Pittsburgh Press and Post-Gazette (for the original articles, including photos, see Memorabilia)
Post-Gazette, Monday, August 29, 1977
WPIAL opens September 15
22 Teams Geared For School Soccer
This may come as a shock to many people, but they do play soccer in Western Pennsylvania--in the fall, too. Gone are the days of seven teams and year-in, year-out Springdale championships.
But the WPIAL will play 20-minute quarters this year as opposed to last season’s 18-minute quarters. Originally, the league intended to play two 40-minute halves, but opted for quarters at the last minute.
There are 20 teams in the WPIAL’s newly organized fives sections. September 15 is the kickoff date and today, the Post-Gazette previews the coming season
Section I--Springdale is looking to improve on 9-6-1 while Fox Chapel (13-4-1), with youth and depth, is looking toward a title. The Foxes return senior wings Bruce Steward and Dino Cardinali, along with seniors Bruce Rhodes (fullback) and Glenn Pennell (junior).
Springdale has junior halfbacks John Pizzella and Dennis Hurley to work with senior winger Ken Tomayko. Steve (sr.) and Tom (so.) Budz are at fullback. At halfback will be seniors Dave Tomer, John Kuczynski and junior Tom Trempus.
Section II--A battle between Upper St. Clair (12-2-1) and Mt. Lebanon (12-6-1). USC will rely on inside forwards Brian Davison and Mark 0rsino. Defensively, the Panthers look to junior mid-fielder Bruce Potter and senior goalie Mike Charlen, MVP in the Sewickley tournament last year.
The Blue Devils will counter with senior halfback Gee Peckich, Ramzi Antypas (sr.) at center forward and wings Tim Agar (sr.) and Jim McNamara (jr.).
Seniors Steve Babcock (fullback)and Bill Drambel (goalie) return on defense.
Section III--Defending champion Worthington (5-3-1) has senior center-forward Rick Boltz (11 goals) running the offense. Korean brothers Charlie (so.) and Danny Lee (jr.) add some fancy footwork on the wings.
Seniors Ken and John Roudybush, speedy fullbacks, are expected to bolster the defense along with junior goalie Ron Anthony, who had five shutouts last year.
Section IV--Trinity (7-2-2) is basically a team of underclassmen. Paul Miller is hailed as the best sophomore fullback in some time. His partner will be 6-2 junior Bill Plants. Senior Keith Morris (fullback) is a strong sweeper. Junior Matt Engles runs the offense at center-forward.
Section V--Home of two-time defending champion North Allegheny. The Tigers (16-2-2) have seven of eleven starters back. Senior mid-fielder Tony Hindley was one of the league’s best offensive players. Senior Jeff Madl (14 goals) and classmate Paul Martin (10 goals) play double center-forwards on the attack. Junior Joe Koury had seven shutouts last season and yielded only 18 goals.
Fullbacks Bob Lawrence (sr.) and Les Stine (jr.) give North Allegheny a formidable defense.
“Soccer is considered an ‘in’ sport at this school,” said Tiger Coach Bruno Schwarz. “These kids are recognized by their peers as much as the football players.”
Tim Panaccio
Post-Gazette, Wednesday. August 31, 1977
Soccer Finds New Fall Home
Art Richardson, who has been coaching soccer for 11 years at Trinity High, was remarking how the sport has improved in the WPIAL. “People used to think soccer players were football rejects,” Richardson said. “Big guys who kicked the ball and ran over each other. Which is true, that’s what they did. But today, the game has speed, finesse and skill.”
Bruno Schwarz, who coaches North Allegheny came into the league with Richardson. “When I first started, I’d get 20 to 25 kids,” Schwarz said. “I’d take any warm body that could run!
“This year, I had 70 kids come out. It’s grown so at our school, we need an intramural program to handle the overflow.” WPIAL soccer has grown from seven schools 15 years ago to 20 today, grown from a spring sport intended primarily to condition football players to a fall sport intended to develop talent.
There were legends when Richardson and Schwarz started coaching here. Guys like Dave Meloni, who strung together 89 wins in a row, nine WPIAL championships and a phenomenal 149-16-20 record at Springdale High School.
Still, it took time to catch on. “This is football territory and athletic directors felt soccer took away from football,” Richardson said. “What most ADs don’t realize is that schools with successful soccer programs usually have successful football programs.
Although the WPIAL hasn’t turned out any state champions in soccer (no state playoffs when Meloni coached), there have been notable All-Americans like North Allegheny’s Dave Smith (1975) and Trinity’s John Columbo (1975).
“High school soccer today is where college soccer was 10 years ago,” Schwarz said. “You see the improvement. The caliber of play is better, the rules are better. It’s no longer a kick and run game. There is ball control now.”
The game has finesse now, as evidenced by head-passing, a skill more closely associated with Europeans than Americans. “The kids realize that head-passing has added a new danger in front of the net,” Richardson added.
The improvement can be traced to the growing number of junior high, junior varsity and youth programs such as the Western Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association headed by Mt. Lebanon Coach John Wilcher.
Schools like Blackhawk, Northgate, Plum, Baldwin and Gateway may not have teams with varsity status, but they have clubs. Sewickley High has a girl’s soccer team.
Tonight and tomorrow night some of the results of the soccer boom will be on display at the Mount Lebanon Invitational (7:00 p.m.).
“One thing you will notice,” Richardson said, “is that the game is more sophisticated in the WPIAL now.”
It’s no longer a kick and run game.
