Let the games begin

By Derek Pyda Eagle Staff Writer

October 20, 2016 Last Updated: October 20, 2016 01:13 PM High School

Yellowjacket boys 11-0-1 in winning 1st section crown in 17 seasons

BUFFALO TWP — Dave Teorsky likes to keep his Freeport boys soccer players on their toes.

“We had seven starters coming back from last year's playoff team,” he said, “but the coaches have new expectations every year. We work with a clean slate because we don't want the players to get complacent. It gives them all a chance to compete not only for starting roles, but also for playing time. It keeps them playing hard.”

To say Teorsky is pleased with how his players responded would be a major understatement.

The Yellowjackets won the program's first section title since 1999 by going undefeated (11-0-1) in 2-AA and will enter the WPIAL playoffs as the top seed with an overall record of 14-2-1. The 'Jackets will face Beaver (7-9-1) in a first-round game Saturday at the Mars Athletic Complex.

Butler County has 10 teams — five girls and five boys — in the WPIAL playoffs this season. Seneca Valley's boys enter as the top-ranked team in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps. The Raiders are also ranked 19th nationally.

Four schools — Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Freeport, Mars and Seneca Valley — have both their boys and girls teams in.

Butler's girls are in postseason play for the first time in 13 years.

Freeport's boys are enjoying a section title the program has waited 17 years for.

“It's come down to a lot of hard work and determination,” said junior forward Bryce Hanby. “We will be ready for the playoffs. We're scrimmaging a couple of Quad A teams.”

The effort thus far has been a team effort.

“If I were to single out the goalkeepers, the defense, midfield or the forwards, I would be doing a disservice to the other parts of the field,” Teorsky said. “I really do believe we have a balanced team.”

Having a talented and experienced goalkeeper to rely on doesn't hurt. Senior Austin Uric has proven to be that and more for the 'Jackets.

Uric played in the midfield as a freshman and moved in net his sophomore season. He has started all 17 games this season and has regularly reached double digits in saves for a single game.

“He is a very intense player and keeps the other guys fired up,” said Teorsky. “He does a great job organizing the defense and is an All-WPIAL caliber player.”

That defense was the one area Teorsky questioned before the season. Two of the starting four from 2015 graduated last spring. But the current quartet of senior Aaron Carley and juniors Adam Kvarta, Andrew Nigra and Seth Davis has proved up to the challenge.

“They (Carley and Kvarta) are our two center backs and they almost always play a full 80 minutes for us,” said Teorsky. “They've been stellar. Our defense has really solidified this year.”

Uric benefits from the continuity developed by the team's back four.

“They're talking with each other and are playing a more physical game than in years past,” he said.

Another player playing a key role for Freeport is sophomore midfielder Stevie Teorsky. Freeport's two fullbacks, Nigra and Davis, are often given the green light to aid in the team's forward push, leaving Teorsky to thwart the attack of opposing teams along with Carley and Kvarta.

“Stevie has done a good job at the holding midfielder position,” Coach Teorsky said. “He can disrupt the attack as a defender, as well as get our offense started with a knack for quality passing.”

Coach Teorsky likes the fact that 13 different players have scored goals this season, led by Hanby's 23 tallies.

“He also has 12 assists,” added Teorsky. “It shows he's a smart player and knows when to share the ball.”

Senior midfielders Kevin Lynch (14-12) and Robbie Reichenbaugh (9-5) have combined for 23 goals and 17 assists.

The 'Jackets are hoping the total team effort that has carried them this far will yield a longer playoff run. Freeport qualified for the playoffs last year for the first time in seven seasons. A preliminary round win against Mt. Pleasant was followed by a 5-1 loss to South Park in the first round.

“None of our guys want to be done,” said Teorsky. “We want to be playing as long into the fall as we can.”

Following is the WPIAL soccer playoff schedule for Butler County teams.

Girls

Bye: Freeport (13-3-1, Class AA)

Saturday

Class A

C.W. North Catholic (4-13) vs. Apollo-Ridge (7-6-2), 1 p.m. at North Allegheny

Monday

Class AAA

Central Valley (8-6-1) at Mars (10-2-2), 8 p.m.

Class AAAA

Butler (10-6-2) at Upper St. Clair (10-5), 8 p.m.