On behalf of Mars Borough, Mayor Gregg Hartung presented the members of Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team with a Community Recognition Award for Excellence at the borough’s Light Up Night celebration on Dec. 7.
“Thank you for making the Mars Area School District known for quality sports and high academic standards one more time,” Hartung told the team members, noting the Lady Planets 2019 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship wins. “Young girls who see you… want to be like you.”
In addition to the award, Mars Borough Council declared Dec. 7, 2019, as “Mars Girls Soccer State Championship Day” in Mars. For a schedule of events, visit http://marsborough.com.
Soccer Players Selected for Butler Eagle Honor Roll
Several members of Mars Area High School Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer Teams were named to the 2019 Butler Eagle Soccer Honor Roll.
Junior Ellie Coffield (midfielder), who had 31 goals and 28 assists this season; junior Gracie Dunaway (defender), 12 goals and 7 assists; junior Caroline Wroblewski (forward) 17 goals and 17 assists; and freshman Gwen Howell (defender) were selected for the Girls Soccer Honor Roll.
Senior Seth Grady (defender), who earned 2 goals and 6 assists this season; senior Steve Papik (midfielder), 16 goals and 10 assists; senior Austin Rocke (forward), 28 goals and 12 assists; and junior Dane Beller (forward), 20 goals and 12 assists were named to the Boys Soccer Honor Roll.
For more information, visit www.butlereagle.com.
Senior Named Girls Soccer Player of the Year
Hamlett is a four-year member of Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team.
This season, Hamlett scored the goal that earned the Lady Planets the 2019 PIAA Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship Title; and two of the four goals in the team’s 2019 WPIAL Championship win. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 14-0-1 and went undefeated (14-0) in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
Overall this season, Hamlett scored 43 goals (16 in the playoffs) and had 28 assists. She was selected for the 2019 All-State, 2019 All-WPIAL and All-Section girls soccer teams.
Hamlett has signed a letter of intent to join the Blue Raider Women’s Soccer Team at Middle Tennessee State University (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), where she plans to major in nursing.
At Mars Area High School, she is a member of the school’s AFS/MISA Chapter, Key Club, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. Hamlett is also a member of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds ECNL (Elite Clubs National League).
For details, visit https://tribhssn.triblive.com.
Gerlach Named Girls Soccer Coach of the Year
The award honors those coaches who have developed a history of success and demonstrated coaching effectiveness throughout their career.
This season, the Lady Planets won both the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 14-0-1 and went undefeated (14-0) in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
Since 2002, Gerlach has led the Lady Planets to win two PIAA state titles, four WPIAL titles, and 13 section titles; and he is also a six-time Section Coach of the Year. In 2018, he was named to the Mars Area Sports Hall of Fame.
For more than 10 years, Gerlach has also served as a Northern Steel Select Soccer Club director of coaching, earning three national championships, 14 regional championships, 17 state titles, and more than 75 tournaments. He is also owner of BG Soccer LLC, a supplemental soccer training program.
For more information, visit www.pasoccercoaches.org.
Soccer Players Named Among Best in State, Region
Several members of Mars Area High School Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer Teams are listed among the top best players in the state and region.
On the girls team, senior Taylor Hamlett and junior Ellie Coffield were named to the 2019 All-State Girls Soccer Team; and, senior Taylor Hamlett; juniors Ellie Coffield and Gracie Dunaway to the 2019 All-WPIAL Girls Soccer Team.
Seniors Taylor Hamlett and Grace Ingram; and juniors Ellie Coffield, Gracie Dunaway, Courtney Lisman , Erin Rodgers and Caroline Wroblewski were selected for the 2019 All-Section Girls Soccer Team.
This season, the Lady Planets won both the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 14-0-1 and went undefeated (14-0) in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
On the boys team, senior Austin Rocke was named to the 2019 All-State Boys Soccer Team; and seniors Austin Rocke and Steven Papik to the 2019 All-WPIAL Boys Soccer Team.