Tim Panaccio
Post-Gazette, Thur, Sept 1, 1977
USC boots the Tigers, 1-0
Brian Davison’s 10-yard kick with 6:08 left to play gave Upper St. Clair a stunning 1-0 victory over North Allegheny in the opening round of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Invitational. It was stunning because North Allegheny had controlled play for nearly the entire game.
For three quarters the two teams battled to a scoreless tie. North Allegheny had the better of the opportunities in the first half. Forward Tony Hindley missed on an early try and teammate Paul Marzin failed to capitalize on Hindley’s line pass that sent him down the left wing.
Later, Upper St. Clair’s Mark Orsino booted on net but Tiger goalie Joe Koury made the save. Koury had several outstanding saves in the game, the best of which occurred in the third quarter.
Panther winger Dave Crandall had Koury in his sights 20 yards from the net and unleashed. Koury caught the shot in his stomach.
Upper St. Clair goalie Mark Charlen was tested early in the second quarter when North Allegheny winger Keith Weinert shot wide of the far post after being partially screened on the play.
“I wish we had more practice,” said North Allegheny Coach Bruno Schwarz. “This is our first game, we didn’t even have a scrimmage yet.”
In last night’s other contest, Mt. Lebanon downed Shadyside Academy, 3-1.
Upper St. Clair will meet Mt. Lebanon in the championship game tonight.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Friday, September 2, 1977
Lebo Wins Soccer Tourney
Mount Lebanon beat Upper St. Clair, 1-0, to capture the Mount Lebanon Soccer Invitational last night before several hundred onlookers.
North Allegheny defeated Shady Side Academy, 4-1, in the consolation game.
Mount Lebanon halfback Gee Peckich, playing very close to the goal, scored at 7:19 of the third quarter to give Mount Lebanon the 1-0 win.
Peckich’s goal was followed by fierce offensive play and much physical contact by both teams although no penalties were called.
In the first half, Mount Lebanon knocked on the door several times only to be thwarted by Panther goalie Mike Charlen. Jim McNamara’s free kick sailed over the crossbar with two minutes left in the first quarter in what was the best shot on goal.
In the second quarter, Blue Devil Coach John Wilcher substituted outside-left Robby Agar for brother Tim. Agar went down the left side on a break, but was tripped up Panthers Perry Fabi (no penalty). Agar came right back with a shot at 2:57 but Charlen made the save.
Earlier in the second quarter, Mount Lebanon forward Mickey Flynn fired through a screen but Charlen made the low save. The Blue Devils outshot the Panthers 12-6 in the first half.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Press, September 2, 1977
Devils Defensive About Soccer, Too
Defense seems to be a way of life at Mount Lebanon High School. The Blue Devil football team has specialized in it as a member of the always tough Western Conference.
In basketball Mount Lebanon’s forte has always been a defense capable of keeping an opponent under 50 points.
Well, now soccer has joined the other two major sports in its degree of stinginess. The Blue Devils allowed just one goal in two nights to win its own high school soccer tournament.
Last night the Blue Devils doubled Upper St. Clair’s shots on goal output—24 to 12—and in the even more important category beat the Panthers, 1-0, for the championship.
The Devils used to a third-period goal by Gee Peckich—a soft fluttering shot from about 10 yards away which eluded USC goalie Mike Charlen—to get off to its best start in John Wilcher’s five years as head coach.
“Yeah, defense is one of our keys,” Wilcher said. “That and the fact that we have 11 pretty solid starters out there. We have more overall team strength this year than we’ve ever had.”
Peckich—a left halfback—seemed to symbolize the overall hustle Mount Lebanon used last night. A goal from a left halfback in soccer is sort of like one from a defenseman in hockey.
“He was overlapping and attempting to make a strike on goal,” Wilcher said. “We encourage that sort of thing since our defense has always been strong, but one of our big problems has been scoring goals.
“We’ve also been working on soft shots in practice since a lot of times they can throw a goalie off. That’s what Peckich’s shot did tonight.”
Mt. Lebanon’s shutout of Upper St. Clair followed North Allegheny’s 4-1 victory over Shady Side Academy in the consolation game. The Blue Devils beat Shady Side, 3-1, Wednesday night while two-time defending champion North Allegheny lost to Upper St. Clair, 1-0.
While Wilcher attributes part of Mount Lebanon’s success to its conditioning for playing on Astroturf, he says there’s another reason why high school soccer in general is getting stronger.
“We’re getting the athletes now,” he said. “It used to be we just got the kids who weren’t big enough or strong enough to go out for football.”
Obviously, the athletes Mt. Lebanon’s soccer program is getting are defense oriented.
Bob Black
Pittsburgh Press, October 26, 1977
Lebos, N. Alleg In Soccer Final
Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny advanced to tomorrow’s WPIAL soccer title game with victories in last night’s semifinal round games played at Mount Lebanon Stadium.
Mt. Lebanon pulled out a 2-0 victory over Shaler, while N Allegheny trimmed Trinity by an identical 2-0 score.
For undefeated Mount Lebanon (21-0), Gee Peckich scored a pair of goals to give him 23 for the season, a new WPIAL record. Peckich scored in the second and third periods as the Lebos pelted the Titans with 24 shots.
In the other game last night, N Allegheny got a pair of goals from Paul Marzin, the team’s leading assist man who turned scorer. N Allegheny, the Sec. 10 champion with a 16-2 record, shut off Trinity’s attack as senior goalie Joe Koury turned back 10 shots.
