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JRK Memorial Classic (Pine-Richland boys soccer tournament): Day 2

Photo courtesy Jared Todhunter

Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s team is starting the High School/WPIAL soccer season by providing featured coverage and as a sponsor of the tournament where six boys varsity matches are being played at Pine-Richland High School this weekend at the JRK Memorial Classic.

You can keep up with all of the tournament action as we’ll be on hand for the action and we’ll be bringing coverage via various PSN platforms (see the full schedule below).

TOURNAMENT DAY 2 UPDATES (Sunday, August 28, 2022)

FINAL: Moon 1, Franklin Regional 0 (Match Recap)
FINAL:  Pine-Richland 3 Penn-Trafford 0
FINAL: North Allegheny 1, Winchester Thurston 0

Follow here for the latest updates from Pine-Richland Stadium and the Ram Cage, as John Krysinsky will be on hand for the early game at Noon (Moon vs Franklin Regional), then will be joined by Matt Popchock for the 5 p.m. games.

Kopay’s brace, Shutak’s PK save lift Moon past Franklin Regional, 3-2

PINE-RICHLAND TOURNAMENT INFORMATION 

Here’s what you need to know:

WHO:   Six WPIAL Boys Varsity Soccer Teams

  1. Pine-Richland (host)
  2. North Allegheny
  3. Franklin Regional
  4. Penn-Trafford
  5. Moon Township
  6. Winchester Thurston

WHAT:   JRK Memorial Classic: Pine-Richland Boys Soccer Tournament

Jimmy Kennedy was a member of the Pine-Richland boys soccer program, and member of the Class of 1999.  He was a four year starter, four year letter winner, co-captain of the 1998 team in his senior season.  Jimmy’s life came to an abrupt end in a tragic car accident on December 23, 1998.  In his memory, Jim’s number 7 was retired during halftime of the newly renamed JRK Memorial Classic in September 1999.  His number will no longer appear in Pine-Richland soccer game, but will always be in the hearts of those on the team and in Pine-Richland. In 1999, contributions were made in the memory of Jim Kennedy to start the James R. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Fund, awarded to senior soccer players at the end of each school year. Since its inception, funding for the Scholarship Fund have been provided from a portion of the proceeds raised at the JRK Memorial Classic soccer tournamenet played at the beginning of every high school soccer season. To date, the James R. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship has awarded over $66,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors at Pine-Richland High School.

WHERE:   Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, PA

Matches played on the Stadium Field and the new Ram Cage Field

WHEN:   Saturday, August 27, 2022 and Sunday, August 28, 2022

Match Schedule:

Saturday August 27th

Sunday August 28th

  • 12pm (Franklin Regional vs Moon) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Pine-Richland vs Penn Trafford) STADIUM
  • 5pm (Winchester Thurston vs North Allegheny) RAM CAGE

JV games are in between games throughout the day.

PSN TOURNAMENT COVERAGE / ACTIVITIES: 

PSN Team:

  • Reporting / Interviews:   John Krysinsky @johnkrysinsky
  • Broadcast / Reporting / Interview:    Matt Popchock @pghsoccernow

Sunday, August 28

  • 12:00 Noon – Follow @PghSoccerNow @JohnKrysinsky for updates on Twitter + Tournament Day 2 Blog on Pittsburgh Soccer Now
  • 2 p.m. (approx) – Postgame show on Pittsburgh Soccer Now (immediately following Noon match) at Media Center table between Fields
  • 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. – Meet & Greet at Pittsburgh Soccer Now team members at table in front of Stadium
  • 5 p.m. – Audio Broadcast with Matt Popchock on Pittsburgh Soccer Now YouTube Channel; Follow @PghSoccerNow for updates on Twitter
  • Post match interviews to follow on Pittsburgh Soccer Now social media platforms

PINE-RICHLAND BOYS TOURNAMENT VARSITY TEAM CAPSULES 

Pine-Richland Rams

Class 4A, Section 1

Head Coach: Jordan Wiegand

2021 Record   6-9-2

With Colin Zvejnieks, Ben Rishel and Cale Klaff back, P-R has solid senior leadership returning (in total they’ll have seven returning seniors) as they’ll look to get off to a good start this season in their tournament.  While Head Coach Jordan Wiegand, in his 4th year with the program, has used a lot of underclassmen in his first three years, this will be the most veteran group he’s had in his tenure at P-R.

