Most of young squad that helped Pitt-Greensburg women's soccer to AMCC title returns

Preseason polls, to some degree, are the product of reputation. They reflect past performance as much as — or perhaps even more than — present potential.

That very well could have been the case with the 2022 Pitt-Greensburg women’s soccer team. An Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference finalist in 2021 and the conference champion in 2019 — there was no season in 2020 because of the pandemic — the Bobcats generally seem like a safe bet to be near the top of the conference.

But the reality for the 2022 team was a lot of unknowns. Sure, they returned Ashley Lucas, who wound up as the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer (56), and four other all-conference players. And yet, perhaps voters went on reputation and chose to overlook the large number of freshmen and sophomores who would need to play major minutes.

As it turned out, there was a lot more to the 2022 Bobcats than just reputation.

Coach Chuck Wigle’s team went 7-0 in the conference (16-4-1 overall) then defeated archrival Penn State Behrend, 3-2, to win the AMCC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

As of this writing, the AMCC preseason poll had yet to be released. When it comes out, the Bobcats likely will be near the top again, and this time it won’t be reputation that gets them there. All of those freshmen and sophomores are back, and expectations will be high.

“I think we’re expecting a lot again this year,” said Greensburg Salem grad Kylie Smith, who played in 14 matches and scored a goal last season as a freshman. “We lost a few good seniors, and they will be missed, so we’ll have to step up and take their place, too, but I think we’re all very excited.

“It will help with a lot of us coming back. That’s everybody’s goal is to try to win the conference, but we’ll see how the season is going. I think we’re all pretty excited about this year.”

One of those seniors they lost was Lucas, so the Bobcats will be looking for someone to replace her 19 goals and 10 assists. Fortunately for UPG, they don’t have to look far. Sophomore Megan Hickey should be able to step into that role nicely.

Last season, the forward/midfielder earned AMCC Newcomer of the Year, Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and first-team All-AMCC honors. She was right behind Lucas with 18 goals and six assists.

“She’s an overall pretty good player,” Smith said. “It was really nice to play with her.”

Added Hickey: “I’m still a trying to improve on everything, but having my team back me up really helped me. Losing Ashley Lucas up top … me and her had, I think, 40 goals combined. … Having someone be up there to balance with me, I think that’s something we need to work on because Ashley was a very strong player.”

Senior Becca Kubler, a Gateway grad, is one of the candidates to pick up some of the slack. Kubler posted seven goals and three assists last season. Sophomore Maya Wertelet (South Park) was first-team all conference performer who scored nine goals last season, one of which was the overtime winner in the AMCC final.

Hickey also said to keep an eye on sophomore Ashlyn Pannebaker, who missed the 2022 season with an injury. The younger sister of Bobcats senior midfielder/defender Nylah Pannebaker brings speed to the attack as a former district finalist in the 100- and 200-meter dashes while at Juniata High School.

Smith, meanwhile, was one of 14 players to score at least one goal last season, and she, too, will be looking to increase her production. She said she did a lot of weightlifting in the offseason — something that hadn’t been a part of her training regimen in high school — and has worked on her speed and agility.

Nylah Pannebaker helps to anchor the defense along with sophomore Abby Henise, senior Hayley Priah and junior Julia Rowe. Keeper Hailey Kepner, a sophomore who made 13 starts last season, including in the conference championship, also returns.

That unit might have to carry some extra weight early as the Bobcats find the goals to replace Lucas’ production.

“Our back line is one of the strongest in the AMCC,” Hickey said.

Hickey also sang the praises of the UPG midfield, which brings back junior Logan Jennings and sophomore Reese Walker. Both saw action in the conference championship match last season, with Jennings in the starting lineup.

In fact, of the 14 players who appeared in the 2022 AMCC title match against Penn State Behrend, 11 will return.

That so many young players were able to bond into a successful unit so quickly last season, Hickey said, is a credit to how Wigle assembles his teams.

“I think coach brought in a bunch of good recruits, and he knows how to pick them,” she said. “I think he bases how he gets his recruits off the girls he already has so they balance each other out. I think with this group of girls, it allowed us to mix together really well.”

That mixture of players has the chance to stay together for a couple more years, which could lead to even more success for the Bobcats. And add to the program’s well-earned reputation as a success.

But before this version of the Bobcats can call themselves a dynasty, they have to defend their conference title.

“That’s the biggest goal for us,” Smith said.