From the opening whistle on the pitch on Aug. 31, you could feel a new energy in the Black Hawks girls soccer squad. Coming off a 2025 campaign that ended 1-16-1, this year’s team is much improved and poised to deliver different results this season.
Led by senior captains Riley Johnson, Nora Welch and Katelyn Coates, the midfield trio has paced the Black Hawks to wins over Hempfield, Gateway, and Keystone Oaks.
Welch says the key to this dramatic improvement is that they are “constantly wanting to improve” and “never stopping competing and putting up a fight.”
Bethel Park has benefited from the gritty play of junior duo Teagan McKown and Charlotte Turka, both of whom have been instrumental in forcing change of possession during opponents’ attempts to transition the field.
Turka’s partner in the midfield, senior midfielder Mia Lancy, attributes Turka’s success to her “becoming confident in a very challenging and demanding position.”
“She is a very hard-working player who never gives up,” Lancy added.
The defense is anchored by seniors Sammy Mullner and Mia Lancy, alongside sophomore Taylor Bruckner and sophomore goalkeeper Addison Mills.
Mills held clean sheets against Hempfield and Keystone Oaks, while adding some heroic saves against Mt. Lebanon to keep the match close.
Meanwhile, Bruckner handles the throw-in duties; her strong throws stem from her father, as she credits the one-time Hawk quarterback with the ability to launch the ball from the sideline.
In the 5-0 win over Hempfield, freshman forward Giamaria Moscatiello exploded onto the scene with a hat trick, while Johnson and McKown added goals, and Coates recorded a pair of assists.
In the 3-2 victory over Gateway, Moscatiello notched another hat trick for one impressive opening salvo to her high school career. “Giamaria’s talent stands out, but it’s her confidence on the ball, work ethic, and competitiveness that makes her so special to us,” said Coates.
The Hawks soared over the Golden Eagles of Keystone Oaks (1-0) with freshman Faith Hartman tallying the lone goal.
Hartman and Moscatiello are part of a strong contingent of underclassmen contributing to the team’s success, which also includes sophomores Cora Krchmar, Camdyn Cekus, Kassie Elkins, and freshmen Carys Hindman, Cori Willetts, Hayley Herisko, Hannah Strock, Maria Martin, and Kylie Lang.
Juniors Saylor Stainbrook, Bridget Busalacchi, Annabelle Gaston, and Abigail Kelly round out Coach Sam Bellin’s club.
From winning one match and scoring two goals all year to moving up a classification and quadrupling their win total and octupling their goal total in only half a season, the Lady Hawks are only on the rise from here.
Featured photo credit: Carly Conroy