Upper St. Clair finds themselves with a very important matchup today as they face Lower Dauphin in the PIAA state soccer tournament. They are coming off an impressive and historic season, one that saw them finish with a 16-0-1 record. Their only draw was a 5-5 shootout against Fleetwood on August 30.
The team is led from the top with Mike Blatz’s coaching staff and the squad’s captains paving the way for others to follow. The defense is led by Doug Hapeman, Garrett Blake, and Hayden Bernhardt, while the midfield is anchored by Robbie Mertz and Adam Heil. Shayne Sibley leads the team’s striker force up top. Heil is the only junior of the group so this is the team poised to win and win now.
This strong group is reminiscent of the 2013 state championship squad that produced two D-I recruits in Troye Kiernan (Saint Francis University) and Joel Hart (American University). They have been on quite a run recently and find themselves in great form just in time for the postseason. But this is certainly not their first trip to the big show.
The Upper St. Clair soccer team has left a legacy of excellence thanks to success over the past thirty years. Recently this has included three consecutive state finals, two state championships, and one WPIAL championship under previous head coach Uwe Schneider.
Upper St. Clair has won four state championships in five trips to the finals over the past decade, all under the reign of Schneider. It’s been an amazing run as a program and the best may be yet to come.
No wonder the team was found on the NSCAA National Poll for much of the 2014 fall season. It was an honor that was humbling for the entire squad.
“A lot of things had to fall into place the past couple of years, and we have been dedicated to putting all of our efforts into this season, which will be my last,” Blake remarked. “I’m very proud of our team and I know that this accomplishment will push us to achieve more.”
Heil was quick to add to the discussion.
“I was extremely pleased with our hard work paying off. Our team is one huge family, and we earned that spot, no doubt. But at the end of the day, statistics don’t mean anything: it’s all about playing each game like it’s your last.”
This type of attitude creates games that are exciting to watch as the players leave it all on the pitch. No wonder fans and supporters turn out in large numbers to support the team.
The program is a model for others to follow in terms of player development as it offers players opportunities to play on a freshman and JV team in addition to access to recreational and travel soccer. Most of the players at the JV and varsity levels play year-round with premier clubs throughout Western Pennsylvania. The focus on developing players has certainly paid off in a big way.
But Upper St. Clair’s success goes way beyond the beautiful game. The district has been ranked #1 in Pennsylvania eight straight years from 2006-2013. They are known for their educational offerings as well as arts and athletics. Multiple sports teams win WPIAL titles from year to year.
And the community of Upper St. Clair was recently ranked as one of the “ten best places to live in America” by US News and World Report. The township was recognized for its diversity, great parks and trails, and its proximity to Pittsburgh, a major commercial hub for the Midwest.
It seems like Upper St. Clair has everything going for it. The one thing they are missing is another piece of hardware for the school’s trophy case. Our guess is that will be coming in a few weeks in the form of another state title in soccer.
The ISN Ultimate 11 began as an effort to recognize the very best of high school soccer, a side of the game often neglected by the national media. That is certainly no longer the case as ISN leads the way in promoting the game at this level, honoring the young men and women that are the future of the sport.
Promotion of the ISN Ultimate XI will culminate in a major multi-state event in the summer of 2015.
