The 2022 WPIAL runners-up are back for the 2023 season—and they are hungry to earn themselves a spot at Highmark Stadium for the second year in a row.
Although some critical seniors were lost after last season, Coach Hazuda’s soccer team adjusted by gaining some new freshmen as well as a new senior all the way from Germany.
Senior Anton Kuespert is visiting Beaver Area from Germany as a foreign exchange student.
When asked about differences between American and German soccer he said, “[Bobcat soccer is] fun and I like the team spirit. The physical shape of the athletes here is better than in Germany, but the soccer skills in Germany are better.”
To start their season, the Bobcats of course had to play some scrimmages.
The first scrimmage kicked off against the Deer Lakes Lancers August 19. Deer Lakes has recently become a Bobcat rival after they unfortunately beat Beaver Area last season at the WIPIAL championship 1-0 in overtime.
At the scrimmage the Bobcats tied the Lancers 2-2 in a very hard-fought game.
In the second scrimmage, August 22 against Neshanock, our boys tallied 8 goals to set a standard for the season in the season.
The boys took on their first section game August 29 against Quaker Valley. QV has been the Bobcats’ biggest competition for years now but the boys unfortunately lost 5-0 to QV.
August 31 Beaver Area traveled to Mohawk to play another section game. The game ended 0-0 in regulation but soon after overtime started, senior Issac Tharp scored the golden goal to win the game 1-0.
September 5 the boys played a home section game against Hopewell resulting in a 2-1 win. Senior captain Evan Baker scored the game winner with only 20 seconds left in the game.
Baker said, “I felt like we controlled the game well and played tough. Overall, a solid win in my opinion.”
The most recent section game (at the time of writing) of the season so far took place at Ellwood City September 7 where the boys dominated in a 10-0 blowout.
With that win, the Bobcats are on the path to Highmark.
“I think we’re going to WPIALs again—definitely the semi-finals [at least],” said junior Gabe Forcella.