Bella Oskin closing 16-year run of sisters in Knoch soccer
JEFFERSON TWP — What do Steve Perri, Frank Aceto, Rich Kenzie, Kevin Wood and Greg Hess have in common?
Each coached an Oskin girl while holding the reins of the Knoch varsity girls soccer team.
“It’s going to be strange not having one of those girls on the team next year,” current Knoch coach Greg Hess said. “They’ve put together quite a legacy.”
When midfielder-center back Bella Oskin walked across the field during Knoch’s Senior Night ceremonies recently, it marked the final time a member of her family would be taking part in that tradition.
Her sisters — Allee, 29, Kaelyn, 26, and Gabi, 21 — all played for Knoch before her. Bella is 17. With exactly four years of soccer separation between them, the sisters were never teammates.
“Seems odd it worked out that way,” their father, Larry Oskin, said.
The girls’ brothers — Hunter, 23, and 19-year-old twins Caleb and Isaac — played boys soccer for the Knights. All three played for current coach Malcolm Cook.
All six of her siblings were on hand for Bella’s Senior Night, including Kaelyn, who surprised her by coming up from Florida for the festivities.
“I’ve come back for every one of the family’s senior nights, except for one brother because I was just getting settled in moving to Florida at the time,” Kaelyn said.
Allee started the family run of soccer at Knoch. She has played competitively with the Pittsburgh Elite and is considering playing semi-pro with the Youngstown Nighthawks.
Kaelyn plans to try out for a semi-pro team in Florida. The brothers are playing indoor recreational soccer in Butler.
None seem to be in a hurry to get soccer out of their system. Allee played collegiately at Westminster, while Kaelyn played at West Liberty.
“This is bittersweet for me,” Allee said of Bella’s Senior Night. “It’s hard to believe this run (at Knoch) is coming to an end.”
Bella, who has approximately six goals and as many assists for the Knights this season, hopes to play college soccer as well.
“By the time it got down to me, there was no doubt I was gonna play,” Bella said, laughing. “The first time I could walk, there was probably a soccer ball at my feet.”
Their parents are involved in the sport as well. Larry Oskin coaches junior varsity soccer at Knoch and Brandy Oskin started the Little Kickers youth program and works with recreational soccer in the area.
“When our children were little, we wanted to get them involved in a healthy activity,” Larry said. “Youth soccer seemed like a natural. We never knew if they would like the game or not, but it stuck with each one of them.”
Now that the Oskin siblings are moving on to the next phases of their lives, family soccer gatherings appear to be fading.
“I’m gonna miss our backyard soccer games,” Kaelyn said, choking back tears as she spoke.
Between them all, the Oskins have played virtually every position on the soccer field at one time or another. Gabi and Caleb were forwards, Hunter a midfielder and defender, Isaac a center back, Allee a defender, Kaelyn a midfielder and goalkeeper, Bella a midfielder and center back.
“Maybe some day we’ll form a family team and go join a league somewhere,” Allie said, laughing.
Don’t put it past them.
