Burrell girls soccer aims to keep momentum going vs. Freeport after long layoff

By: Michael Love
Monday, September 4, 2023 | 4:21 PM

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The Burrell girls soccer team kicked off its season Aug. 26 with a 2-1 victory over District 10 Class 5A McDowell at the South Park tournament.

One day later, the Bucs toppled defending District 10 Class 2A champion Fort Le Boeuf, 3-2, for a 2-0 start and a great deal of momentum.

A sizable layoff followed, and it will be nine days when the Bucs get back on the field for game action. And it’s not just any game. It’s the Section 2-2A opener against rival Freeport.

“There has been a lot of time in between, but I think we’ve been utilizing it pretty well,” said senior midfielder Andi Householder, one of three all-section players back for the Bucs this season.

“We’ve watched film, and we’ve taken what we’ve learned and sharpened up some things to be ready for the section games. Those games really showed where we stood.”

There is a lot of excitement surrounding a Burrell team that finished 8-2-2 in a competitive Section 2-2A last year, third behind Knoch (10-1-1) and Freeport (10-2).

“I think our offense is pretty strong, maybe stronger than it was last year, even though we lost a lot of great seniors,” said junior Miley Kariotis, who scored a team-leading 12 goals last season.

“Our back line is pretty strong, too, and they take pride in working well together. The opening tournament was really good for us, but we’re not satisfied. It showed us some things we need to work on and fix. We also saw how well we can play as a team. There is a standard at Burrell, and it is great motivation to keep moving forward.”

Kariotis and junior Maggie Nesko, who had a team-best nine assists last season, paced the Burrell offense in the opening tournament with goals in each game. Both Kariotis and Nesko earned all-section honors a year ago.

“I thought we played well against two really strong teams, and it showed,” Burrell coach Frank Nesko said. “We took a lot of good things from those games, but at the same time, we had plenty to work on during our layoff. We certainly celebrate the positives, but we also recognized that it is early.”

He called the time off a “mixed blessing.”

A game with Highlands scheduled for Aug. 30 was wiped out when it was announced that the Golden Rams program would go on hiatus this season because of low numbers.

The Labor Day holiday on what is a normal section play date further kept Burrell from competing.

“The girls like to compete, and they wanted to keep things going,” the coach said. At the same time, we had those days to get a lot of work in and build.”

The Bucs hope to qualify for WPIALs for the eighth straight time, and Kariotis understands it won’t be easy in a section full of challenging teams who are led by some of the top talent in WPIAL Class 2A.

Freeport, paced by returning all-section performer in sophomore forward Peyton Los and freshman sensation Camryn Woods, is shooting for its 11th consecutive postseason berth.

Woods owns a team-best eight goals in three games. She scored two in a 3-1 win over Deer Lakes in the section opener last Thursday, added two in a 6-0 shutout of Steel Valley at the Yellowjackets’ own tournament Saturday and tallied four in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Central Valley.

Wednesday’s matchup with Freeport (3-0, 1-0) at is set for 7:30 p.m. at Burrell’s Buccaneer Stadium.

“Last year’s games with them were really close, and we expect that again,” Kariotis said. “They are like us where they lose a number of players every year, but they come back strong. As long as we’re focused and ready to go, I like what we can do.”

Senior forward Tessa Mathabel also is an anchor for the Bucs. She tallied the winner against Fort Le Boeuf.

Junior goalkeeper Dana Barczykowski, who split starting time last year with the graduated Ali Hughes, picked up both tournament wins in net.

“Dana has a lot of experience and confidence, and we have confidence in her,” coach Nesko said. “She knew there would be competition for the job, but she responded and has played well back there.”

Burrell got an additional boost when senior Grace Nesko, who hadn’t played for the soccer team for two years, returned to the fold. Nesko, who also runs cross country and track for Burrell, was hampered by a hip injury last fall and wasn’t able to run.

Now healthy with the help of physical therapy, she was given the all clear by her doctor in June. She hopes to make a big impact for the Bucs.

“I missed (soccer), and I figured that with it being my senior season, I decided to just do it,” she said. “It was definitely a process, getting everything back to the way it was with conditioning and skills. My teammates have been really great and supportive. I am glad to be back.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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