Hat trick secures Yough scoring mark
Yough coach Dann Appolonia knew his daughter, Justine, was closing in on the school’s all-time scoring record before the season got underway. He kept that a secret for a long time, because he didn’t want to make an individual scoring record a focus for the team.
As Justine moved closer to the record, it became an inevitably. So, before the Cougars’ Oct. 5 matchup against South Allegheny, Dann Appolonia addressed the team and told them that Justine was three goals away from holding the record. He stressed that the team would play no different than it had in any other game. If the record happened, so be it.
Well, it happened. Appolonia made quick work of it, in fact, netting a hat trick and claiming the record early in the second half.
“I think she’s always excited after scoring a goal, but I saw a little extra jump in her after that one,” said Dann Appolonia.
The record-setter came off of a set play that began with a corner kick. The ball was passed to Appolonia, who found the bottom right corner of the net from about 18 yards away.
The previous mark of 106 goals belonged to 1998 graduate Jennifer Peddicord. Through Sunday, Appolonia, a Youngstown State recruit, had scored 112 career goals and 27 this season.
From goal No. 1 to goal No. 112, Appolonia’s role changed. She started out as a freshman forward, but is now an attacking midfielder. She has helped the team by switching positions and also by scoring all of those goals. Now that the school scoring mark is in the rearview mirror, the Cougars can keep chugging along into the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs.
“I was hoping that if she was going to break it, it would happen before playoffs,” said Dann Appolonia. “It’s going to be in the back of your head. At this point she can just focus on helping her team win playoff games.”
Belle Vernon
For the second consecutive season, the Leopards rolled to an undefeated Class 3A Section 2 title. It has been quite a run for Belle Vernon, which has won 26 consecutive section contests. The Leopards have not dropped a section match since a 4-0 loss to Elizabeth Forward on Oct. 9, 2017.
A trio of scorers has led the way for the Leopards. Junior Jillian Butchki had 36 goals through Sunday, sophomore Morgan Einodshofer had 23 and freshman Farrah Reader had 24.
Center-back Marissa Grubbs, who scored 15 goals as a freshman, now serves as a facilitator and leader on the field. The defensive unit is a group of unsung heroes who not only keep opponents at bay — the Leopards have 10 shutouts — but also move up and contribute to the attack when the ball is on the opponent’s side of the field.
“They work together and trust each other,” said Belle Vernon coach Tracy Lovett. “It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t care who gets the credit.”
Belle Vernon (13-3, 12-0) has scored 105 goals this season, compared to 77 last year.
Last season’s leading scorer and Memphis recruit Izzy Laurita left the team early in September citing injury concerns and to focus on preparing for college.
When the playoffs begin, the Leopards will be a tough team to plan for. After that undefeated section title in 2018, the Leopards fell in the first round of the district playoffs.
West Allegheny
Indians coach Dave Tissue recently attended a neighborhood block party, the kind of get-together where everyone wears a nametag and strikes up a conversation. One of those chats really stood out.
A former Indians girls soccer player from the first team in 1991 recognized his name and they started talking about the program. There was much to catch up on. This season is the first in West Allegheny history in which a team claimed a section title.
“I would say there’s just a little excitement,” Tissue said with a laugh. “Just a little.”
The Indians are the talk of the town after making history. Tissue took over the program nine years ago.
His daughter, Kristina, is an assistant coach and former player who graduated in 2010. In her four years as a player, the Indians did not win a section game, going 0-52 from 2006-09. Her final team had a roster of 14 players, nine of whom were freshmen.
This season, the team roster boasted 33 players.
Mackenzie Evers leads the team with 12 goals. Mackenzie Taranto has eight goals and 11 assists.
While the accomplishment of winning that first section title is a big one, Tissue has reminded his team there is more work to be done in the playoffs.
“We don’t want this to be over,” said Tissue.