Koury has allowed only seven goals all season.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 28, 1977
Mt. Lebo Wins Title In 4 OTs
Cinderella came to Mount Lebanon last night. She wore a sturdy glass slipper, walked on the astroturf and played soccer.
True, the slipper didn’t fit very well in the first half. She fell, she stumbled, she even fouled seven times, but as the game progressed, the slipper became snug.
And guess what? Cinderella (Mount Lebanon) won 1:0 over North Allegheny in the fourth overtime to capture the WPIAL soccer championship. Steve Babcock’s head shot off a Jim McNamara corner kick at 2:05 was the winner.
It’s the first time in the Lebos’ five-year soccer history that they have won anything other than a few days’ rest for the next game.
“This is a Cinderella team,” said Lebo Coach John Wilcher, whose Blue Devils finished the season 21-0.
“I thought we had all the horses last year, but I didn’t know about this year.” This time the Blue Devils didn’t turn into pumpkins.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m stunned,” Wilcher said as his team crowded around him. “We’re a second-half ball club. We were tired in the first three overtime periods, but they put something extra into that last period.”
The overtime format calls for two five-minute periods, followed by two more periods if the score is tied—which is what happened. Had the game ended at that point, the winner would have been determined with a penalty kick contest (shoot off).
North Allegheny had an opportunity to score with less than three minutes to play in the third period of regulation time as Dave O’Brien broke loose and measured Lebo goalie Bill Drambel and shot. Drambel blocked the low kick and it skidded off to the left corner.
Both teams played a very sluggish first half. In fact, the total number of shots in the first quarter was five.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Press, October 28, 1977
Mount Lebanon Nips North Allegheny, 1-0
Heads-Up Play Wins Soccer Crown
It has to help your soccer game when you’re a whole head taller than most of the people here playing against.it definitely helped Mount Lebanon’s soccer game in last night’s final against North Allegheny. N
The Blue Devils got a head shot from 6-4, 175-pound senior Steve Babcock with slightly more than a minute to play in the fourth overtime session last night to end a scoreless tie and produce a 1-0 victory.
It was North Allegheny’s third straight trip to the WPIAL finals and the first time the Tigers came away without the title.
“We played good enough to win in the overtime,” said North Allegheny coach Bruno Schwarz. “The difference was Babcock's size on just the one play. That’s all it took.”
With slightly more than a minute to play in the fourth overtime period, Mount Lebanon was awarded a corner kick.
Mount Lebanon’s Jim McNamara kicked a solid shot across the middle of the goal mouth, where Babcock was able to line it up for a head shot and put it just out of the reach of North Allegheny goalie Joe Koury.
“Our goalie was screened on the play,” Schwarz said. “He never even saw the ball and it was floated into the coroner. But he made so many fantastic stops all night you can’t fault him for giving up just one goal.”
The reason Koury was forced to make so many “fantastic stops all night” was the offensive aggressiveness of Mount Lebanon, keyed by 5-8 senior center forward Gee Peckich.
Peckich had nine of Mount Lebanon’s 22 shots on goal for the night and was a consistent threat any time the Blue Devils got the ball.
During regulation play Mount Lebanon outshot North Allegheny, 17-11, but in the overtime sessions it was quite another story.
North Allegheny, led by the play of English immigrant Tony Hindley, fired six shots on goal to Mount Lebanon’s two during the first three overtimes.
But in the final five-minute overtime session, the Blue Devils renewed the offensive game they showed during regulation play and were able to pull out their first WPIAL soccer championship.
“Considering that our soccer program is only five years old,” said Mount Lebanon Coach John Wilcher, “I have to be really proud of these guys. They beat North Allegheny with their hustle. They simply outran them.”
While most of the game was used as a chance for Mount Lebanon’s Peckich and North Allegheny’s Hindley to show off their soccer ability, in the end it was Babcock’s size which made the difference.
“They were double teaming Babcock much of the night,” Wilcher said, “that’s why we had other people getting free to keep our offensive game going.”
“I knew when we had that corner kick coming, I had to do something to get free,” Babcock said. “I just broke toward the goal and the next thing I knew the ball was heading my way and I just gave it my best shot.”
Babcock’s best shot turned out to be enough, and as a result Mount Lebanon will play the winner of District 5 in a state playoff game on Saturday Nov. 12. Ironically, the game site will be North Allegheny.
“I guess we’d have had a home field advantage in that one if we’d won tonight,” Schwarz said. “But we got beat by a pretty good soccer team.”
You might say the Tigers ended up just a head shorter than Mount Lebanon for the night.
Bob Black
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, November 2, 1977
High School Scoreboard
Athlete of the Week
As far as soccer games go, last week’s Mount Lebanon-North Allegheny WPIAL Championship, won by the Blue Devils, 1-0 in four overtimes, was one of the most exciting sports events of the fall.
And Gee (Gerald) Peckich, the Post-Gazette’s Athlete of the Week, is one reason why the game here sparks more interest than it used to (nearly 3000 attended the game).
Peckich, a 5-8, 150-pound senior at Mount Lebanon, had an incredible year scoring a school record 23 goals--25 lifetime--in 21 games. It’s more impressive because Peckich only had two tallies last season.
“His interest didn’t wane after a poor season last year,” says his coach, John Wilcher. “But since he wrestled, I wondered.”
Peckich assured Wilcher that his interest was still soccer. “I asked coach to move me from halfback to striker (center forward), says Gee. “When he did, things worked well.”
