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Bishop Canevin’s Chiatto signs LOI with Long Island Blackbirds
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By Nathan Smith
Published: Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 9:01 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
It appeared that Bishop Canevin soccer sensation Mia Chiatto was going to stay local when she made her college choice.
Chiatto said she was intending to continue her athletic career at Duquesne at one point, but after Tim Zundel resigned at the end of the 2011 season, Chiatto opened her recruiting up again.
It was at that point the Long Island University Blackbirds came calling.
“I was going to sign with Duquesne, but the coaches resigned so I had to start my search over again,” Chiatto said. “The coaching staff at Long Island saw me play at a showcase in Florida and contacted me.”
The senior signed her letter of intent to continue her soccer career at the Brooklyn-based school last week. Chiatto chose LIU over a number of schools, including West Virginia and Ohio.
Chiatto said the LIU coaching staff — headed by 13-year coach Tracey Bartholomew — was a big part in leading to her decision.
“The coaching staff is just amazing,” Chiatto said.
The Blackbirds compete in the Northeast Conference — which also includes Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickson, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary's, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (N.Y.), St. Francis (Pa.) and Wagner.
Long Island won its second straight NEC championship this season by defeating St. Francis (Pa.), 1-0. The team fell to Penn State, 4-0, in the opening game of NCAA regionals.
Chiatto has been accepted to Long Island's pharmacy program.
“I will always have a job being involved with the health field,” Chiatto said.
Chiatto transferred to Bishop Canevin for her sophomore season and has been a catalyst for the Crusaders' success the past three seasons. The team won its first postseason game in school history, 6-1, over Bentworth in the opening round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. Chiatto scored four goals in the upset.
The Crusaders made team history again in 2012 as they won their first section title. Bishop Canevin captured the Section 3-A title with an 11-3-2 overall record before being upset by Mohawk, 2-1, in the opening round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.
Chiatto scored 39 combined goals her junior and senior seasons.
“I am so honored to be port of making history at Bishop Canevin,” Chiatto said. “It has just been amazing to be part of it.”
Nathan Smith is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-388-5813 or nsmith@tribweb.com.
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