BVA soccer stars honored
Cori Stark and Ashley Magruda, both sophomores, played key roles in the best soccer season in Belle Vernon Area High girls' history.
Stark was the Lady Leps' and WPIAL's leading goal scorer with 46.
Magruda was one of the league's top keepers with 13 shutouts including five in a row in one stretch.
Stark and Magruda's play in leading the Lady Leps to a 20-2 record -- including their first post-season victory ever -- didn't go unnoticed. They were the only two area players named to the WPIAL all-star team by the Western Pennsylvania High School Girls Soccer Coaches Association.
Stark and Magruda were also among six BVA players named to the Class AAA All-Section 6 team. They're joined by senior defender Jillian Anderson, senior midfielders Erin Murphy and Emily Winn and junior forward Aimee Radic.
Representing Elizabeth Forward on the Section 6 team were senior midfielder Lara Fleckenstein and junior midfielder Franke Grant.
Completing the Section 6 stars were senior defender Liz Bell, freshman forward Kylee Heck, junior midfielder-forward Paige Puskar and junior keeper Katrina Kelly of Connellsville, senior forward Kayla Mikluscak and senior midfielder Morgan Payla of Laurel Highlands and junior forward Melody Cox, sophomore defender Carly Loughman and sophomore midfielder Rebecca Rohanna of Waynesburg.
Two sophomores -- midfielder Kayla Fransko and keeper Brittany Sadler -- represented Ringgold on the Class AAA Section 5 team.
The other Section 5 selections were senior midfielders Danielle Danhires, Jordan Settimio and Chelsea Traurig, junior forward Mackenzie Creehan and sophomore forward Allison Forbich of Peters Township, senior keeper Kelsie Mozzoni and senior midfielder Whitney Warmus of Thomas Jefferson, senior midfielder Kara Houston and sophomore defender Ashley McGinnis of Trinity and senior forward Natalie Ilkin, senior midfielder Alex Jaffe and sophomore midfielder Aly Walker of Upper St. Clair.
Senior midfielder Carly Coccio-lone and junior midfielder Breane Minardi represented Monessen on the Class AA Section 6 team with senior midfielder Jackie Stottlemyer Charleroi's lone pick.
Completing the Class AA Section 6 team were senior midfielders Liz Robinson and Carla Shula, junior keeper Emily Myers, junior forwards Rachel Sebbens and Nicole Petrillo and junior defender Jessica Szakely of Greensburg Central Catholic, senior defenders Kaylin Chain and Alyssa Kanuch, senior midfielder Kristie Bruner, senior keeper Lauren Fearer and senior forward Caitlin Williams of Mt. Pleasant, senior keeper Vanessa Weir, junior midfielder Nicole Corsi and junior forward-midfielder Lauren Evans of Steel Valley and senior midfielder Brianna Shrum of Jeannette.
Freshman forward Samantha Ritzer was the lone Bentworth player on the Class AA Section 1 team.
Rounding out the Section 1 team were senior defenders Jamie Zajicek and Nicole Gaab, senior midfielder Alyssa McCullough, junior forward Brittany Troyer and sophomore Sarah Wisniewski of South Fayette, senior keeper Chelsey Trefnoff, senior forward Rene Nikolopoulos, senior defender Abby Galbraith and sophomore forward-midfielder Shannon Guernsey of Chartiers-Houston, senior defender Heather McCormick, junior defender Cassie Spalding, sophomore forward Shelby Ward and sophomore midfielder Jessica Polen of McGuffey, senior defender Sabrina Szabo, senior midfielder Jessica Davis and sophomore keeper Mary Beth Saluga of Geibel and senior forward Natasha Clutts of Beth-Center.