All-time Scorer
This is the sixth in a series of 12 articles profiling the Mars Athletic Hall of Fame's Class of 2021
PINE TWP — In the years leading up to her high school soccer career at Mars, Mallory Bugel played defense almost exclusively — and played it very well.
As a freshman in 2000 she joined the Planets, who needed to replace several key goal scorers who had graduated.
Then-coach Dale Giovengo tabbed Bugel to help fill the void.
“He told me he wanted to move me to forward,” said Bugel. “I liked playing defense, was a sweeper all through middle school and for the Pittsburgh Strikers. Keeping teams from scoring was my first love in soccer.
“But I was interested and excited about the challenge of switching positions.”
It proved to be a wise decision. Bugel went on to score a program-record 96 career goals. She will be inducted into the Mars Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 18.
Though smaller than the majority of her opponents, Bugel was not overwhelmed as a freshman as she scored 20 goals to lead the team.
“I was pretty quick and that helped, but we had a wonderful team,” said Bugel. “We had great senior players and leadership.”
The Planets claimed the first WPIAL championship in program history that season, defeating South Park in overtime, 1-0. It was Bugel who scored a goal late in regulation to defeat Sewickley Academy, 2-1, in the semifinal round.
The Planets finished the campaign with an overall record of 22-1-1.
“I don't know if anybody expected us to win it (WPIAL) that season, but it was awesome,” Bugel said. “It was an amazing time.”
Bugel continued to produce as her varsity career progressed. She tallied 22 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore.
By the end of her junior season, which included 28 goals, she had already broken Mars' career scoring record. She added to it with a 26-goal effort as a senior in 2003.
Bugel became the first four-time Butler Eagle Elite 11 All-Star selection. She was coached by Giovengo all four years of high school.
“I can't imagine how tough it is to coach a team of high school girls,” Bugel said, “but Dale was no-nonsense. There was no drama. You always knew where you stood with him because he was honest with you and I appreciated that.”
Likewise, Giovengo's description of Bugel's skills were to the point.
“Mallory has a deadly shot,” he said in 2002. “It's extremely powerful and she has great moves. She's tenacious.”
Bugel starred at Westminster College for four years. She played defense her freshman year for the Titans before moving back to forward her last three years.
She was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year following her sophomore and junior campaigns and earned a spot of the league's all-star team all four years.
Bugel graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 2012 and currently works as a pediatric anesthesiologist at Children's Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Due to her busy schedule, Bugel had to leave her playing days behind long ago. But her three year-old daughter, Everly, just began playing the sport.
Said Bugel of her upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame: “It's surprising, but a wonderful honor.”
Mallory Bugel and her husband, Jonathan Adams, are also parents of a one year-old son, Levi.