“I made him team captain the fourth day of practice,” Wilcher recalls. “Then I moved him to striker. I never realized how quick he was until I moved him.”
Although Peckich did not score the winning goal against NA (that piece of glory belonged to Steve Babcock), he did much to set up the goal.
His aggressive footwork and relentless attack on the ball forced the play into the NA end during most of the last three periods.
“His biggest strength is that he finishes with a shot on net, not one that sails over it,” says Wilcher.
“He has hustle and desire and showed it against North Allegheny. I think he was the key to the victory.”
The winning goal was scored at 2:05 in the last overtime off a corner kick by Jim McNamara.
“It was the No. 1 play,” adds Peckich. “Usually, I drop back on the corner kick and shoot from the slot. On this kick though, I ran to the far post and Steve (Babcock) came up to head it.”
Peckich pulled a fullback along with them going to the post and that helped Babcock get some room in front.
“Gee realized last year that he needed some finesse in his game,” says Wilcher. “He’s learned how to take the ball away without knocking someone down, and how to run with it.
As a junior, Peckich had a reputation for bowling over people and fouling. “Coach and some of the guys got on me, so I changed that,” Gee says. “This year, I came to practice early in the afternoon and started dribbling and kicking to improve my ball control.”
The name Peckich is almost a household word in Mt. Lebanon not only because of Gee, but also because of his brother Phil, who plays football.
“There’s some competition here, says Gee. “Phil said to me last week, ‘Wait till wrestling comes. I’ll get the recognition.’ He thinks he’s superior to me.
“We have arguments over whether football deserves more recognition than soccer but he always wins because he’s bigger (5-8, 169).”
Peckich has his eyes on Ohio Wesleyan for his college soccer career.
Tim Panaccio and Pete Zapadka
Pittsburgh Press
Gee A Whiz Among Soccer Stars
The ball skimmed over the artificial surface early in the first quarter of the WPIAL soccer championship game. The Mount Lebanon attacker, clad in his shirt of many colors, sped by two North Allegheny defenders and drilled a shot at the goal. The ball failed to hook sufficiently and hit the outside of the post.
A similar situation arose in the second quarter. Again the Mount Lebanon shooter was foiled, this time by a superb save by the goalkeeper.
The frustration continued the entire game for Mount Lebanon’s Gee Peckich. The most aggressive player on the field, he managed 10 shots on goal. And 10 times he was stopped.
But this was one of the few times Peckich was held scoreless the season. Peckich, who produced 24 goals with his relentless, whirlwind style of play, as the Press Soccer Player of the Year.
“I’m proud of my year,” said Peckich, a senior. “I had a good year. I scored a lot of goals and got the school record. What else can I say?”
Peckich could say he was the prime motivator in Mt. Lebanon’s 23-0 season and WPIAL championship. Undoubtedly the fastest player in the league, his continual frantic scoring forays from the center-forward position destroyed the cohesiveness of opposing defenses.
“He was super,” said Mount Lebanon Coach John Wilcher of this prize pupil. “Not only in the goals he scored, but in this leadership. His quickness is tremendous.”
Peckich’s season was reflective of what happened to the entire Mount Lebanon team. Playing mid-fielder as a junior, he managed just two goals. And Mount Lebanon failed to reach the playoffs. Peckich was switched to the front line this year. His team quickly followed.
“I didn’t think we’d do this,” said Wilcher. “I knew we’d be a good team, but I was just concerned about winning the section.”
Of Peckich’s collection of goals, the most significant came against powerful Upper St. Clair. Peckich managed to score with less than a minute remaining in the final period to tie the game, 1-1. Mount Lebanon won in overtime, 2-1.
“That was when I had an idea we could win the section,” said Wilcher. “In the past, our teams would have quit.”
Mount Lebanon plays the yet undetermined winner of District five on Nov.12 at North Allegheny. The winner advances to the state championship Nov 18-19 at Shippensburg, long a graveyard for WPIAL teams.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Wilcher, well aware of what has transpired in the past. “Eastern soccer has been super. My dream is to be the first western coach to win the title.”
The state tournament should serve as a showcase for Peckich’s skills. He is relatively unknown to most colleges.
“I’m going to college and would like to play,” said Peckich. “Only one school, Ohio Wesleyan, has contacted me, though.”
The cards and letters will be coming in shortly.
Gerry Fraley
Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, November 13, 1977
Lebos Rip Fulton, 6-0
Mount Lebanon got two goals from each of three players yesterday, whipping Central Fulton, 6-0, in a PIAA western final at North Allegheny High field.
Goalie Bill Drambel recorded his 14th shutout of the year, although a tight Mount Lebanon defense allowed only two shots on goal all afternoon.
Frank Pollock, Gee Peckich and Jim McNamara all scored two goals apiece for the Lebos.
The Central Fulton goalie had 12 saves.
Mount Lebanon, representing District 7 (WPIAL), goes to the state soccer tourney in Harrisburg next week to play the winner of the game between the champions of Districts 1 and 11.
Pittsburgh Press (?), November 20, 1977
Mount Lebanon Wins Soccer Consolation
SHIPPENSBURG--Eastern Lebanon County of District 3 defeated Bethlehem Liberty of District 11, 2-1, yesterday to win the PIAA boys soccer championship.
Mount Lebanon of District 7 won the consolation game, beating West Snyder of District 4, 2-0.
