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Gouged by graduation, Thomas Jefferson still is No. 1 in boys' soccer

By John Grupp, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 25, 2003
Tribune-Review Boys Soccer Rankings
Class AAA
1. Fox Chapel 19-3
2. Mt. Lebanon 23-3
3. Upper St. Clair 23-3
4. Shaler 15-5-1
5. Pine-Richland 17-5-1
Class AA
1. Thomas Jefferson 27-1
2. Moon 14-4-1
3. Shady Side Academy 19-5-1
4. South Park 16-5-1
5. Mars 13-8
Class A
1. South Fayette 17-6
2. Seton-La Salle 18-4-1
3. Bishop Canevin 14-4-2
4. Sewickley Academy 18-6-1
5. Vincentian 15-6
City League
1. Schenley 14-10
2. Allderdice 9-5-2
3. Brashear 9-7-1
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John Grupp can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7930 / Grupp's blog

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Thomas Jefferson is back for another term.

The defending state champions return senior All-American Richard Costanzo from a 27-1 team and claim the No. 1-ranking in the Trib WPIAL Class AA pre-season boys' soccer poll.

"TJ is the team to beat," Quaker Valley coach Gene Klein said.

While the Jaguars won't post the lopsided 11-0 victories that dotted last year's schedule, they have a chance to join Peters Township (1986-89) and Quaker Valley (1991-93) as the only teams in the 30-year history of the WPIAL soccer championships to three-peat.

Thomas Jefferson returns only three starters -- Costanzo, senior center midfielder Adam Cline and junior defender Evan Browne

The Jaguars can't expect any pity. Coach Michael Kulish said his team's pre-season scrimmage opponents -- Shaler and Gateway -- played "like it was the World Cup."

"All of the games are going to be a fight," said Browne, who scored the go-ahead goal in last year's 3-0 victory over Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL Class AA finals. "They want to beat the state champs. They want a piece."

Fortunately, there is King Richard. Costanzo had 39 goals and 27 assists last season to net Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Boys' Soccer Player of the Year honors. The 5-foot-8 forward was one of only seven juniors to be named an All-American. He has offers from national powers Wake Forest, St. John's and Penn State.

Costanzo will miss the first two games of the season while playing in New England for the Region 1 Olympic Development Program team. Thomas Jefferson opens the season Friday at Upper St. Clair in a rematch of their only loss to a WPIAL team in their past two seasons.

"We're focusing on one thing, and that's getting better this year and making another run," Costanzo said.

The Jaguars won their final 26 games last year, outscoring their opponents, 166-10. They beat ELCO, 3-0, for their first PIAA title. They are 46-1-1 in their past 48 games against WPIAL opponents.

"We have a reputation and we want to make sure we can hold on to that," Kulish said.

Playing in the same section as No. 2-ranked Moon, Thomas Jefferson has some work to do. The Jaguars lost to WPIAL Class AAA No. 4 Shaler, 3-0, and tied Gateway, 1-1, in their scrimmages.

"We have some real question marks on defense and our goalies are suspect," Kulish said.

Sophomore forward Jeremy Tortella is replacing 58-goal scorer Jon Browne at forward and looks to take advantage of frequent double-teams on Costanzo.

"Richard is going to have at least two defenders on him at all times and that should open things up," Kulish said.

First-year varsity starters include Browne's brother, sophomore midfielder Ryan, senior sweeper Brian Thatcher, junior defender Steve Gallatin, outside back Steve Pastorius and stopper Brad Barker.

Kulish bristles at the notion his team is "rebuilding."

"I don't want to use that word," he said. "We're remolding and reshaping. We have a lot of good athletes and if I get them in the right spots, we're going to have a good season."

Players to watch


  • Matt Carver, Sr., F, South Park
  • Nick Christy, Sr., F, Shaler
  • Richard Costanzo, Sr., F, Thomas Jefferson
  • John DelGreco, Sr., F, Baldwin
  • Greg Lani, Sr., D, Moon
  • Angelo Mastrogiacomo, Sr., MF, Plum
  • Travis McKenzie, Sr., MF/F, Chartiers Valley
  • Evan Picard, Sr., F, Pine-Richland
  • Ted Sheedy, Sr., GK, Fox Chapel
  • Fritz Woelfel, Sr., GK, Shady Side Academy

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