The top-ranked Hampton Talbots are starting to show they can score goals just as well as they prevent them. <\/p>\n
After managing one goal in its first three games, Hampton is finding an offense to match its defensive prowess.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe season is still early, and we\u2019re still figuring some things out in the attack,\u201d coach Matt McAwley said after a Sept. 5 practice. \u201cBut we\u2019ve been progressively getting better. It\u2019s a puzzle that we\u2019re still putting together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of the pieces started to fit as the Talbots (3-1-1, 2-0-1) rolled to a 9-1 victory at Armstrong on Sept. 9 in Section 1-3A boys soccer action. It was a much-needed outburst for Hampton, which had expected more steady offense after returning its top three goal-scorers from last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit of a shaky start, but we\u2019re excited to get things going, especially offensively,\u201d all-WPIAL senior striker Xavier Ware said before the Armstrong game. \u201cIt\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The returning senior forwards \u2014 Ware, Matteo Sciulli and Mason Hall \u2014 combined for seven goals against Armstrong and have accounted for nine of Hampton\u2019s 11 goals on the season.<\/p>\n
The defense has stayed consistent. As of Sept. 10, Hampton had allowed a WPIAL Class 3A-low two goals thanks to a suffocating backline and all-section senior goalie Gavin Guinn.<\/p>\n
The Talbots opened the season with a scoreless double-overtime tie at Mars on Aug. 26, the third consecutive 0-0 draw between the section rivals spanning 300 minutes of play.<\/p>\n
McAwley, an 11th-year coach who will be inducted into the Hampton Athletic Hall of Fame next month, took many positives from the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, you want to go out and win that game,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the way the boys played \u2014 outside of finding the back of the net \u2014 I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tie extended Hampton\u2019s stretch of recent success against its former nemesis. The Talbots were 0-13 against Mars from 2014-20, but have lost only once in their past eight meetings (4-1-3).<\/p>\n
The rematch is set for Sept. 23 at Hampton\u2019s Fridley Field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we should have absolutely won the first game,\u201d Ware said. \u201cI\u2019ll be happy to take them on here with our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite some preseason injuries that forced a pair of freshmen to assume more prominent roles in the lineup, Hampton is on pace to reach the WPIAL playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have a really good chance this year with all of our returning talent from last year,\u201d all-section senior midfielder Carson Colvin said. \u201cWe also have a couple of freshmen stepping up, filling those roles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Talbots suffered their lone setback, 1-0, to visiting North Hills on Sept. 2 in a nonsection game that left a bad taste.<\/p>\n
They rebounded two days later to blank Kiski Area, 2-0, behind a pair of goals from Hall.<\/p>\n
The backline remains sturdy with senior Garrison Docherty and juniors Rocco Mangieri and Jake Bagaley, a first-year starter. Freshman Connor Hall is showing promise at left back.<\/p>\n
Colvin anchors the midfield, along with junior Beckett Barton and another freshman, Nico Mangieri.<\/p>\n
The current seniors were in eighth grade when the Talbots won the 2021 WPIAL and PIAA championships, and they were sophomores when they reached the 2023 WPIAL finals.<\/p>\n
McAwley said their goals remain the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year, we want to find ourselves in a playoff position where we are competing for that WPIAL title,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to be one of those teams that people don\u2019t want to see they are playing against.\u201d<\/p>\n
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