Post-Gazette, Monday, August 29, 1977
WPIAL opens September 15
22 Teams Geared For School Soccer
This may come as a shock to many people, but they do play soccer in Western Pennsylvania--in the fall, too. Gone are the days of seven teams and year-in, year-out Springdale championships.
But the WPIAL will play 20-minute quarters this year as opposed to last season’s 18-minute quarters. Originally, the league intended to play two 40-minute halves, but opted for quarters at the last minute.
There are 20 teams in the WPIAL’s newly organized fives sections. September 15 is the kickoff date and today, the Post-Gazette previews the coming season
Section I--Springdale is looking to improve on 9-6-1 while Fox Chapel (13-4-1), with youth and depth, is looking toward a title. The Foxes return senior wings Bruce Steward and Dino Cardinali, along with seniors Bruce Rhodes (fullback) and Glenn Pennell (junior).
Springdale has junior halfbacks John Pizzella and Dennis Hurley to work with senior winger Ken Tomayko. Steve (sr.) and Tom (so.) Budz are at fullback. At halfback will be seniors Dave Tomer, John Kuczynski and junior Tom Trempus.
Section II--A battle between Upper St. Clair (12-2-1) and Mt. Lebanon (12-6-1). USC will rely on inside forwards Brian Davison and Mark 0rsino. Defensively, the Panthers look to junior mid-fielder Bruce Potter and senior goalie Mike Charlen, MVP in the Sewickley tournament last year.
The Blue Devils will counter with senior halfback Gee Peckich, Ramzi Antypas (sr.) at center forward and wings Tim Agar (sr.) and Jim McNamara (jr.).
Seniors Steve Babcock (fullback)and Bill Drambel (goalie) return on defense.
Section III--Defending champion Worthington (5-3-1) has senior center-forward Rick Boltz (11 goals) running the offense. Korean brothers Charlie (so.) and Danny Lee (jr.) add some fancy footwork on the wings.
Seniors Ken and John Roudybush, speedy fullbacks, are expected to bolster the defense along with junior goalie Ron Anthony, who had five shutouts last year.
Section IV--Trinity (7-2-2) is basically a team of underclassmen. Paul Miller is hailed as the best sophomore fullback in some time. His partner will be 6-2 junior Bill Plants. Senior Keith Morris (fullback) is a strong sweeper. Junior Matt Engles runs the offense at center-forward.
Section V--Home of two-time defending champion North Allegheny. The Tigers (16-2-2) have seven of eleven starters back. Senior mid-fielder Tony Hindley was one of the league’s best offensive players. Senior Jeff Madl (14 goals) and classmate Paul Martin (10 goals) play double center-forwards on the attack. Junior Joe Koury had seven shutouts last season and yielded only 18 goals.
Fullbacks Bob Lawrence (sr.) and Les Stine (jr.) give North Allegheny a formidable defense.
“Soccer is considered an ‘in’ sport at this school,” said Tiger Coach Bruno Schwarz. “These kids are recognized by their peers as much as the football players.”
Tim Panaccio
Post-Gazette, Wednesday. August 31, 1977
Soccer Finds New Fall Home
Art Richardson, who has been coaching soccer for 11 years at Trinity High, was remarking how the sport has improved in the WPIAL. “People used to think soccer players were football rejects,” Richardson said. “Big guys who kicked the ball and ran over each other. Which is true, that’s what they did. But today, the game has speed, finesse and skill.”
Bruno Schwarz, who coaches North Allegheny came into the league with Richardson. “When I first started, I’d get 20 to 25 kids,” Schwarz said. “I’d take any warm body that could run!
“This year, I had 70 kids come out. It’s grown so at our school, we need an intramural program to handle the overflow.” WPIAL soccer has grown from seven schools 15 years ago to 20 today, grown from a spring sport intended primarily to condition football players to a fall sport intended to develop talent.
There were legends when Richardson and Schwarz started coaching here. Guys like Dave Meloni, who strung together 89 wins in a row, nine WPIAL championships and a phenomenal 149-16-20 record at Springdale High School.
Still, it took time to catch on. “This is football territory and athletic directors felt soccer took away from football,” Richardson said. “What most ADs don’t realize is that schools with successful soccer programs usually have successful football programs.
Although the WPIAL hasn’t turned out any state champions in soccer (no state playoffs when Meloni coached), there have been notable All-Americans like North Allegheny’s Dave Smith (1975) and Trinity’s John Columbo (1975).
“High school soccer today is where college soccer was 10 years ago,” Schwarz said. “You see the improvement. The caliber of play is better, the rules are better. It’s no longer a kick and run game. There is ball control now.”
The game has finesse now, as evidenced by head-passing, a skill more closely associated with Europeans than Americans. “The kids realize that head-passing has added a new danger in front of the net,” Richardson added.
The improvement can be traced to the growing number of junior high, junior varsity and youth programs such as the Western Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association headed by Mt. Lebanon Coach John Wilcher.
Schools like Blackhawk, Northgate, Plum, Baldwin and Gateway may not have teams with varsity status, but they have clubs. Sewickley High has a girl’s soccer team.
Tonight and tomorrow night some of the results of the soccer boom will be on display at the Mount Lebanon Invitational (7:00 p.m.).
“One thing you will notice,” Richardson said, “is that the game is more sophisticated in the WPIAL now.”
It’s no longer a kick and run game.
