PT Boys soccer among top teams of 2014-15
Eleanor Bailey | The Almanac
Peters Township boys soccer
The Indians were arguably the most dominant program in any sport during the 2014-15 school year. While Mario and Nicco Mastrangelo were the top striker tandem in the state, PT allowed just six goals in 24 games, including a dominant 2-1 victory over Great Valley to capture the PIAA Class AAA championship at HersheyPark Stadium. It was the program’s fourth state championship. Peters Township also defeated Upper St. Clair 5-1 to win the WPIAL championship before registering three straight shutouts to begin the state tournament.
South Fayette football
Senior quarterback Brett Brumbaugh rewrote every passing record in the state, but it was junior Hunter Hayes who was dominant in the PIAA playoffs to help the Lions capture their second consecutive state championship, becoming the first program to win back-to-back titles in Class AA. Brumbaugh, the Class AA player of the year, finished his career with a PIAA record 11,104 passing yards and threw 42 touchdowns last fall. Hayes ran for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns in seven playoff games, including a 263-yard performance in South Fayette’s 28-16 victory over Dunmore to claim the state titlle.
Canon-McMillan girls soccer
The Big Macs entered the WPIAL playoffs as the No. 10 seed, and produced upset wins over Elizabeth Forward, Peters Township and Moon to reach the title game. They lost to Seneca Valley in the WPIAL Class AAA title game at Highmark Stadium, but fought back to reach the program’s first state title game. C-M took a 1-0 lead 32 seconds into the championship game, but lost in overtime to Central Bucks West.
California baseball
The Trojans dominated section play once again and reached the WPIAL Class A title game again, but lost to Greensburg Central Catholic. They responded by reaching the PIAA quarterfinals, where they lost to Juniata Valley, but the season was a major success for Cal, which lost the bulk of its roster from last spring.
Monessen boys basketball
The Greyhounds were once again the highest-scoring team in the WPIAL – the program’s seventh district title – and reached the PIAA quarterfinals, where they lost to Kennedy Catholic. Monessen finished with a 22-7 record, did not lose to a WPIAL Class A opponent and surpassed 80 points 12 times.
Chartiers-Houston girls basketball
The Bucs entered the WPIAL Class AA playoffs as an afterthought, but few teams in the district had more postseason success. Chartiers-Houston qualified for the PIAA play-in bracket and clinched a spot in the state tournament and delivered back-to-back upset victories over Harbor Creek and Carlynton to reach the PIAA quarterfinals, capping the most successful season in program history.
Trinity softball
The Hillers were one of the most well-rounded teams in the WPIAL all season and seemed destined to win the program’s first district title before a loss in the semifinals to Yough. Trinity did fight back to reach the PIAA championship game – the program’s first – but lost to Bethlehem Catholic, 2-0. Senior shortstop Olivia Gray was named the state’s player of the year in Class AAA and junior Delaney Elling was also named first-team all-state.
Jefferson-Morgan softball
The Rockets could not be left off the list after a historic spring that ended with the school’s first WPIAL title in the spring sports season. Jefferson-Morgan dominated its first three opponents in the postseason before meeting Chartiers-Houston for the WPIAL title. A 3-2 victory at California University’s Lilley Field made history, but the Cinderella story ended with an extra-inning loss in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Canon-McMillan hockey
The Big Macs put on a clinic at Consol Energy Center with a 4-0 victory over Butler to win the program’s second PIHL Penguins Cup. Austin Czartorsky scored twice in 10 seconds and C-M played dominant defense to advance to the state championship. Their season ended with a disappointing loss to Holy Ghost Prep at Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena.
Jefferson-Morgan wrestling
The Rockets had four wrestlers qualify for the PIAA tournament, including freshman Gavin Teasdale, who won the PIAA title at 106. As a team, J-M reached the WPIAL semifinals and three wrestlers won section titles.
