The Shaler Area boys soccer team’s 5-12 record does not accurately reflect how the team played this season. Every game, the players played every minute with high energy and a never-give-up mentality that will help each of them in the future.

Entering the season, the Titans knew they had some grueling match-ups in front of them.

“At one point, our section housed 4 of the top 5 teams in WPIAL. It’s difficult, but we played well and know what it takes to beat those teams,” head coach Mr. Tyler Schultz said.

The WPIAL semifinals occurred last week, and included 3 teams from the section, including the eventual champion, Seneca Valley. Class 4A Section 1, is nothing short of stacked, and Shaler is looking to join the top of the pack in the upcoming years.

The Titans saw some positives out of those match-ups. They were able to stay competitive in most of the match-ups, and fought until the very last minute. The experience gathered by the underclassmen will help them compete and get over the hump and get some wins against those top teams.

“The boys found the will to do it each game, and I believe it will pay dividends for us,” Schultz said.

The game that defined the season was their first game, a tough loss against Bethel Park on a late goal.

“It was notable because the boys played so well, we moved the ball, we had chances, we were communicating. Seeing the boys play this way showed they had this ability in them, and it was something we referenced the rest of the season,” Schultz said.

The Titans were able to send their seniors off with a 3-2 win on senior night over Brashear. They also went on to win their final game of the season at Butler 4-2.

The team, this year, was relatively young. Coach Schultz hopes that the experience that the underclassmen gained this season will help build the program over the next few years.