The Rams defeated North Catholic, 3-0, and drew Winchester Thurston in last year’s tournament.

North Allegheny Tigers

Classification:    4A

Section:              1

Head Coach:   Manuel Montero

2021 Record   15-6

For the first time in decades, North Allegheny will have a new boys soccer coach! Montero inherits a boys’ soccer program that has reached the WPIAL playoffs 12 consecutive seasons, including two WPIAL titles and a state semifinal appearance in that span. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Montero most recently was a men’s and women’s assistant coach for the last five seasons at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. He has also served as head coach at Westmont High School (2017-2019), Cristo Rey High School (2016-2017) and June Jordan High School (2013-2016), all in California. He has also coached for San Francisco United, Almaden FC, and most recently, the De Anza Force Club.

Key player to watch for the Tigers will be senior defender Aidan Dyga.

Penn-Trafford Warriors  

Classification:    3A

Section:              4

Head Coach    Sotiri Tsourkis

2021 Record     9-8-0

Player to watch is senior Brady Paliscak. The Warriors, who will have six returning seniors, will be moving down in classification this year, and it will be very interesting to see how they fare in the same section with the likes of neighboring Franklin Regional and Plum, two programs that have been strongholds in Class 3A.

Franklin Regional Panthers

Classification:    3A

Section:              4

Head Coach    Lukas Petersen

2021 Record   17-5-0

Franklin Regional has been one of the elite programs in the WPIAL over the last five years, but the Panthers have a new coach this fall in Lukas Petersen.

A former Pitt men’s soccer assistant who played professionally in Austria, Petersen took over rather late in the game — Aug. 1 — after Thomas Louisy resigned in June for family reasons.

The Panthers have to be in the title conversation again in Class 3A despite the graduation of superstar forward Anthony DiFalco, the three-time All-American who is at Duquesne.

Senior leaders Colton Hudson and Jake Kimmich return for the Panthers, along with junior goalkeeper Aryan Selokar, who was solid in last year’s postseason as the Panthers (17-5) reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.

Here’s a few quotes from the Trib:

“The first season is always a bit challenging,” Petersen said. “I am coming into an already successful program, but I also want to put my mark on it. I expect to create a strong team chemistry and help prepare these young men for success on and off the pitch. The boys and I are still getting to know each other. Not allowing complacency to set in and forming a strong and positive team dynamic will be crucial in maintaining the success this program has had in the past.”

“I have full confidence in our new coach, and I think that he will bring the best out of every player on the team,” said Hudson, who had 18 goals and 17 assists last season. “And although Anthony was obviously a huge loss to the program, I feel that we have the players to step up this year and fill in that loss.”

Moon Tigers

Classification:    3A

Section:              2

Head Coach     Earl Pannebaker

2021 Record  16-3-0

Player to watch will by senior Ryan Kopay, who can put the ball in the back of the net as a dangerous attacker, has committed to DI University of Akron. The Tigers bring back six seniors to a squad that had only two section losses in 2021 (both to West Allegheny).  Their only other defeat was 1-0 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals to eventual WPIAL and PIAA champs, Hampton. With West A likely in somewhat of a rebuilding season, this could be their season to make a run at both a Section title and WPIAL/PIAA tournaments.  The first match of the tournament vs North Allegheny will be an excellent test for both sides!

Winchester Thurston Bears

Classification:    1A

Section:              3

Head Coach      Adam Brownold

2021 Record 23-0-1 – PIAA & WPIAL Champions

The last time the Bears did not win a match came in the Pine-Richland tournament a year ago, when they drew against the hosts.

But when the teams decided to go to PK’s for a fun activity.

Get the Frock Out: Winchester Thurston Boys Grab WPIAL Gold from GCC

Related Topics

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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