Four Girls Soccer Players Confirm Commitments to the Next Level
By: Jared Barton
Four North Allegheny girls’ soccer players confirmed their college commitments on Tuesday. Seniors Averie Bierker, Ava Hutter, Avery Ruffus and Emma Schupansky took part in the official signing.
Bierker is a Miami University of Ohio commit and will study business in the fall. She was named a Big 56 All-Conference second team selection this past season. Bierker contributed seven goals this season and 13 for her career. She played a key role in the offensive end for the Tigers all year, including the game-winning marker in the WPIAL semifinals over Peters Township. Bierker had a breakout junior season with NA last fall, tallying five goals, which was good enough for third-best on the squad behind Kieran Shannon and Aubrey Wells. The four-year varsity letter winner is a two-time WPIAL Champion, as well as being named a scholar athlete.
Hutter is a La Salle University commit and will study nursing. She was a steady presence along the NA back line for multiple seasons. She was named an All-WPIAL and all-section player this past season. Hutter was a Big 56 first-team All-Conference selection and had a goal in 2025. She was a leader and producer in free-kick situations. In 2024, Hutter was a Big 56 All-Conference second team selection and was named to the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player Watchlist. The center back scored her first career goal with the Tigers in a matchup against Upper St. Clair that year as well. The two-time WPIAL Champion was a scholar athlete and a member of the Key Club for the last four years.
Ruffus is a Mercyhurst University commit who will study nursing. She is now a multi-time second-team all-conference selection, after receiving Big 56 honors in her junior campaign with Allderdice and the same laurels with the Tigers in 2025. Since her transfer to North Allegheny, she has contributed six goals, while also earning all-section laurels. The All-WPIAL player and WPIAL Champion was also a PIAA State Track and Field participant in her career, while earning high honor roll accolades four times.
Schupansky is a University of Maryland-Baltimore County commit who is set to study financial economics. The captain was a first-team Big 56 All-Conference player, All-WPIAL and all-section pick earlier this year. She had three goals on the season and now has 10 total in her Tiger career. She was tied for fourth on the top goal scorers list for the Tigers last season with four. Schupansky was a Big 56 All-Conference first team selection in 2024. Emma was a second-team Big 56 All-Conference selection two years ago. She was included on the Moe Rosensteel Award Watch List each of the last two seasons as well. The two-time WPIAL Champion and four-year varsity letter winner was named a scholar athlete, is a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club.
