Upper St. Clair hoping to ride trio of standouts
Tri-State Sports & News Service
There’s a renovation project currently underway at Upper St. Clair, one that could really boost the value of the girls soccer program. It might even make it golden.
Star forward Landy Mertz is back after sitting out the majority of last season with ankle and knee injuries. Mertz tallied 13 goals and five assists as a freshman, then racked up 22 goals and eight assists her sophomore year.
“The kid’s battled so hard in the offseason,” said USC coach Dave Gray. “I’ve watched her build herself back up to the player she was. She’s chomping at the bit to get out there. You put her back in with that group and the talent you have around her, she’s good to go.”
With one season left in her high school career, Mertz, a Dayton recruit, is aiming to finish where she started. As a freshman, Mertz helped the Panthers claim a PIAA title. She was joined on that team by defender Mia Snyder and midfielder Nikki Gibbons, both of whom also are seniors in the star-studded lineup.
That trio built a bond over the years not just as teammates, but also friends. When Mertz went down last season, it gnawed at her.
“It was really hard for me not to be able to get out there and help them,” said Mertz. “This season, I’m definitely ready to get out there and help my team be successful.”
Mertz proved herself for her club team this summer, as she helped the Century U18 squad advance to the national finals in Frisco, Texas. The club finished seventh in the nation.
Having a star player by the last name of Mertz is nothing new at USC. Father Rob played for the Panthers as well, graduating in 1985 before moving on to play at Grove City. His four children all grew up to follow in dad’s cleats.
Brothers Robbie and Ryan play at Michigan and Delaware, respectively. Ryan was an all-area player and Robbie was the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. He’s now a senior team captain for the Wolverines.
Older sister Leah also suited up for the Panthers.
While they were growing up together, the kids played soccer in the backyard, naturally. Landy took her lumps as the youngest, but that baptism by fire is paying off nowadays.
“There was a little bit of tough love there,” said Mertz. “That’swhat I needed.”
Upper St. Clair will be challenged in Class 4A Section 2 by Peters Township. The Indians, who advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals last year, bring back the dynamic duo of senior forward Regan LaVigna (11 goals, eight assists) and junior forward Hannah Stuck (22 goals, 10 assists).
Section 1 features two top squads in North Allegheny and Pine-Richland. Junior forward Emma Bundy and senior midfielder Alex Adams are returning allWPIAL players for the Tigers. The Rams return four all-WPIAL players, including sophomore forward Megan Donnelly.
A Westmoreland County team making a run would not be a shocker. Norwin claimed the state title last season, while Penn-Trafford won the WPIAL. Both programs were hit hard by graduations, however.
Class 3A
Mars is in a class by itself in this classification. The Planets return all-WPIAL forwards Taylor Hamlett and Ellie Coffield. Also coming back are all-Section 1 players Gracie Dunaway, Claire Valentine and Caroline Wroblewski. The Planets rode a 17-3 record to a WPIAL runner-up and state quarterfinal appearance in 2017. … Moon is in rebuilding mode as it brings a 43game win streak into the season. All-time leading scorer Delaney Snyder moved on to Louisville to play. The architect of the back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA champions is gone as well. Coach Bill Pfeiffer is now at Hopewell. … Belle Vernon’s Isabella Laurita was impressive as a freshman when she netted 15 goals. This could be a breakout year for her. … Three of the four all-section players from Thomas Jefferson graduated, however the Jaguars bring back junior midfielder and leading scorer Dalaney Ranallo.
Class 2A
It’s all in the family for the top-ranked squad in 2A. Waynesburg is led in every way by the Kijowski family. Sisters Rhea, a sophomore, Name Alex Adams Justina Appolonia Megan Donnelly Haleigh Finale Lindsie Galbreath Nikki Gibbons Taylor Hamlett Rhea Kijowski Regan LaVigna Landy Mertz Krystyna Rytel Gracie Stetson Hannah Stuck Jocelyn Timlin Michaela Watkins and Jillian, a junior, lead the team on the field. Dad Joe Kijowski is the head coach. Both girls scored a goal in the WPIAL championship match as Waynesburg claimed the district title. … Despite missing a chunk of the season due to a broken collarbone, Deer Lakes’ Lilly Litrin scored 13 goals and was named all-section. The sophomore forward is poised for an even bigger season if she stays healthy. … The Brownsville program had a breakout 2017 thanks to Gracie Stetson, a rising sophomore forward who was the second-leading scorer in the WPIAL during the regular season last year with 41 goals.
