Lily McLaughlin
School: Fox Chapel
Class: Senior
Sport: Soccer
Claim to fame: McLaughlin scored the golden goal with 1:38 left in overtime to lift the top-seeded Fox Chapel (19-1-1) to a 1-0 victory over No. 2 South Fayette in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game. The Foxes will look to ad a state title to the trophy case, as the PIAA playoffs start Tuesday, November 4. Fox Chapel is still waiting to hear who their opponent will be, but they will be playing at home.
How does it feel to be a WPIAL champion?
We had to work hard for it, playing into overtime in both the semifinals and the final match. We’re all definitely tired because there was only a day in between contests.
Did it make it a little sweeter getting the win over South Fayette, which you lost to in the title game last year?
Definitely. Coach (Carlo) Prati kept saying in the locker room before the game that we had no pressure on us. We had nothing to lose.
Take me through the golden goal you scored.
Emily McKee actually tried to cut the ball back to me and had two defenders on her, so it would have been a hard pass to me anyway. I was calling for it, but as it was all game, we couldn’t hear each other over the rain and the crowd. Very hard to communicate. She tried to feed it to me, but it went off a defender and straight to me. I touched it around the defender guarding me, and knew I had other players and the goalkeeper bearing down on me, so I took a shot and it went in.
What was going through your mind in that moment?
I knew I didn’t have much time left on the clock. I knew we had about a minute left and knew I had to get a good shot off.
You broke your femur 20 seconds into your freshman year in a varsity game, weren’t 100% your sophomore year and just started to feel like you were all the way back last year. What did scoring that goal mean to you?
I felt like a full circle moment. I finished what I couldn’t start my freshman year.
It appeared the team was in the throes of a physical battle with Plum in the semifinals. Were you surprised at how physical the game was?
I don’t think we were surprised. We knew Plum was physical, having played them in the playoffs last year.
What’s the team dynamic like on and off the field?
Off the field we’re all friends with each other. We love one another. On the field, a lot of the times, if the game is close, we can get frustrated, but we all know that the yelling is to try and help one another. It’s not personal.
What’s the team’s outlook for states?
We’re ranked second. The last three years we’ve been to the WPIAL finals, losing last year and winning two years ago. Most years, going into the WPIAL finals, that’s all we’re thinking about, and once it’s over we feel like the season is over. But this year we feel like we have more to accomplish because of our ranking. We are looking to do more, go further.
What goals did you set for yourself at the start of this season?
I had a goal to be captain and play a full season at 100%, something I haven’t done since freshman year.
You were voted captain?
Yes
How did it feel to get that honor?
It felt great because I was working towards that goal all summer, attending all the offseason training.
What would your choice be for the one meal you had to eat for the rest of your life?
Pasta.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
To give everything 110%.
Is there a hobby you would like to try?
I want to learn to play the guitar.
Do you play any instruments now?
The harmonica.
How did you get started with that?
My friends wanted to learn it, so I picked one up.
Favorite vacation spot?
Kiawah Island, S.C.
Do you have a favorite scary movie?
I don’t like scary movies.
Favorite candy to get at Halloween?
Starbursts, just the pink ones.
Did you have a Halloween costume this year?
No. Friday night our boys soccer team was in the finals as well, so I went to the game. And they came away with a win, just like the field hockey team on Wednesday. We were talking all week about how we all had to go for our three-way championship.
Do you play any other sports at Fox Chapel?
Yes, I wrestle and do track.
How do you like wrestling?
I like it because it’s a challenge. My friends and I did it to stay in shape for other sports, but we ended up liking it.
What events do you compete in for track?
The 100, 200, 400 and 4-by-400.
Favorite subject in school?
Math.
What are you looking forward to in your final months as a high school senior?
To do well in each sport and figure out where I’m going after I graduate. I’m applying to colleges right now.
What are your future plans?
I’m looking to study marketing. I don’t think I’ll play soccer in college.
