition, the Rams are starting to show that the future is bright.  The Rams upset PSN’s top-ranked Class 4A team, andSection 1 rivals Seneca Valley last week, and have followed that up with a win at Central Catholic.

“There’s been a lot of progress,” Wiegand said on Wednesday. “These things take time. We’ve got new coaches, and had a lot of new players that replaced a huge group that graduated from last year, so there’s been a period of adjustment.”

The impressive late season wins weren’t enough though to salvage a late season playoff push, as Pine-Richland’s early 2-5 record early in section play cost them a chance to make the post-season.

“We’re still developing as a team, and we’ve seen progress in spurts,” Wiegand added.

Pine-Richland’s contributions have been ‘spread out’ in the words of their coach, who has been able to utilize a lot of players in his first season coaching in Class 4A, after making the move from previous successful posts at Deer Lakes and North Catholic.

Wiegand has counted on a sophomore goalkeeper, Evan Dougal and a freshman center back, Ben Rishel, while the attack’s been led by a senior, Vince Roller, who’s come on strong of late.

“Vince has had a nice season,” Wiegand said. “He’s provided us with a presence up front, with some key goals in our biggest wins.”

One of those early season losses for Pine-Richland came at North Allegheny, 3-1.

With Pine-Richland’s surge of late, North Allegheny were feeling the heat last week — and were fortunate to clinch a playoff spot.

The Tigers wild 3-3 draw vs Fox Chapel pushed North Allegheny into yet another postseason appearance.

Winless in four of its previous five matches, the Tigers followed up the draw on Tuesday to beat Shaler 11-2, as Bobby Vosmaer’s club is looking to build on momentum as they look to make a push into the 2019 postseason, two years removed from winning back-to-back WPIAL titles.

While North Allegheny doesn’t have depth and talent that they did a few years ago, they’re still going to be a tough team to beat.

“Bobby’s an awesome coach,” Wiegand said. “He got me my start in coaching, and I’d say he’s my mentor. You always know what you’re going to get from a North Allegheny. They’re going to press you, and make you pay for mistakes.”

North Allegheny remains a playoff-bound team that has a chance to make a run, thanks to seniors Luke Anderson — is a key threat in the attack and the versatile Jon Ross, who can play in the back, but also be utilized in a variety of positions.

 

PINE-RICHLAND RAMS

Head Coach: Jordan Wiegand

No. Name Year
0 Cochran, Nick Sophomore
1 Dougal, Evan Sophomore
2 Nicassio, Tony Junior
3 Lee, Kevin Junior
4 Crutchfield, Dylan Senior
5 Silipo, A.J. Senior
6 Pohlod, David Senior
8 Jorgensen, Ryan Senior
9 Palko, Zach Sophomore
10 Sangpachatanaruk, Will Junior
11 Roller, Vince Senior
12 Gonzalez, Emiliano Junior
13 Johnson, Connor Junior
14 Nichols, Daniel Junior
15 Tamburri, Michael Junior
16 Kim, Philip Junior
17 Battista, Eli Senior
18 Wojcik, Ethan Junior
19 Ferris, Zach Senior
20 Muth, Aaron Senior
21 Guise, Brandon Sophomore
22 Jones, Luke Senior
23 Maurer, Jack Sophomore
24 Brown, Jack Sophomore
25 Wells, Mason Sophomore
26 Bang, Justin Sophomore
27 Sable, Spencer Sophomore
28 Caldwell, Gus Sophomore
29 Bellora, Trenton Sophomore
30 Cornelius, Thomas Sophomore
31 Klaff, Cale Freshman
32 Duckworth, Luke Junior
33 Katruska, Josh Sophomore
34 Engel, Sam Freshman
36 Amr, Zeyad Junior
38 Zvejniejs, Colin Freshman
39 Derks, Tyler Freshman
40 Silipo, Ethan Sophomore
42 Rishel, Ben Freshman

NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS

Head Coach: Bobby Vosmaer

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Year
Partridge, Jonathan GK Senior
2 Jones, Braden D Senior
3 Smith, Owen D Junior
4 Giannetti, Samuel D Senior
5 Anderson, Luke F Senior
6 Stasko, William Mid Junior
7 Mericle, Justin Mid Senior
8 Burroughs, Bryce Mid Senior
9 Maldia, Sam F Senior
10 Cinker, Will Mid Senior
11 Van Kirk, Matt Mid Senior
12 Iozzi, Philip Mid Junior
13 Roman, Jason D Senior
14 Gardner, Jacob D Junior
16 Runatz, J.D. F Senior
17 Ali, Saif F Senior
18 Swann, Johnathan Mid Junior
21 Walsh, Jack Mid Senior
22 Passodelis, Sam Mid Senior
23 Ross, Jonathan F Senior
28 Kress, Maximilian D Junior
30 Anderson, Evan F Sophomore
31 Solman, Andrew Mid Senior
32 Sansosti, Darien D Senior
42 Schwartz, Ryan D Senior
45 Peterson, Zoha D Junior

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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