Bill Beckner stories, Page 70
Franklin Regional boys soccer coach to step down at end of playoffs
Franklin Regional boys soccer coach Lukas Petersen is stepping down after this season, which isn’t over yet. Petersen, whose wife, Leslie Carrese, is taking a new job in Baltimore, told the team before the playoffs began that he was leaving but revealed it in an interview Monday night. The Panthers...
Westmoreland WPIAL boys soccer playoff capsule: Game for Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023
WPIAL soccer playoffs Boys Class 4A Semifinals 8-Norwin (13-5-1) vs. 5-Fox Chapel (12-4-2) 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hampton Winner plays: Winner of 3-Butler (14-2-3)/2-North Allegheny (15-1-2) 5:45 p.m. Saturday in championship at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Players to watch: Anthony Scalise, Norwin; Colin Lazzara, Fox Chapel Throw-ins: Norwin pushed its way...
Norwin boys will vie for spot in soccer title match without suspended coach
Norwin will make its first WPIAL boys soccer semifinal appearance since 2020 on Tuesday night, but the Knights will be without coach Scott Schuchert, who has to sit out after receiving two yellow cards — the equivalent of a red card — in the quarterfinal upset of No. 1 seed...
Finalists announced for Moe Rosensteel award
Three finalists were announced Monday for the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year Award, now in its fifth year. The award recognizes the top girls soccer player in the WPIAL. A watch list was put together in August, and a committee of organizers, coaches and media pared it...
2023 All-WPIAL girls soccer teams released
The All-WPIAL girls soccer list was announced Monday. The coaches’ selections are as follows: Lola Abraham, Sr., MF, Riverview Abigail Allan, Sr., MF, South Allegheny Gianna Babusci, Sr., F, Avonworth Shaye Bailey, Sr., F, Freedom Brooklyn Baldensperger, Jr., F, Elizabeth Forward Grace Bannon, Jr., MF, Montour Jillian Botti, Jr., D,...
Greensburg’s Mark Goetz aims to qualify for Korn Ferry Tour
Greensburg’s Mark Goetz is through to the next stage of qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour, a minor-league type feeder to the PGA Tour. Goetz, 25, finished tied for 10th at a first-stage tournament last week at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove-Crossings in Semmes, Ala. with...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Penn-Trafford grad Conlan Greene steps into starting role at Temple
When it comes to Conlan Greene, Temple can keep its redshirt. The former Penn-Trafford standout, who played quarterback and defensive end last season in the WPIAL, is suddenly starting for the Owls at defensive tackle. Injuries to teammates turned Greene into the next man up. According to 24/7 Sports, defensive...
Franklin Regional boys soccer hits stride at perfect time
Franklin Regional found something, and at just the right time. The proof is a pair of playoff upsets for the 11th-seeded Panthers (12-7), who knocked off No. 6 Mars (4-0) before a 2-1, double-overtime win over No. 3 Moon, a team many considered a title contender. Now, a semifinal matchup...
Westmoreland soccer preview capsule: Game for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023
WPIAL soccer playoffs Boys Class 3A Semifinals 11-Franklin Regional (12-7) vs. 2-Hampton (18-2-1) 6 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny Winner plays: Winner of 8-South Fayette (11-4-3)/5-Montour (14-4) TBA in championship at Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh Players to watch: Tyler Pipon, Franklin Regional; Luke Fiscus, Hampton Throw-ins: Franklin Regional has back-to-back upsets...
Westmoreland HS notebook: Jeannette’s Taylor named Class 2A player of year
Jeannette soccer player Jordan Taylor had a senior season to remember, as he netted a school-record 54 goals to lead the WPIAL. The forward finished with 162 goals, third-most in WPIAL boys soccer history. Taylor’s exploits impressed coaches across Class 2A as he was named the classification’s player of the...
Penn State offers Latrobe LB Alex Tatsch after James Franklin’s chopper lands at school’s practice field
Alex Tatsch now has scholarship offers from the region’s Big 3. Penn State offered the Latrobe junior linebacker Saturday during the Nittany Lions’ game against Indiana at Beaver Stadium. It’s another Power 5 offer on a growing list that includes Pitt and West Virginia. The latest offer came a day...
Westmoreland high school athletes of the week: Southmoreland’s Amarah McCutcheon, Franklin Regional’s Tyler Pipon
Amarah McCutcheon School: Southmoreland Class: Senior Sport: Volleyball Claim to fame: McCutcheon, an outsider hitter, delivered a team-high 12 kills to power the unbeaten Scotties (19-0) past Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-2, in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals. Southmoreland, which had an undefeated regular season for the first...
