Trinity’s soccer teams worked hard to achieve their goals this year.

The boys’ soccer team, led by Captains Austin Aber, Charlie McIlvaine and Elliott Salvatori, ended the season with a 6-6 section record and an overall record of 10-7. The boys played well and played hard but struggled with the score sheet all season long.

Going into the second half of the season, the boys were on the outside of the playoffs looking in, needing to catch up in the standings. With victories over Laurel Highlands and Greensburg-Salem, the team’s playoff hopes were higher than ever. The boys played Ringgold at home on October 9, looking to add to their resume, but literally fell short, losing 1-0 on a goal scored with five seconds remaining in the game.

After an exciting senior recognition night where the boys rolled over Wash High 10-2, it all came down to the final game at Belle Vernon. Tied with Greensburg-Salem for the final playoff spot, a win sent the team to the playoffs. However, a 4-3 loss against the Leopards and a 5-2 Greensburg-Salem upset over Laurel Highlands meant the Hillers were out of the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Senior Captain Austin Aber stated, “We got off to a rough start, but this is one of the more talented teams we have had and we were really looking to make a late push into playoffs.”

Although the boys did not make playoffs, it was clear that the boys gave it their all in each and every game.  

On the other hand, the girls’ team, led by Captains Haley Jenkins and Julia Chakos, ended with an impressive 13-2 record. There was clearly no lack of commitment by any player between these two teams as they were on the field six days a week, rotating between practices and games.

When asked what the team’s biggest strength was, Senior outside midfielder Angela Pinkerton commented, “We’re really close and care about each other a lot.”

The close-knit group of girls stood out on the field with their clean communication skills and the boys’ willpower and determination shined under the stadium lights. Both groups seemed to have a good handle on the season, however there were two rivals that were persistent troublemakers for Trinity’s soccer agenda. Ringgold was a tough competitor for the boys and Plum for the girls.

Senior Captain Julia Chakos commented, “We have a lot of starters with injuries so people have to play positions they aren’t used to,” but that didn’t stop the girls from making their way to playoffs.

The girls made playoffs for the first time in Trinity’s history. Seniors Chakos, Pinkerton, Sarah Kuhns and Jennifer Kuhns were determined lead their team to victory this year. The playoff game was Saturday, October 20, at home against Montour High School. The girls hustled on the field, but fell short in penalty kicks, losing to the Spartans. Nevertheless, Trinity is still proud of their team.

Congratulations to both the boys’ and girls’ teams for a successful season!