WPIAL honors area soccer stars in Class A & 3A

By JOSE NEGRON

jnegron@yourmvi.com

Five local soccer players were recently recognized as All-WPIAL selections in Class A and Class 3A. 

The Section 3-3A champions from Belle Vernon Area were represented by their two leading goal scorers in junior Daniel Sassak and senior Nick Nagy. 

The Leopards had two players make the All-WPIAL team for the fourth consecutive year. 

“It’s great to see these two guys get recognition,” BVA head coach Rob Miele said. “We always say that any time our guys receive any award or recognition, it truly is a reflection of the team because individual success is never truly individual success, it’s manufactured from the rest of the team and their play.” 

Sassak, this year’s Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix leadership award winner, paced the Leopards (14-3, 10-2) with 33 goals while adding 14 assists. He set BVA records for most goals (six) and points (15) in a single game and finished just four goals shy of tying the single-season record of 37 set by Markello Apodiakos in 2017.

Sassak was named All-WPIAL for the second time in his career.  

“I thought the progress Daniel made this past season was very noticeable. We felt as a coaching staff through the summer that he had really made a leap,” Miele said. “Typically you see the biggest growth from sophomore to junior year, and I thought that idea held true this year. 

“I think the trajectory of his game will continue to improve in the offseason, which will set him up for a potential special senior season next fall. I’m sure he’ll have even more attention on him next season, so it won’t come easy.” 

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