Tim Panaccio
Post-Gazette, Thur, Sept 1, 1977
USC boots the Tigers, 1-0
Brian Davison’s 10-yard kick with 6:08 left to play gave Upper St. Clair a stunning 1-0 victory over North Allegheny in the opening round of the Mt. Lebanon Soccer Invitational. It was stunning because North Allegheny had controlled play for nearly the entire game.
For three quarters the two teams battled to a scoreless tie. North Allegheny had the better of the opportunities in the first half. Forward Tony Hindley missed on an early try and teammate Paul Marzin failed to capitalize on Hindley’s line pass that sent him down the left wing.
Later, Upper St. Clair’s Mark Orsino booted on net but Tiger goalie Joe Koury made the save. Koury had several outstanding saves in the game, the best of which occurred in the third quarter.
Panther winger Dave Crandall had Koury in his sights 20 yards from the net and unleashed. Koury caught the shot in his stomach.
Upper St. Clair goalie Mark Charlen was tested early in the second quarter when North Allegheny winger Keith Weinert shot wide of the far post after being partially screened on the play.
“I wish we had more practice,” said North Allegheny Coach Bruno Schwarz. “This is our first game, we didn’t even have a scrimmage yet.”
In last night’s other contest, Mt. Lebanon downed Shadyside Academy, 3-1.
Upper St. Clair will meet Mt. Lebanon in the championship game tonight.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Friday, September 2, 1977
Lebo Wins Soccer Tourney
Mount Lebanon beat Upper St. Clair, 1-0, to capture the Mount Lebanon Soccer Invitational last night before several hundred onlookers.
North Allegheny defeated Shady Side Academy, 4-1, in the consolation game.
Mount Lebanon halfback Gee Peckich, playing very close to the goal, scored at 7:19 of the third quarter to give Mount Lebanon the 1-0 win.
Peckich’s goal was followed by fierce offensive play and much physical contact by both teams although no penalties were called.
In the first half, Mount Lebanon knocked on the door several times only to be thwarted by Panther goalie Mike Charlen. Jim McNamara’s free kick sailed over the crossbar with two minutes left in the first quarter in what was the best shot on goal.
In the second quarter, Blue Devil Coach John Wilcher substituted outside-left Robby Agar for brother Tim. Agar went down the left side on a break, but was tripped up Panthers Perry Fabi (no penalty). Agar came right back with a shot at 2:57 but Charlen made the save.
Earlier in the second quarter, Mount Lebanon forward Mickey Flynn fired through a screen but Charlen made the low save. The Blue Devils outshot the Panthers 12-6 in the first half.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Press, September 2, 1977
Devils Defensive About Soccer, Too
Defense seems to be a way of life at Mount Lebanon High School. The Blue Devil football team has specialized in it as a member of the always tough Western Conference.
In basketball Mount Lebanon’s forte has always been a defense capable of keeping an opponent under 50 points.
Well, now soccer has joined the other two major sports in its degree of stinginess. The Blue Devils allowed just one goal in two nights to win its own high school soccer tournament.
Last night the Blue Devils doubled Upper St. Clair’s shots on goal output—24 to 12—and in the even more important category beat the Panthers, 1-0, for the championship.
The Devils used to a third-period goal by Gee Peckich—a soft fluttering shot from about 10 yards away which eluded USC goalie Mike Charlen—to get off to its best start in John Wilcher’s five years as head coach.
“Yeah, defense is one of our keys,” Wilcher said. “That and the fact that we have 11 pretty solid starters out there. We have more overall team strength this year than we’ve ever had.”
Peckich—a left halfback—seemed to symbolize the overall hustle Mount Lebanon used last night. A goal from a left halfback in soccer is sort of like one from a defenseman in hockey.
“He was overlapping and attempting to make a strike on goal,” Wilcher said. “We encourage that sort of thing since our defense has always been strong, but one of our big problems has been scoring goals.
“We’ve also been working on soft shots in practice since a lot of times they can throw a goalie off. That’s what Peckich’s shot did tonight.”
Mt. Lebanon’s shutout of Upper St. Clair followed North Allegheny’s 4-1 victory over Shady Side Academy in the consolation game. The Blue Devils beat Shady Side, 3-1, Wednesday night while two-time defending champion North Allegheny lost to Upper St. Clair, 1-0.
While Wilcher attributes part of Mount Lebanon’s success to its conditioning for playing on Astroturf, he says there’s another reason why high school soccer in general is getting stronger.
“We’re getting the athletes now,” he said. “It used to be we just got the kids who weren’t big enough or strong enough to go out for football.”
Obviously, the athletes Mt. Lebanon’s soccer program is getting are defense oriented.
Bob Black
Pittsburgh Press, October 26, 1977
Lebos, N. Alleg In Soccer Final
Mt. Lebanon and North Allegheny advanced to tomorrow’s WPIAL soccer title game with victories in last night’s semifinal round games played at Mount Lebanon Stadium.
Mt. Lebanon pulled out a 2-0 victory over Shaler, while N Allegheny trimmed Trinity by an identical 2-0 score.
For undefeated Mount Lebanon (21-0), Gee Peckich scored a pair of goals to give him 23 for the season, a new WPIAL record. Peckich scored in the second and third periods as the Lebos pelted the Titans with 24 shots.
In the other game last night, N Allegheny got a pair of goals from Paul Marzin, the team’s leading assist man who turned scorer. N Allegheny, the Sec. 10 champion with a 16-2 record, shut off Trinity’s attack as senior goalie Joe Koury turned back 10 shots.