Burrell girls soccer upsets Mt. Pleasant in OT, reaches WPIAL semifinals for 1st time
With about 10 minutes to play in regulation, Burrell girls soccer coach Frank Nesko had a message for freshman midfielder Mikaya Buchak. He also had a feeling. “I told her, ‘You’re a warrior,’ ” Nesko said. “ ‘You’re going to win it for us.’ ” Those words were prophetic in...
Westmoreland high school football notes: Norwin QB Tavares sets records
Norwin finished in a flourish. A record-setting, big-play flourish for its third win of the season. Sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares and senior Luke Denny formed one of the area’s top pass-and-catch combinations, and the pair saved their best for last in a 47-21 win over Hempfield on Friday. Tavares threw...
Norwin notebook: Forward Lauren Palangio makes college decision
One of the top forwards in WPIAL Class 6A basketball has decided on a college destination. Norwin 6-foot-2 senior Lauren Palangio will play at Holy Family, an NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia. Palangio played a key role in Norwin’s run to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals last season. She...
Tristyn Tavares making impact running Norwin spread offense
Asked if he expected to find his name among the top passers in the WPIAL, Tristyn Tavares didn’t hesitate, like how he doesn’t hesitate when he runs the Norwin offense. Same assurance. Same confidence. Move the sticks, next question. “Yeah, I did,” the sophomore quarterback said. Tavares was the second-leading...
Chase Lemke, Ayden Hudock have become must-watch connection for Franklin Regional
Franklin Regional quarterback Chase Lemke and receiver Ayden Hudock were in a rhythm at just the right time as the Panthers pursued a playoff spot. Franklin Regional (6-2, 3-1) was primed for a Week 9 matchup against Penn-Trafford (4-4, 3-1) in the Class 5A Big East Conference finale. Lemke and...
Clairton pulls it together, routs Jeannette after close 1st quarter
Drahcir Jones said Clairton had no intentions of sharing the Eastern Conference title with anyone. Well, he and his teammates might pass the championship plaque around when they receive it — if that counts. A WPIAL trophy is of greater concern now to the Bears, who showed they are back...
Nick Raymond hired as Derry’s new athletic director
Derry hired Nick Raymond as athletic director Thursday. An Indiana resident and the current AD at Johnstown’s Forest Hills High School in District 6, Raymond replaces Brett Miller, who resigned to take a position at Seton Hill. Raymond, 32, said he is expecting to start around Thanksgiving. He has been...
Westmoreland County soccer preview capsules: Games of Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
Boys Class 4A Quarterfinals 8-Norwin (12-5-1) at 1-Seneca Valley (13-0-3) 1 p.m. Saturday Winner plays: Winner of 5-Fox Chapel (10-4-2)/4-Upper St. Clair (14-1-2) Tuesday in semifinals Players to watch: Daniel Maddock, Norwin; Cole Kamarec, Seneca Valley Throw-ins: Norwin is trying to solve a team it has been challenged to defeat...
Avonworth limits Belle Vernon’s top scorer, sprints into WPIAL semifinals
Avonworth didn’t man mark Belle Vernon’s Trevor Kovatch, the second-leading goal scorer in WPIAL boys soccer. Instead, the Antelopes had five players shadow the junior forward. Yes, five. “He’s a special player,” Avonworth coach Tom Angell said. “There are no secrets anymore when you get to the playoffs. We did...
Preview: Cal (Pa.), Gannon, IUP expected to be top contenders for PSAC West women’s basketball title
Cal (Pa.) is the top vote-getter in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division women’s basketball poll. Gannon and IUP also received first-place votes. Cal (21-11) captured back-to-back PSAC titles, defeating nationally ranked Gannon in the tournament final. PSAC Tournament MVP and double-double producer Allycia Harris returns for the Vulcans...
Preview: IUP, Cal (Pa.) expected to battle it out for PSAC West men’s basketball crown
IUP and Cal (Pa.) could have some close games on the court when they face each other this season. The teams also are tight in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division preseason men’s basketball poll. IUP is the favorite, but by only one vote over the Vulcans. IUP, which...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Jeannette returns to big stage for matchup with Clairton
Players ran the hill next to the bleachers at McKee Stadium to end a practice earlier this week, and coach Tom Paulone joined them on the steep and somewhat muddy ascent. Jeannette has been on a steady climb all season. The Jayhawks (7-2, 4-1) have more wins than they had...
Westmoreland soccer preview capsules: Games for Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023
WPIAL soccer playoffs Boys Class 3A Quarterfinals 5-Belle Vernon (15-2) at 4-Avonworth (15-2-1) 7 p.m. Thursday Winner plays: Winner of 8-Keystone Oaks (12-5)/1-South Park (19-0) Monday in semifinals Players to watch: Bryce Burkhart, Belle Vernon; Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth Throw-ins: After regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, Belle Vernon needed penalty...