Zane Spence
School: Deer Lakes
Class: Senior
Sport: Soccer
Claim to fame: Spence used his head to knock in the winning goal for No. 3 seed Deer Lakes (18-3-1) in the WPIAL Class 2A title match against No. 9 Beaver. The Lancers await to find out their opponent and where they’ll play as they begin the PIAA playoffs Tuesday.
How does it feel to be a WPIAL champion?
It feels amazing. Better than it did my freshman year just because it is my senior year. It also propelled me ahead of my brother in terms of number of WPIAL gold medals.
Can you explain how that game felt and how you and Beaver were each defending and attacking each other?
Whenever we got there, it just felt surreal, like we’re really here, all the hard work has paid off. Once we started playing, I noticed that Beaver had a similar playing style to ours. I really had to focus in on the basics on my first touch. Being in the right spot, break down defending and that would pull us through.
Tell me about your game-winner.
We were up on the corner kick, and I usually go up for those. They defended it, and the ball came out to our back line and I said we have to get it back and we did and I had to rotate back into the box. I was up there for longer than I should have been, but it paid off in the end. I saw the ball get put in and said, ‘I have to go get it.’ I just had to hit it away from the keeper.
What was going through your mind in that moment?
In the moment, not much was going through my mind. I said, OK, we have the lead now, but there’s still 11 minutes left to play. We have to hold it, and that’s all I was thinking about. After we celebrated the goal, I went over to Coach (Aaron) Smith, and we have to put our five-back in now because we have to hold the lead and he said, ‘I agree.’ Business as usual.
You upset No. 3 North Catholic, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round. As each of you are very familiar with each other, where you surprised that the game was that close?
No. We have so much film on each other. We know how each other likes to play. I was so glad Jakob Orseno was able to slot it home for us. There was no surprise in my mind on how the game went.
Then you guys knocked off No. 2 Quaker Valley 2-1 in the semis. What was that contest like?
Tough game. Their first goal was an overall mistake by us on the defensive end. But we were able to lock it back down for the rest of the game, and, really, that’s all we could do.
What can you say about how the team played all season long?
I think we had a great season. Towards the end of the regular season, we started to fall down the section standings, but I think it motivated us to win the WPIAL. We kept saying that North Catholic, who won our section, won the first battle, so let’s go win the war. It pushed us to be better.
What’s your outlook for the team going into states?
We’re going to try and do everything the same. Again, business as usual. Stick with the game plan we’ve been running all season and what our coaches have taught us, keep recovering as a team and keep morale up.
What were your goals at the start of the year?
Personally, I wanted all-section and all-WPIAL, but, most importantly I wanted to be the best leader for our team. I wanted to focus on bringing everyone up and give them the motivation they need to excel at their position and help in any way I could.
Is there a soccer player you like to watch the most?
There isn’t one currently. But I used to watch former Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota a lot before he passed. I think that’s what got me to wear No. 17 in middle school. I’ve kept the number ever since.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?
I would like super strength. I’ve always wanted to be stronger. I go to the gym every day and try to get that 1% better. If I had super strength, then my goals would be achieved.
Favorite Halloween candy?
I really like Hershey bars. There’s just something about them.
Did you wear a costume this year?
No, I didn’t. I was just relaxing with the team.
Is there a scary movie you like to watch this time of the year?
Not a particular movie, but I like to watch “The Conjuring” series.
Do you play any other sports at school?
I throw discus, shotput and javelin for the Deer Lakes track team. I also wrestle for Hampton in the co-op we have with them. Last year was the first year we had it, and I fell in love with it.
What is your favorite subject in school?
Probably math. Growing up in my house, everyone is math-minded. Just comes easily to me, I guess.
What are you looking forward to the most in your senior year?
I’m looking to get the most out of high school. It went so quickly. I want to make as many memories as I can with my friends.
What are your future plans?
I want to go to college for either cyber security or safety management. Hopefully, I can play soccer. If I don’t, I’ll play on the club team.