Koury has allowed only seven goals all season.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 28, 1977
Mt. Lebo Wins Title In 4 OTs
Cinderella came to Mount Lebanon last night. She wore a sturdy glass slipper, walked on the astroturf and played soccer.
True, the slipper didn’t fit very well in the first half. She fell, she stumbled, she even fouled seven times, but as the game progressed, the slipper became snug.
And guess what? Cinderella (Mount Lebanon) won 1:0 over North Allegheny in the fourth overtime to capture the WPIAL soccer championship. Steve Babcock’s head shot off a Jim McNamara corner kick at 2:05 was the winner.
It’s the first time in the Lebos’ five-year soccer history that they have won anything other than a few days’ rest for the next game.
“This is a Cinderella team,” said Lebo Coach John Wilcher, whose Blue Devils finished the season 21-0.
“I thought we had all the horses last year, but I didn’t know about this year.” This time the Blue Devils didn’t turn into pumpkins.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m stunned,” Wilcher said as his team crowded around him. “We’re a second-half ball club. We were tired in the first three overtime periods, but they put something extra into that last period.”
The overtime format calls for two five-minute periods, followed by two more periods if the score is tied—which is what happened. Had the game ended at that point, the winner would have been determined with a penalty kick contest (shoot off).
North Allegheny had an opportunity to score with less than three minutes to play in the third period of regulation time as Dave O’Brien broke loose and measured Lebo goalie Bill Drambel and shot. Drambel blocked the low kick and it skidded off to the left corner.
Both teams played a very sluggish first half. In fact, the total number of shots in the first quarter was five.
Tim Panaccio
Pittsburgh Press, October 28, 1977
Mount Lebanon Nips North Allegheny, 1-0
Heads-Up Play Wins Soccer Crown
It has to help your soccer game when you’re a whole head taller than most of the people here playing against.it definitely helped Mount Lebanon’s soccer game in last night’s final against North Allegheny. N
The Blue Devils got a head shot from 6-4, 175-pound senior Steve Babcock with slightly more than a minute to play in the fourth overtime session last night to end a scoreless tie and produce a 1-0 victory.
It was North Allegheny’s third straight trip to the WPIAL finals and the first time the Tigers came away without the title.
“We played good enough to win in the overtime,” said North Allegheny coach Bruno Schwarz. “The difference was Babcock's size on just the one play. That’s all it took.”
With slightly more than a minute to play in the fourth overtime period, Mount Lebanon was awarded a corner kick.
Mount Lebanon’s Jim McNamara kicked a solid shot across the middle of the goal mouth, where Babcock was able to line it up for a head shot and put it just out of the reach of North Allegheny goalie Joe Koury.
“Our goalie was screened on the play,” Schwarz said. “He never even saw the ball and it was floated into the coroner. But he made so many fantastic stops all night you can’t fault him for giving up just one goal.”
The reason Koury was forced to make so many “fantastic stops all night” was the offensive aggressiveness of Mount Lebanon, keyed by 5-8 senior center forward Gee Peckich.
Peckich had nine of Mount Lebanon’s 22 shots on goal for the night and was a consistent threat any time the Blue Devils got the ball.
During regulation play Mount Lebanon outshot North Allegheny, 17-11, but in the overtime sessions it was quite another story.
North Allegheny, led by the play of English immigrant Tony Hindley, fired six shots on goal to Mount Lebanon’s two during the first three overtimes.
But in the final five-minute overtime session, the Blue Devils renewed the offensive game they showed during regulation play and were able to pull out their first WPIAL soccer championship.
“Considering that our soccer program is only five years old,” said Mount Lebanon Coach John Wilcher, “I have to be really proud of these guys. They beat North Allegheny with their hustle. They simply outran them.”
While most of the game was used as a chance for Mount Lebanon’s Peckich and North Allegheny’s Hindley to show off their soccer ability, in the end it was Babcock’s size which made the difference.
“They were double teaming Babcock much of the night,” Wilcher said, “that’s why we had other people getting free to keep our offensive game going.”
“I knew when we had that corner kick coming, I had to do something to get free,” Babcock said. “I just broke toward the goal and the next thing I knew the ball was heading my way and I just gave it my best shot.”
Babcock’s best shot turned out to be enough, and as a result Mount Lebanon will play the winner of District 5 in a state playoff game on Saturday Nov. 12. Ironically, the game site will be North Allegheny.
“I guess we’d have had a home field advantage in that one if we’d won tonight,” Schwarz said. “But we got beat by a pretty good soccer team.”
You might say the Tigers ended up just a head shorter than Mount Lebanon for the night.
Bob Black
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, November 2, 1977
High School Scoreboard
Athlete of the Week
As far as soccer games go, last week’s Mount Lebanon-North Allegheny WPIAL Championship, won by the Blue Devils, 1-0 in four overtimes, was one of the most exciting sports events of the fall.
And Gee (Gerald) Peckich, the Post-Gazette’s Athlete of the Week, is one reason why the game here sparks more interest than it used to (nearly 3000 attended the game).
Peckich, a 5-8, 150-pound senior at Mount Lebanon, had an incredible year scoring a school record 23 goals--25 lifetime--in 21 games. It’s more impressive because Peckich only had two tallies last season.
“His interest didn’t wane after a poor season last year,” says his coach, John Wilcher. “But since he wrestled, I wondered.”
Peckich assured Wilcher that his interest was still soccer. “I asked coach to move me from halfback to striker (center forward), says Gee. “When he did, things worked well.”
