Led by LoCoco brothers, Gateway boys soccer chasing 5th straight WPIAL playoff berth

By: Michael Love
Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The Gateway boys soccer team is on a mission this fall to add to an already record-setting streak for the program.

With a move up to Class 4A, the Gators are shooting for a fifth straight trip to the WPIAL playoffs, and with what head coach Mike Rugh feels is a nice mix of returning talent coupled with the potential for big things from a large crop of newcomers, the chances for another postseason berth is there for the taking.

“The new section is going to be a big challenge for us, no question,” Rugh said.

“We have the (WPIAL Class 4A) champ in Norwin, and Plum is always going to have good, quality talent. Norwin lost a lot of seniors, but they are going to be coming on strong again. Then you have Central Catholic and Hempfield, and we know Penn Hills really well. We have two big schools in Canon-McMillan and Butler right away next week, so it will be a good litmus test to see where we’re going to be.”

Gateway was scheduled open the season Saturday against Class 2A power Deer Lakes.

The Gators were able to take stock of their progress with a scrimmage against Allderdice on Aug. 17.

“We know we have to play as a team and apply pressure,” senior all-star midfielder James LoCoco said.

“That is what I feel will make us successful. We could’ve had a few more counterattack opportunities against Allderdice. We didn’t capitalize on as many of them as we would’ve liked. If we can keep a steady buildup throughout the whole field, we should be fine.”

Seven starters are back, led by James Lococo and his brother, Nick.

Nick LoCoco, also a senior and an all-section selection in 2023, led the team in scoring last year with 10 goals to go along with eight assists, giving him 22 goals and 18 assists combined the past two seasons.

With a chance to be more of a distributor and facilitator in a defensive midfield role, he said he’s not sure if he will be as prolific a goal scorer this season. But his confidence is high in others to carry the scoring load.

“We have a number of guys back and coming up who can score, and we play better as a team, so it doesn’t matter who scores. The important thing is we do the right things to be able to get the ball in the back of the net.

“We’re really excited with the potential of the team this year. We have a lot of freshmen who have come in and are playing really well with the returning players. Allderdice was a little bit of a wake-up call for us, and East Allegheny (scrimmage) really got our spirits higher. I think we are going to do pretty well again.”

James LoCoco hopes to raise his scoring level after tallying eight goals and two assists as a junior.

“Both Nick and James are the real deal and probably are two of the best soccer players around,” Rugh said.

“They’re going to be up, and they’re going to be back. They’re going to be asked to run 18 to 18, and I know they are going to do it.

“Nick is kind of a safety blanket for us as I like to call it. He’s sideline to sideline. He’s endline to endline. In one of the scrimmages, he made a 70- to 80-yard run to win the ball in the box on a transition. Those are the kind of things we’re going to expect from him all year.

“James, with his skill and his shooting, we’re going to rely a lot on that. His goal is to get into double digits for goals. I know he can get there.”

Senior midfielder Owen Echegaray also is back after scoring seven goals, and sophomore Cam Simon tallied six goals and two assists in his varsity debut.

“Owen and Cam in the midfield, those guys have engines and will run up and down the field all day,” Rugh said.

“We expect them to raise their levels in a significant way.”

Veteran goalkeeper Jack Kweder was lost to graduation, but Rugh said he has seen good things from three players new to the team.

Freshman Maximo Estremera, Rugh said, rose to the top in preseason workouts and scrimmages.

“He’s shown that he is definitely ready for the responsibility,” Rugh said. “He will learn and grow by getting thrown to the wolves a little bit.”

In front of Estremera is an experienced group of defensemen with three of the four starters back in seniors Brett Rossi and Vince Vagni, and sophomore Max Fry. Junior Grant Karstetter, Rugh said, has been looking good in workouts and will step into the defensive mix.

Rugh said junior midfielder Troy Boden and sophomore midfielder Amar Murrell-Merriwther are back hoping to increase their roles for the Gators, while freshmen Seangkye Park and Ryan Helman are expected to contribute a lot of varsity minutes.

“We have 36 on the team with 14 freshmen,” Rugh said. “We’re really excited about the numbers. Last year, we had four freshmen, so that’s a big difference. There are a lot of younger guys who will compete for spots and minutes.”

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.

Tags: Gateway