2011 USC Girls Soccer Preview

Last year the girls' soccer team needed a little help in order to get to the playoffs. 

They play in a very competitive section five of Class AAA and only the top three teams reach the postseason. The team got the help they needed but bowed out in their first round playoff game against Norwin 1-0 in a game that could easily have gone either way. Dave Gray, in his eighth season coaching the girls' soccer team, said he particularly liked what he saw in the locker room after that loss.

"Girls usually get very emotional but I didn't see that after the Norwin game. I saw a stare that said it's not going to happen again," said Gray, as his team prepares for their season opener at home against Erie McDowell on Saturday.

Four years ago the USC girls team made it all the way to the WPIAL finals under Gray and that focus may go a long way in helping USC get back there again this season.

"I've seen it all summer, this team does not make excuses," Gray said.

There are no groups or clicks on this roster. It's one big happy family, according to their head coach. They truly have that family bond which is a cornerstone to championship teams.

They also have a tremendous amount of senior leadership, another key ingredient to winning titles. Ten starters return to a team that was capable of doing great things last year.

"We had a rough go in the middle of last season and had trouble getting out of it," Gray said.

The team got frustrated with those setbacks and recovered to make it to the playoffs but learned some very important lessons as the season went along. With four senior captains who can lead as well as they play soccer those lessons will be a reminder of what needs to be done to get to the promised land this year.

Midfielder's Megan Hindman, Hannah Willhelm, Hannah Zangara and Katey Woistman are the captains planning on steering the ship in the right direction all season.

However, this team has a very strong bond and these four ladies do not feel they are a bigger part of the team than anybody else. Their focus is completely on being a determined group of athletes.

"Last year they struggled to put teams away, this year they respect every team they play," Gray said.

Strong senior leadership is the key to avoiding any of those roadblocks that set the team back last year. The team plans on making no excuses and the seniors desperately want to put their stamp on USC girls' soccer history. They certainly have the talent to make great thing happen and it appears they also have those hidden ingredients most championship-caliber teams contain.

It will be one step at a time for this year's USC girls soccer team. Last year, the very same Moon team they lost 1-0 to in the first round of the playoffs took the section five title. finished in second, followed by USC. 

Following the opener this Saturday against Erie McDowell, the Panthers begin section play at home against Montour on Wednesday, Sept. 7. 

The schedule is highlighted by rematches against Moon on the road Sept. 24, and at home on Oct. 12.

Upper St. Clair Patch will be following the USC girls' soccer team all season long and we wish them the best of luck accomplishing all their lofty goals.