There was once a point in time when simply making the playoffs was considered a success for the North Hills boys soccer team.

Under the leadership of third-year coach Jared Steigerwald — a 1999 graduate of North Hills — two straight playoff berths alone is not enough. Even the possibility of making the postseason for the third straight time — a first in North Hills soccer history — will not suffice at this point.

“We're hoping to build on these last two runs and do something once we get in the playoffs,” Steigerwald said. “When you look at us now, we have 13 seniors, but for most of them it's their first time starting varsity, so it will be a challenge we're eager to be a part of.”

Steigerwald is not alone in his quest for wanting more from the program. This summer, a group of seniors came up with the slogan “Making More Than History.”

The mantra is a play on being a part of a potential program first, but also building relationships with teammates on and off the field and aspiring to make noise in the playoffs.

“It really feels great to be a part of this program really coming around,” senior Will Huffmyer said. “It's important for me to do something that people will recognize, for everybody actually.

“But it's good to get that recognition and obviously just overall a good experience for the players on this team to remember for a very long time.”

Steigerwald has a solid lineup that starts with a goalkeeper battle between senior Luke Belanger and junior Adam Warsing.

Each player has put together an impressive summer camp and will make it difficult for Steigerwald to pick a starter.

“I'm very happy with how each of them has progressed this summer,” Steigerwald said. “Each has progressed and whoever has the hot hand on a given night will be given the opportunity to start in net.”

Seniors Isaac Pepmeyer, Nate Bly, Alec Dequette and Luke Chutko will man the defensive end. Steigerwald said the mix of pure defenders and soccer IQ will make them a formidable group that may prove to be the heart of the team.

Center midfielder Billy Welsh will enter his fourth season as a starter and pass along his knowledge to outside mids Kris McEwen and Billy Heintz.

Up front, the Indians will send their forward in a triangle formation with Huffmyer and Jared Hartman up top and Erik Plizga dropping back.

Steigerwald compares the 2016 Indians to his 1999 senior class with regards to talent. The comparison is born through their scrappy, gritty play and its ability to get key contributions from a variety of players on a given night.

He said the Pittsburgh identity of being a blue-collar, hard-working town is applicable to the Indians soccer team this year as well as the 1999 class.

“We set our goals and define them and are relentless in achieving them,” he said. “You have to come here to battle because the days of walking in North Hills and pushing us around are gone.

“I would say we're a blue-collar team just like where we are from.”

Brian Graham is a freelance writer.

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