Girls' Soccer News

North Allegheny senior forward Morgan Anderson has signed her letter of intent to continue her soccer career at Chatham University. Anderson had verbally committed to Chatham prior to the end of her senior season but made her decision official on Tuesday.

A four-year varsity player, Anderson helped the Lady Tigers to a 14-8-1 record and an appearance in the WPIAL semifinals and the PIAA quarterfinals last season. Anderson finished third on the team in scoring as a senior, posting seven goals on the campaign.  She was selected as a Big 56 Conference and WPIAL all-section pick her junior and senior seasons.

Anderson will join a strong women’s soccer program at Division III Chatham University in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Cougars posted a record of 11-6-1 in 2017 and reached the PAC semifinals before bowing out to eventual conference champion, Thomas More College.

Anderson will pursue a degree in Physical Therapy at Chatham. She is pictured above with her father, Eric, and her mother, Julie.

North Allegheny sophomore Emma Bundy has tabbed Duquesne University as her choice to play collegiate soccer. Duquesne head coach Al Alvine offered Bundy a full scholarship to play for the Dukes in 2020. Bundy will follow in the footsteps of former North Allegheny standout Maddie Layman who played at Duquesne from 2013-2016. Layman scored nine goals during her four-year career with the Dukes, was named to the 2013 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and assisted on the game-winning goal in the 2015 A-10 championship game.

With still two more years left as a Tiger, Bundy has so far helped North Allegheny to an 11-6-1 record this season and an appearance in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Bundy is currently tied for the team lead with 11 goals on the year, along with junior Alex Adams who also has 11 goals.

The North Allegheny girls’ soccer team plays top-seeded Pine-Richland in the WPIAL quarterfinals tonight at 8:00 p.m.

The WPIAL released the postseason soccer pairings on Wednesday afternoon. The North Allegheny boys’ soccer team received the No. 2 seed and will host the 15^th-seeded Connellsville Falcons on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the opening round of the playoffs. The Falcons were the fourth-place finishers out of Section 4-AAAA and sport an overall record of 11-5-1. North Allegheny, the reigning WPIAL champions, won the Section 1-AAAA title with an undefeated  9-0-1 mark and boast an overall record of 15-2-1. For a look at the Quad-A boys soccer bracket, click here.

The Lady Tigers received the No. 9 seed and will visit the Plum Mustangs in the first round on Monday at 8:00 p.m. The Mustangs finished in second place in Section 3-AAAA, just one game behind Fox Chapel, and own an overall record of 13-3. North Allegheny was the third-place finisher in Section 1-AAAA and sits at 10-6-1 overall. For a look at the Quad-A girls soccer bracket, click here.

Both first round playoff games for the North Allegheny boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will be broadcast live via the internet by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

North Allegheny girls’ soccer assistant coach Alessandro Moreira was recently recognized by PA West Soccer as the Futsal Girls Coach of the Year for 2017. This award is given annually to a coach who is nominated by his or her players and families. The award is given based on consistent demonstrated excellence within the PA West region on the basis of not only skill and success but also for motivating players to succeed and setting an admirable example on and off the field.

“I am very honored to receive the PA West Coach of the Year award, “ said coach Moreira. “As a boy in Brazil, I learned to play a futsal technical style in street soccer and indoors so it is very natural and enjoyable for me to teach my current players this way.”

After a lengthy professional soccer career in Costa Rica and his native Brazil, Moreira has spent the last decade coaching both boys and girls soccer at North Allegheny. He has coached all levels of soccer, including middle school and freshmen at North Allegheny, and is currently an assistant coach for the varsity girls’ soccer team.

Alessandro Moreira with some of the futsal teams he has coached.

In the last few years, coach Moreira has also trained and coached several very successful futsal teams including girls teams for birth years 2003-2006, as well as boys teams for 2002-2005. Most of his teams have placed at the top of the local leagues. “I think the futsal training has really helped improve the level of play of all our young men and women players,” said Moreira.

“I have always favored teaching young players individual technical foot skills and techniques which leads to confidence with the soccer ball and consistent ball handling and passing. This is the foundation of the game and most of the best players have had extensive experience playing futsal during their early development.”

Moreira will again serve as an assistant coach for the North Allegheny girls’ soccer team this fall. The Lady Tigers open the regular season on Wednesday, September 6 against the Peters Township Indians at Newman Stadium.