Faller

JACKSON TWP — Scott Faller's job is to keep opposing soccer teams from scoring.

He excelled in that role at the high school level and is now aiming to do the same in college.

The Seneca Valley graduate and resident of Seven Fields recently decided to attend Penn State-Behrend and to play defense for the men's soccer team.

"The location was good," said Faller of the school, located in Erie. "They have a very good business program, and that's what I'm going to major in.

"Coach (Dan) Perritano was pretty persistent and showed a lot of interest in me," Faller added.

Faller was a key member of SV's defense since his sophomore season, playing inside his 10th and 11th grade years before switching to outside last season as well as serving as a team captain.

"I played strictly defense in high school, but playing on the outside really diversified my game," Faller said.

Also helping Faller to hone his skills was his seven years playing for Northern Steel, an elite club team.

"We play against some of the best teams in the northeastern United States," said Matt Thompson, Faller's most-recent coach with Northern Steel. "We've played in tournaments in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota ... and we won the (West Appalachian Soccer League) title this past season, tying one game and winning the rest.

"Talent at the high school level varies," added Thompson. "You have good talent, average and not so good. Playing for a club team like Northern Steel, you're playing with and training with better players every week. It increases a player's chances of playing in college tenfold."

Behrend coach Dan Perritano knows what kind of players compete for Northern Steel.

"We've had several of their players come play here and they've all worked out well for us," he said.

Behrend, which plays in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, is coming off an 8-9-2 season. Its conference foes include Penn State-Altoona, Pitt-Bradford, La Roche College and Pitt-Greensburg.

"We've played in the conference finals seven of the last 10 years, winning it three times," said Perritano, who is in his 15th year as the team's head coach.

Faller is hoping to help Behrend add to that impressive run of success, and he doesn't want to wait around to do it.

"My goal for my freshman season is, if I don't start, I at least want to get playing time," he said.