Cougars return 12 players, add talented freshman class

Yough returns four seniors and goalkeeper Carly Fitzgibbons.

You can’t blame Bob Broadwater if he can’t hold back his excitement about the upcoming girls’ soccer season.

Broadwater is getting ready to coach his second season at Yough, where he guided a rebuilding Cougars squad to a 5-14 record.

The good news was that Yough finished just one spot out of qualifying for the WPIAL playoffs.

That leads to a more experienced team for 2024 that is joined by a large number of talented incoming freshmen.

“We took our lumps last year, but I have 12 returning players with varsity experience, including a group of seniors I will be leaning on to help mold a veteran team with all the freshmen we have,” said Broadwater.

His group of returning seniors is led by all-section performer Grace Tomko (defender) and includes midfielders Brooke Wieland and Carli Reisinger and defender Sid Bergman.

The junior core is led by another all-section returnee, midfielder/striker Kate Slavick. Other juniors include keeper Carly Fitzgibbons, midfielders Kat Smith and Addie Watkins and defender Haley Omasta.

“Fitzgibbons wasn’t named All-Section, but I think she is such an underrated player,” Broadwater said. “She’s gonna be solid for us in goal and, like our seniors, I’m going to lean on her a lot.”

The returning sophomores include defenders Ashtyn Younkin and Ali Sarsfield and midfielder Erin Reisinger.

Of the 14 freshmen on the Cougars roster, Broadwater rattled off eight names of players who, at the least, should see a lot of action and, at best, could find their way in the starting lineup.

The newcomers include midfield strikers Gionna Pionka, Daisy Miller, Leah Slavick and Brittany Baumeister, defenders Jillian Baluga and Lindsey Shuber and midfielders Alya Broadwater and Bree Pisarck.

Broadwater listed the Cougars strength as senior leadership and the weakness is a number of talented freshmen who don’t have any varsity experience to fall back on.

“Our seniors are going to have to lead us,” Broadwater said. “We have enough with our veteran players to get it done.

“It’s going to take an allout effort, but if I can get this team to jell, we could be pretty special.”

Yough will compete in Sec. 4 2A with Mt. Pleasant, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Southmoreland and Ligonier Valley.

Mt. Pleasant won the section last year with Southmoreland second. Woodland Hills was third, but was moved out and replaced by Deer Lakes, which made the playoffs in another section last year.

“Mt. Pleasant and Deer Lakes should be the top teams and Southmoreland will be tough, too,” Broadwater said.

“I’m hoping to be right in the thick of the section with those teams.”

He paused for a second and said, “No, I’m planning on it.”