Coffield is among 45 of the nation’s best high school girls soccer players who have been invited to participate in the game, which was postponed from December 2020. She will compete as a member of the 2020 East All-American Team.
A midfielder for the Lady Planets Girls Varsity Soccer Team, Coffield helped to lead the team to win both the 2020 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles as well as the Section 4-3A title. The team ended the season with 41 straight wins, 15 shutouts, and an overall record of 19-0.
Coffield finished the season with 26 goals and 36 assists and has a career total of 95 goals and 104 assists. She was named the 2020 Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (PSCA) Girls Soccer Player of the Year and was selected for the 2020 All-State, All-WPIAL and All-Section teams.
In 2019-2020, she was selected as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Cover Three Athletics WPIAL Female Athlete of the Year, and received the 2019 ‘Moe’ Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Award.
Coffield has signed a letter of intent to join the Panthers Women’s Soccer Team at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.), where she plans to major in nutrition science.
For more information, visit www.highschoolsoccerallamerican.com.
A midfielder for the Lady Planets Girls Varsity Soccer Team, Coffield helped to lead the team to win both the 2020 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles as well as the Section 4-3A title. The team, which is ran
ked No. 1 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches, ended the season with 41 straight wins, 15 shutouts, and an overall record of 19-0.
Coffield finished the season with 26 goals and 36 assists and has a career total of 95 goals and 104
assists. She was named to the 2020 All-State, All-WPIAL and All-Section (4-3A) teams.
In 2019-2020, Coffield was selected as the 2019-2020 Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Soccer Player of the Year, the Cover Three Athletics 2019-2020 WPIAL Female Athlete of the Year, and for the 2019 ‘Moe’ Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Award.
In her freshman and sophomore years, Coffield was also a member of the Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team that won the 2018 PIAA Championship Title. The team advanced to the second round of the PIAA Playoffs in 2017.
Coffield has signed a letter of intent to join the Panthers Women’s Soccer Team at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pa.), where she plans to major in nutrition science.
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Also of note, along with Coffield, seniors Gracie Dunaway (defender) and Caroline Wroblewski (forward) were named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s All-Area Team.
This season, Dunaway, who has committed to Purdue University, had 23 goals and 14 assists, bringing her career total to 43 career goals and 52 assists. Wroblewski had 22 goals and 18 assists with a career total of 74 goals and 72 assists.
Senior Named Boys Soccer Player of the Year
A forward for the Fightin’ Planets Boys Varsity Soccer Team, Beller helped to lead the team to win its first-ever PIAA Title as well as the 2020 WPIAL and Section 1-3A title. The team ended the season undefeated with an overall record of 19-0.
Beller finished the season with 38 goals and 19 assists and has a career total of 87 goals and 44 assists. He scored both of the team’s goals in the final game of PIAA Championship and was named to the 2020 All-WPIAL and All-Section (1-3A) teams.
Girls Soccer Players Named Among Best in State, Region
Several members of Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team are listed among the best players in the state and region.
Seniors Ellie Coffield (midfielder), Gracie Dunaway (forward) and Caroline Wroblewski (forward) were named to the 2020 All-State Girls Soccer Team, marking the first time that the team has three players selected for the honor in the same year.
Named to the 2020 All-WPIAL Girls Soccer Team are senior Ellie Coffield (midfielder), junior Leana Cuzzocrea (midfielder), senior Gracie Dunaway (forward), senior Courtney Lisman (goalkeeper), and senior Caroline Wroblewski (forward).
Senior Ellie Coffield (midfielder), junior Aly Cooper (midfielder), junior Leana Cuzzocrea (midfielder), senior Gracie Dunaway (forward), sophomore Gwen Howell (defender), senior Courtney Lisman (goalkeeper) and senior Caroline Wroblewski (forward) were named to the All-Section (4-3A) Team.
This season, the Lady Planets won both the 2020 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles as well as the Section 4-3A title. The team, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches, has 41 straight wins and ended the season with nine straight shutouts, earning an overall record of 19-0.
Boys Soccer Players Named Among Best in Region
Several members of Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team are listed among the best players in the state and region.
Seniors Dane Beller (forward) and Tyler Nymberg (forward) were named to the 2020 All-WPIAL Boys Soccer Team; and seniors Dane Beller (forward), Nabil Lahlou (midfielder), Tyler Nymberg (forward), and Trent Wick (defender) to the All-Section (1-3A) Team.
This season, the Fightin’ Planets earned the team’s first-ever PIAA Title as well as the 2020 WPIAL and Section 1-3A title. The team ended the season undefeated with an overall record of 19-0.
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 2020 Butler Eagle Soccer Honor Roll.
Senior Ellie Coffield (midfielder), who had 24 goals and 36 assists this season; senior Ellie Howell (defender); sophomore Gwen Howell (defender); senior Courtney Lisman (goalkeeper), 15 shutouts; senior Gracie Dunaway (forward), 22 goals and 10 assists; and senior Caroline Wroblewski (forward), 20 goals and 15 assists; were selected for the Girls Soccer Honor Roll.
Senior Dane Beller (forward), who amassed 38 goals and 19 assists this season; senior Jake Gareis (goalkeeper), 12 shutouts; senior Nabil Lahlou (midfielder), 15 goals and 19 assists; senior Tyler Nymberg (midfielder), 15 goals and 16 assists; senior Ryan Pasko (defender); junior Gabe Singh (midfielder), 6 goals, 6 assists; and senior Trent Wick (defender); were named to the Boys Soccer Honor Roll.
