The Plum boys soccer team wanted to make waves in the PIAA Class 4A playoffs.
It started out well for the Mustangs as they advanced past the first round Nov. 5 with a dramatic penalty-kick shootout win at District 10 champion McDowell.
But they were not able to continue the run in the quarterfinals, falling to District 3 champion Cumberland Valley, 3-0.
Plum coach Raf Kolankowski said the sudden end to the season was tough for the players, especially the 14 seniors.
“Overall, we played well against Cumberland Valley,” he said. “We made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the state championships. The kids were disappointed they weren’t able to go further. Eventually, a good season does have to come to an end unless you go all the way.
“I was proud of everyone who played. I think we just lost to a better team. Cumberland Valley was very good. The guys had nothing to hang their heads about.”
But at the same time, Kolankowski was quick to highlight the many positive accomplishments of the team this season: 13 wins, another undefeated section championship (10-0), a No 1 seed for the WPIAL playoffs and the program’s first WPIAL championship-game appearance since 2005.
Kolankowski said in-section games against the likes of Norwin, Gateway and Central Catholic and a stout nonsection schedule challenged the Plum players and got them ready for what they would face with the playoff grind.
“Every out-of-section game we played was a battle — Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Latrobe,” Kolankowski said.
“Those were all quality quad-A or triple-A playoff teams. They were all close games, 1-0 games, ties, or whatever they were. Playing a team like Norwin, the defending WPIAL champion, twice wasn’t easy. Both games came down to one goal. Central Catholic gave us a game twice when we played them. All of those games were great tests, and the guys appreciated the opportunity to play in them.”
The Plum offense was held in check the last three games, including the WPIAL-title contest against Fox Chapel on Nov. 1 at Highmark Stadium.
Plum, as the No. 1 seed, opened the WPIAL playoffs with a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 8 Canon-McMillan. The Mustangs then topped No. 4 North Allegheny in the semifinals.
The goals against the Tigers from junior Christian Alter and sophomore Kent Holmes were the final ones of the season for Plum. Alter finished second on the team in goals with nine.
The Mustangs, who had fallen short with some heartbreaking WPIAL-playoff losses in recent seasons, broke through to the title game. Plum’s previous WPIAL championship-game experience was in 2005 when it beat Peters Township for the Class 4A gold.
However, Fox Chapel took home this year’s quad-A championship, 1-0, at Highmark.
While the offense was not able to get on the board with a regulation or overtime score in the PIAA first round against McDowell in Erie, the Mustangs came up big in the penalty kicks.
Sophomore keeper Chase Eber made a diving save in the seventh and final round of the shootout to preserve a 5-4 advantage created with scores from Alter, seniors Gage Adinolfi and Bryce Bobich, sophomore Andy Strasser and senior Noah Smith.
Of the 14 seniors, nine were starters for some or all of the season.
“They were a great group,” Kolankowski said.
“Last year, when we lost eight starters to graduation, those guys were able to come in and fill the void in a number of areas. They had a very successful final season. It was just a good bunch of guys. Having them graduate is going to leave big shoes to fill.”
Adinolfi led the Mustangs with 11 goals and was second on the team in assists with eight.
Fellow senior Garrett Chandler helped front the Plum attack with 10 assists, and Bobich, who will continue in soccer at Division III Thiel, provided four goals and was third in assists with six.
“The thing about this team is we played with heart and played together and for each other all season,” Bobich said.
“The seniors, we’ve been playing with each other for a really long time. Going from 3A to 4A, it was a tough regular season against so many good teams, but we didn’t give up and battled to win a lot of big games. We did some things that no Plum boys soccer team had done in nearly 20 years. We have a lot to be proud of.”
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Senior Eli Wastchak faced a disappointing end to his senior season with a leg injury that halted his play on the field after 10 games.
“Eli was a big loss from our midfield,” Kolankowski said.
The injury had its genesis as a stress fracture over the summer. He played through it until the home win against Norwin.
“I played the first 20 minutes of the half, and it hurt so bad,” Wastchak said.
“I tried to go back in for the second half, but it still really hurt. I couldn’t walk after, and I knew something was wrong.”
Wastchak finished with three goals.
“At first, not being able to play really (stunk),” he said.
“Then I realized the opportunity I had to still be with my teammates and do whatever I could to support them. Taking the captain role and being a leader on the sideline was very important to me. That was all that mattered.”
Kolankowski said there is optimism heading into the offseason where the team plans to build around several key returning players.
Junior Austin Kolankowski is expected to help lead the charge. He finished third on the team with six goals.
“From year to year, you hope it’s just a retool or a reload,” Kolankowski said.
“We’re going to have some guys with little to no varsity experience play for us next year. They played JV this year, and now it is going to be their turn to step up. They will have time in the offseason playing cup soccer to get ready, and then we will get back together and go to work as a team. Hopefully, they will be ready.”