Senior Austin Rocke and Steven Papik; and junior Dane Beller were selected for the 2019 All-Section Boys Soccer Team and senior Seth Grady was named as an honorable mention.
This season, the Fightin Planets advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 WPIAL Class 3A Boys Soccer Championship. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 16-1-1 and 13-0-1 in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380.
Girls Soccer Team Ranked Fourth in Nation
Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team is listed as fourth in the nation, according to the USA Today Sports Super 25 Girls Soccer Rankings for the 2019-2020 Season
The rankings are compiled by U.S. coaches, based on results from the current season, quality of players and the strength of each team’s schedule.
This season, the Lady Planets earned both the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 14-0-1 and went undefeated (14-0) in section play, also earning the Section 1-3A title.
For more information, visit https://usatodayhss.com/rankings/expert/girls/fall-soccer/2019/13/.
2019 ‘Moe’ Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Award
Coffield was one of three finalists for the annual award, which recognizes those players who demonstrate skill, leadership and sportsmanship as well as a competitive spirit, love and passion for the game.
A midfielder on Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team, Coffield helped lead the Lady Planets to win both the 2019 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 14-0-1 and went undefeated (14-0) in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
The Kaitlyn “Moe” Rosensteel Scholarship Foundation and Pittsburgh Soccer Now established the award to aid the continued growth of girls soccer and honor those young women who play the game. For details, visit https://pittsburghsoccernow.com.
PIAA Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship
Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team earned the 2019 PIAA Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship, defeating the Villa Joseph Marie Jems 1-0 in final game of the competition on Nov. 16.
The Lady Planets vanquished the Archbishop Wood Vikings 5-1 in the PIAA semifinals on Nov. 12; routed the West Allegheny Indians 4-0 in the PIAA quarterfinals on Nov. 9; and slayed the Warren Area Dragons 6-1 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on Nov. 5. The team advanced to the state playoffs after defeating the Plum Mustangs 4-0 to earn the 2019 WPIAL Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship Title on Nov. 2.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Ashley Edwards, Taylor Hamlett, Grace Ingram, Kiara Khemani, Anna Kurpakus and Olivia Williams; juniors Ellie Coffield, Gracie Dunaway, Eleanor Howell, Alexandra King, Samantha King, Courtney Lisman, Kara Rocco, Erin Rodgers and Caroline Wroblewski; sophomores Kristin Bayuk, Megan Boddy, Sydney Carr, Isabella Cinalli, Alyson Cooper, Leana Cuzzocrea, Jordan Esswein, Londynn Gonzalez and Jenna Jedry; and freshmen Ava Balazentis, Piper Coffield, Reese Dunaway, Piper Empey, Julia Gagnon, Eden Gerlach, Brooke Hamlett, Gwen Howell, Ava Lewis, Eva Ranalli, Peyton Shick and Olivia Wilson.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.
WPIAL Class 3A Boys Soccer Championship
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2019 WPIAL Class 3A Boys Soccer Championship on Oct. 23, but were defeated 5-1 by the West Allegheny Indians.
The Fightin’ Planets collapsed the Ambridge Bridgers 5-1 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Oct. 19. The team ended the 2019 regular season with an overall record of 16-1-1 and 13-0-1 in section play, earning the Section 1-3A title.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Easton Carter, Zach Carter, Seth Grady, Luke Harvey, Jacob Jedry, Steven Papik, Austin Rocke, Aiden Sanders and Aedan Skirtich; juniors Dane Beller, Jacob Gareis, Nabil Lahlou, Brady Nihoff, Tyler Nymberg, Ryan Pasko, Nicholas Porter, Mitchell Shultz and Trent Wick; sophomores Derek Blake, Brayden Boatwright, Zaccheri Campagna, Matthew Hannan, Mason Meyer, Devin Schupp, Gabriel Singh, Mitchell Valentine and Eli Wright; and freshmen Cade Coldiron, Nico D’Angelo, Breiden Eagon, Kai Gratton, Austin Hackett, Andrew Olsen, Colton Rogers, Sam Stewart and Ralph Zatezalo.
For more information, visit www.wpial.org.