For more information, visit www.butlereagle.com.
Gerlach Selected as PSCA Class 3A Girls Coach of the Year.
Blair Gerlach, Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team head coach, was named 2020 Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (PSCA) Class 3A Girls Coach of the Year and 2020 United Soccer Coaches Large School Regional Coach of the Year.
Gerlach, who was named PSCA Class 3A Girls Coach of the Year, is the first repeat winner in the classification since the award’s inception in 1997. Earlier this year, United Soccer Coaches selected Gerlach for the 2020 High School Coach of Significance Award for Pennsylvania.
This season, the Lady Planets won both the 2020 PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A Championship titles as well as the Section 4-3A title. The team, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches, has 41 straight wins and ended the season with nine straight shutouts, earning an overall record of 22-0.
Since 2002, Gerlach has led the Lady Planets to win three PIAA state titles, five WPIAL titles, and 14 section titles; and he is also a six-time Section Coach of the Year. In 2018, he was inducted into the Mars Area Sports Hall of Fame.
Gerlach, executive director of coaching at Century Steel Soccer, served as Northern Steel Soccer director of coaching for more than 10 years, earning three national championships, 15 regional championships, 18 state titles, and more than 75 tournament wins. He is also owner of the BG Soccer LLC soccer training program.
The PSCA Coach of the Year award honors those coaches who have developed a history of success and demonstrated coaching effectiveness throughout their career.
For more information, visit www.pasoccercoaches.org.
Knauff Named WPSCA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year
Chris Knauff, Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team head coach, was named 2020 Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association (WPSCA) Class 3A Boys Coach of the Year.
This season, the Fightin’ Planets won the team’s first-ever PIAA Title as well as the 2020 WPIAL Class 3A Championship and Section 1-3A titles. The team ended the 2020 season undefeated with an overall record of 21-0.
A Mars Area graduate (Class of 1998), Knauff played for the team during his high school career (1995-1998). He then rejoined the boys team as an assistant coach in 2006, before moving to the head coach position the following season.
Knauff led the team to its first-ever PIAA state championship game appearance in 2007; and to WPIAL Class 2A Title wins in both 2008 and 2009. Under his leadership, the team has earned 10 section titles and advanced to the playoffs each year, competing seven times in the WPIAL final.
In addition to coaching soccer, Knauff is a business education teacher at Mars Area High School. For more information, contact Knauff at (724) 625-1581.
Girls Varsity Soccer — 2020 PIAA Class 3A Champions
The Lady Planets bested Mechanicsburg Area Wildcats 2-0 in the PIAA semifinals on Nov. 17; and slayed the Warren Area Dragons 8-0 in the PIAA quarterfinals on Nov. 14. The team advanced to the to the PIAA playoffs after earning its second consecutive WPIAL Title by defeating the Plum Mustangs 1-0 in the final game of the 2020 WPIAL Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship on Nov. 7.
The team conquered the Montour Spartans 6-0 in the WPIAL semifinals on Nov. 4; grounded the Oakland Catholic Eagles 6-0 in the WPIAL quarterfinals on Oct. 29; and broke the Laurel Highlands Mustangs 13-0 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Oct. 26. The Planets ended the 2020 regular season undefeated with an overall record of 12-0 and went 12-0 in section play, earning the Section 4-3A title.
Players on this year’s team include seniors Ellie Coffield, Gracie Dunaway, Eleanor Howell, Alexandra King, Samantha King, Courtney Lisman, Kara Rocco, Erin Rodgers and Caroline Wroblewski; juniors Kristin Bayuk, Megan Boddy, Alyson Cooper, Leana Cuzzocrea, Jordan Esswein and Londynn Gonzalez; sophomores Ava Balazentis, Piper Coffield, Reese Dunaway, Piper Empey, Effie Frank, Julia Gagnon, Eden Gerlach, Brooke Hamlett, Gwen Howell, Ava Lewis, Eva Ranalli, Olivia Wilson and Madeline Wolf; and freshmen Kayleigh Clark, Addison Girdwood, Lillian Goodworth, Brooke Nihoff, Rosalina Pellegrino, Ainsley Ray, Abigail Tomblin and Lillian Wolf.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.
Boys Girls Varsity Soccer — 2020 PIAA Class 3A Champions
The Fightin’ Planets repelled the Cathedral Prep Ramblers 2-1 in the PIAA semifinals on Nov. 17; and, trounced the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers 4-1 in the PIAA quarterfinals on Nov. 14. The team advanced to the PIAA playoffs after earning the WPIAL Title by defeating the Franklin Regional Panthers 2-1 in overtime in the final game of the 2020 WPIAL Class 3A Boys Soccer Championship on Nov. 5.
Players on this year’s team include seniors Dane Beller, Jacob Gareis, Nabil Lahlou, Brady Nihoff, Tyler Nymberg, Ryan Pasko, Nicholas Porter and Trent Wick; juniors Brayden Boatwright, Harlen Burtner, Zaccheri Campagna, Matt Funk, Matthew Hannan, Declan Mayer, Mason Meyer, Devin Schupp, Gabriel Singh, Mitchell Valentine and Eli Wright; sophomores Cade Coldiron, Nico D’Angelo, Breiden Eagon, Caden Empey, Kai Gratton, Drew Piatek and Sam Stewart; and, freshmen Jackson Fox, Kaden Gratton, James Jayamohan, Liam Quinn, Landon Rocke, Aiden Savona, Jack Scanlon and Ryan Schnitgen.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.