Class 1A
School North Allegheny Yough Pine-Richland South Park Knoch Upper St. Clair Mars Waynesburg Peters Township Upper St. Clair Shady Side Academy Brownsville Peters Township Bentworth Freedom Most teams are banking Year Senior Junior Sophomore Junior Senior Senior Junior Sophomore Senior Senior Senior Sophomore Junior Junior Senior on returning players to lead the way. Shady Side Academy has a returning coach. Mary Lynch, who led the Indians to the WPIAL championship two years ago, is back from a maternity leave. Senior forward Krystyna Rytel has tallied 101 goals in her career, including 44 last season. … Freedom drops down a class after playing for the 2A district title a year ago. The Bulldogs boast Michaela Watkins, the fourth-leading regular-season goal scorer with 38, as well as a returning Mya Sharpless, who is coming back from an ACL tear. … Don’t sleep on defending WPIAL champion Greensburg Central Catholic and all-section talents in midfielder Sam Felder and goalie Bella Skattell.
“I think it’s really great that they were able to switch so easily without creating tension,” said Rytel. “There wasn’t any tension or hard feelings or competition between them. They’ve made high school soccer great for me and everyoneon this team.”
Lynch and Powers have far more in common than championship trophies. They are both teachers at the high school, where Lynch teaches English and Powers teaches chemistry and environmental science. They’re also young mothers. Lynch’s twin girls, Catherine and Fiona, are now 13 months old. Powers is the mother of Virginia, 10, and Zachary, 8.
“It’s been great having somebody who I’m friends with coach alongside me,” Lynch said. “She came over last fall to help me catch up on soccer and, as a new mother, to talk to her in that role. I think it’s nice to have somebody with olderkids to say, ‘You’re goingto be OK.’ Just to kind of reducethe stress.”
Said Powers, “It’s fun being able to share kids stories as well. It’s just totally understandable. We’re bothin the same situation.”
Both Lynch and Powers are proud of what they have accomplished as coaches and mothers. It takes an immense amount of time and dedication to coach a championship-caliber program. And when somebody feels like toppling over in the balancing act of life, the other one is rightthere to keep them up.
“I think it’s important to have somebody that gets it,” said Powers, who also serves as a Councilwoman for the Borough of Oakmont. “Any working mom has a tough job. But then to add the coaching brings in the late evening hours. Sometimes we’ll say goodbye to our kids in the morning and won’t see them until the next morning becausethey are asleep by the timewe get home.”
Whether they are spending time with each other’s family, roaming the halls of the school or prowling the soccer pitch, there’s usually another familiar topic ofconversation.
“We’re always talking soccer,” said Lynch, who then quipped, “Maybe Leahgets sick of me?”
Not a chance. The duo have been fast friends since Lynch arrived in Pittsburgha few years ago.
Lynch is a native of Connecticut who moved to Pittsburgh with her husband in 2010. She grew up a soccer and basketball star, making the all-state team in soccer as a high schooler before pulling double duty by playing both soccer and basketball at Connecticut College. She served as a captainfor both teams.
Upon arriving at Shady Side Academy, Lynch became an assistant girls soccer coach and met Powers. Both were assistant coaches until Lynch took over the head coaching role in2013.
Lynch always had aspirations to be a head coach. Justa few years after reaching that goal, Lynch was expecting and had to back away. But she knew she wanted to come back as soon as she could. She had all the faith in the world that Powers would be successful in the interim. Despite that dry wit of Powers, Lynch was ecstatic when her friend agreed to fillthe role.
“I was thrilled when Leah said she would take over as head coach,” said Lynch.
Now, Powers is right back where she wants to be asan assistant.
“One of the girls asked me after the first day how it feels to be an assistant coach again,” Powers said. “I said it feels very comfortable.I’m glad to be back.”