OAKLAND TWP — Braden and Bernie Elliott were simply taking after their mother.

Ellen Fisher, after all, a 2004 Butler graduate, was a standout summer club soccer player in her day.

“Both boys took an interest in the sport when they were little,” their mother said. “I'd kick the ball around with them in the yard, work on their skills.

“We still do that.”

Braden and Bernie are a little different, however. Both were born hearing-impaired.

“They were considered severe to profound,” their mother said of the hearing impairment.

The two Oakland Township residents have been playing soccer for a number of years regardless. They attend the Western Pa. School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh and play soccer for the school.

And they have been a part of WPSD's three-year Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association championship run. Bernie, 13, played halfback and fullback while Braden, 15, has been the goaltender all three of WPSD's championship teams.

The team finished 12-7-1 overall this season.

“I'm one of the biggest (players on the team), so they puit me at goalie,” Braden said. “Plus, I have good skill at it.”

He does, indeed.

The ESDAA tournament features schools for the deaf from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Braden has allowed one total goal in his 12 tournament games over the past three years.

“He has helped us in most of the games, keeping us in the game, making timely saves,” WPSD coach Val Wojton said in a prepared statement. “He shut out all four opponents this past season.”

WPSD played in the Plants and Pillars Invitational in 2017 and advanced to the championship game at Highmark Stadium. Braden Elliott was in goal as the game was tied 1-1 through overtime.

In the seventh shootout round, Braden made a lunging save to keep a shot from sneaking inside the lower left post. He then netted the winning goal himself.

Bernie scored 15 goals last season for the junior high team before playing more of a defensive role with the varsity this year.

“Bernie became a starter this year at the halfback position and later moved to fullback,” Wojton said. “He may be small, but he has the heart.

“Both Elliott boys are part of the main cog that makes our team firm and competitive with both hearing and deaf teams.”

WPSD is a dormitory school. The Elliott boys leave home Monday morning and don't return until Friday.

“We practiced Monday through Thursday,” Bernie said. “When we're home, we practice kicking the ball and passing the ball. We put a lot of time in.”

“They both work very hard. I'm proud of what they've achieved,” their mother said. “Winning that (ESDAA) tournament three years in a row is practically unheard of.”

WPSD graduated a number of quality players from the 2017 championship squad and was not favored to win this season. Ohio School for the Deaf and Marie Philip (Mass.) School for the Deaf were favored to play for the title.

WPSD shut out Marie Philip 3-0 in pool play, blanked Ohio 1-0 in the semifinals and beat Marie Philip 1-0 in the title game.

“To three-peat ... what an exhilarating feeling,” Wojton said.

To get his players' attention on the field, Wojton will wave his hands, sometimes using a towel, before using sign language to instruct. He will often get the attention of one player and have him relay instruction to another player he is trying to reach on the field.

“That's a tough task for me, compared to coaching a hearing team,” Wojton allowed.

“Eye contact and hand signals,” Braden said in describing how the players work together on the field during a game.

Bernie and Braden play basketball and softball for WPSD as well, but make no mistake as to identifying their favorite sport.

“It's soccer ... just like Mom,” Bernie said.