“I made him team captain the fourth day of practice,” Wilcher recalls. “Then I moved him to striker. I never realized how quick he was until I moved him.”
Although Peckich did not score the winning goal against NA (that piece of glory belonged to Steve Babcock), he did much to set up the goal.
His aggressive footwork and relentless attack on the ball forced the play into the NA end during most of the last three periods.
“His biggest strength is that he finishes with a shot on net, not one that sails over it,” says Wilcher.
“He has hustle and desire and showed it against North Allegheny. I think he was the key to the victory.”
The winning goal was scored at 2:05 in the last overtime off a corner kick by Jim McNamara.
“It was the No. 1 play,” adds Peckich. “Usually, I drop back on the corner kick and shoot from the slot. On this kick though, I ran to the far post and Steve (Babcock) came up to head it.”
Peckich pulled a fullback along with them going to the post and that helped Babcock get some room in front.
“Gee realized last year that he needed some finesse in his game,” says Wilcher. “He’s learned how to take the ball away without knocking someone down, and how to run with it.
As a junior, Peckich had a reputation for bowling over people and fouling. “Coach and some of the guys got on me, so I changed that,” Gee says. “This year, I came to practice early in the afternoon and started dribbling and kicking to improve my ball control.”
The name Peckich is almost a household word in Mt. Lebanon not only because of Gee, but also because of his brother Phil, who plays football.
“There’s some competition here, says Gee. “Phil said to me last week, ‘Wait till wrestling comes. I’ll get the recognition.’ He thinks he’s superior to me.
“We have arguments over whether football deserves more recognition than soccer but he always wins because he’s bigger (5-8, 169).”
Peckich has his eyes on Ohio Wesleyan for his college soccer career.
Tim Panaccio and Pete Zapadka
Pittsburgh Press
Gee A Whiz Among Soccer Stars
The ball skimmed over the artificial surface early in the first quarter of the WPIAL soccer championship game. The Mount Lebanon attacker, clad in his shirt of many colors, sped by two North Allegheny defenders and drilled a shot at the goal. The ball failed to hook sufficiently and hit the outside of the post.
A similar situation arose in the second quarter. Again the Mount Lebanon shooter was foiled, this time by a superb save by the goalkeeper.
The frustration continued the entire game for Mount Lebanon’s Gee Peckich. The most aggressive player on the field, he managed 10 shots on goal. And 10 times he was stopped.
But this was one of the few times Peckich was held scoreless the season. Peckich, who produced 24 goals with his relentless, whirlwind style of play, as the Press Soccer Player of the Year.
“I’m proud of my year,” said Peckich, a senior. “I had a good year. I scored a lot of goals and got the school record. What else can I say?”
Peckich could say he was the prime motivator in Mt. Lebanon’s 23-0 season and WPIAL championship. Undoubtedly the fastest player in the league, his continual frantic scoring forays from the center-forward position destroyed the cohesiveness of opposing defenses.
“He was super,” said Mount Lebanon Coach John Wilcher of this prize pupil. “Not only in the goals he scored, but in this leadership. His quickness is tremendous.”
Peckich’s season was reflective of what happened to the entire Mount Lebanon team. Playing mid-fielder as a junior, he managed just two goals. And Mount Lebanon failed to reach the playoffs. Peckich was switched to the front line this year. His team quickly followed.
“I didn’t think we’d do this,” said Wilcher. “I knew we’d be a good team, but I was just concerned about winning the section.”
Of Peckich’s collection of goals, the most significant came against powerful Upper St. Clair. Peckich managed to score with less than a minute remaining in the final period to tie the game, 1-1. Mount Lebanon won in overtime, 2-1.
“That was when I had an idea we could win the section,” said Wilcher. “In the past, our teams would have quit.”
Mount Lebanon plays the yet undetermined winner of District five on Nov.12 at North Allegheny. The winner advances to the state championship Nov 18-19 at Shippensburg, long a graveyard for WPIAL teams.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Wilcher, well aware of what has transpired in the past. “Eastern soccer has been super. My dream is to be the first western coach to win the title.”
The state tournament should serve as a showcase for Peckich’s skills. He is relatively unknown to most colleges.
“I’m going to college and would like to play,” said Peckich. “Only one school, Ohio Wesleyan, has contacted me, though.”
The cards and letters will be coming in shortly.
Gerry Fraley
Pittsburgh Press, Sunday, November 13, 1977
Lebos Rip Fulton, 6-0
Mount Lebanon got two goals from each of three players yesterday, whipping Central Fulton, 6-0, in a PIAA western final at North Allegheny High field.
Goalie Bill Drambel recorded his 14th shutout of the year, although a tight Mount Lebanon defense allowed only two shots on goal all afternoon.
Frank Pollock, Gee Peckich and Jim McNamara all scored two goals apiece for the Lebos.
The Central Fulton goalie had 12 saves.
Mount Lebanon, representing District 7 (WPIAL), goes to the state soccer tourney in Harrisburg next week to play the winner of the game between the champions of Districts 1 and 11.
Pittsburgh Press (?), November 20, 1977
Mount Lebanon Wins Soccer Consolation
SHIPPENSBURG--Eastern Lebanon County of District 3 defeated Bethlehem Liberty of District 11, 2-1, yesterday to win the PIAA boys soccer championship.
Mount Lebanon of District 7 won the consolation game, beating West Snyder of District 4, 2-0.