Seton LaSalle boys chasing 5th straight section crown

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 8, 2017 | 10:18 AM

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The beat goes on for the Seton LaSalle boys soccer team.

In 2016, Seton LaSalle won its 12th section title in school history, advanced to the WPIAL and PIAA semifinal rounds in Class A, and finished 22-3 overall.

The Rebels have 14 lettermen back from last year's team, led by senior forward Darryl Daniels and junior midfielder Kellen Krebs.

Daniels led the WPIAL in goals scored with 41, which included 11 game-winners. He was an all-section, All-WPIAL, all-state and all-region selection in 2016, and was named Player of the Year in both Class A and Section 4.

Krebs landed All-WPIAL and all-section plaudits last season.

Other returning starters for the Rebels are senior midfielder Michael Allen, junior midfielder Chris Sigg, junior defender Domenic Viskovicz and sophomore defender John Pete.

“We should be a formidable group in our section and classification. Hopefully, we are in the mix for a WPIAL and PIAA championship,” coach Ryan Kelly said. “This team has to get better every day in order to accomplish our goals set out for the season. We hope to lean on our leadership and our returning experience to guide us to where we want to be come November.”

The eight other returning lettermen consist of seniors Cullen Vereb (MF) and Mark Mitchell (MF); juniors Zach Wells (F), Kyle Killen (D) and Hank Polley (MF); plus sophomores Ethan Gardner (MF), Tyler Stack (D) and Gabe Rosario (F).

Players in the mix to start this season include Daniels, Wells and Rosario, at forward; Krebs, Allen, Sigg and Gardner, at midfield; senior Kaleb Krebs, Pete, Viskovicz, Killen and Stack on defense; as well as junior transfer Sam Reinhart, at goalkeeper.

Those expected to make contributions off the bench include Vereb (MF), Mitchell (MF), Polley (MF), sophomore defender Joe Sarraino, freshman mifielder Anthony Newman, junior goalkeeper Savvas Psillidis, and junior forwards Zhang Haoran, Ciaran Lamb and Nate Boland.

Daniels, Allen and Kellen Krebs are the Rebels' team captains.

“All three demonstrate a high-level of play and have a ton of experience,” Kelly said. “They have been very influential players for us in the past, and have been great teammates in their own respect.”

The Seton LaSalle boys soccer program owns a strong history.

The Rebels have won four section championships in a row, and six in the past seven years. Seton LaSalle has advanced to the WPIAL playoffs for 12 consecutive seasons, and to the PIAA playoffs in 11 of the past 12 seasons.

The Rebels have been a WPIAL finalist eight times in school history, and have won six WPIAL titles along with two state crowns.

All the coaches in the program are former Seton LaSalle soccer players. Kelly, a 2003 graduate, is assisted by Nick Balzer (2007), Tyler Balzer (2012) and Greg Walsh (2003); along with junior varsity coaches Pat Vaughan (2008) and Mike Vaughan (1979).

Last season, Seton LaSalle outscored the opposition by a 94-24 overall margin, and posted 10 shutouts, including two in the PIAA playoffs.

The Rebels took first place in Section 4 with a 14-0 record, followed by Benworth (11-2-1), Brentwood (8-5-1), Bishop Canevin (7-7), Monessen (5-9), Chartiers-Houston (4-10), Beth-Center (4-10) and California (2-12).

Seton LaSalle opened the 2017 season at home in tournament action, defeating Winchester Thurston, 3-1, and Mercyhurst Prep, 4-0.

Daniels netted three goals in the tournament. Kaleb Krebs, Kellen Krebs, Gardner and Allen added one goal apiece.

Kaleb Krebs also collected three assists, while Reinhart registered the shutout.

The Rebels also blanked Chartiers-Houston, 2-0, and Bishop Canevin, 3-0, in their first two section games.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.