Bobcat Weekly Updates

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For the year, the Bobcats finished 2000 with a record 7-10-2 (including playoff game) and a 2-3 record in regular season conference play.

Sophomore Brandon Migitsch (Penn Trafford H.S.) led the Bobcats with 14 goals this season while freshman Mike Tintera (Penn Trafford H.S.) added 10 goals.  Freshman Justie Brambley (Everett H.S) and sophomore Bill McIntosh (South Park H.S.) each scored three goals while junior Corey Yerace added two goals.  Freshman Bob Tanyer (Jeanette H.S.) and Zach Froble each scored once to wrap up the scoring for the Bobcats.  Tintera led the team in assists with 10 while McIntosh played 1588 minutes to lead the Bobcats in that category.

Migitsch recorded a hat trick on Sept. 9 against Lake Erie and scored five game winning goals for the Bobcats this season.  Tintera recorded a hat trick on Oct. 19 against Ohio Valley, including the game-winning goal in that game.

Sophomore Mitch Paterline (Penn Trafford H.S.) started in 17 games at goal for the Bobcats, recording 3.5 shutouts.  During the season, Paterline surrendered 29 goals while freshman Jeff McCandless (Norwin H.S.) surrendered six goals in three games at goal.

The AMCC Awards were announced this week.  Migitsch’s efforts earned him a spot on the AMCC All-Conference 1st team.  Tintera was named the AMCC Newcomer of the Year.  Paterline, McIntosh, senior Joe Prosdocimo (Woodland Hills H.S.), and sophomore Jason Folsom (Mt. Pleasant H.S.) all received honorable mention to the All-Conference team.

The Bobcats ended their season on Oct. 31 with a 3-1 loss at Seton Hill College (Greensburg, Pa.).  In the match, freshman Holly Botti (Penn Trafford H.S.) and freshman Karoline Sera (Trinity Christian H.S.) each recorded 12 kills.  Botti also added an ace and 10 digs.  Freshman Jody Miller (Connellsville Area H.S.) and freshman Tricia Paffey (Yough H.S.) had nine digs each.  For the season, the Bobcats finished 5-18 overall with a 4-8 record in AMCC play.

Botti led the team this season in kills and digs with 180 and 228, respectively.  Botti’s efforts earned her a spot on the AMCC All-Conference team.

Other standouts were Sera and freshman Angelica Carr (Dubois Area H.S.).  Sera tallied 111 kills and 156 digs and tied the tied for the team lead in aces with 10.  Carr recorded 116 kills and 10 aces during the season.  The youth of the team promises to benefit the program in the future.

In the Women’s game, the Bobcats struggled early against Arvika and fell behind by as many as ten points, but rallied to take a 36-31 lead at halftime.  The Bobcats shot just 9 for 28 (32%) from the field in the first half.

In the second half, the teams exchanged leads several times until sophomore Kimberli Verosko’s three-pointer with one second remaining gave the Bobcats a 70-67 win.

For the game, the Bobcats shot 38% from the field, including 3 of 7 from three-point range.  The Bobcats also connected on 21 of 29 free throws.

Freshman Ann Sral (Altoona/Bishop Guilfoyle) scored 24 points to lead the Bobcats while sophomores Kim Verosko (Pittsburgh/Keystone Oaks H.S.) and Jordan Fox (Greensburg/Hempfield Area H.S.) each scored 12 points.

Freshman Torey Auld (Seneca Valley H.S.) grabbed 8 rebounds and handed out 5 assists in the win while freshman Nicole Kushner (Canon McMilla H.S.) grabbed eight rebounds. Freshman Krystal Shirk (Thomas Jefferson H.S.) handed out 6 assists in the win.

The Bobcats travel to Messiah College on Nov. 17 and 18 for a Tip-Off Tournament and will face the host team that played in the Final Four last season.  The first home game is Tuesday, Nov. 21 against Carlow College at 6pm.

In the men’s game, the Bobcats went up 8-5 early in the first half and never trailed after that.  The Bobcats shot 15 of 38 (40%) in the first half, and built a 43-25 lead.  However, that lead would dwindle in the second half.

After the intermission, the Bobcats went cold, hitting just 9 of 32 shots.  Arvika fought back.  The Swedish Team chipped away at the lead for the entire second half and tied the game at 62 with 1:25 left to play in regulation.  The two teams exchanged misses in the last minute.  With time running out the Men elected to stay with their motion offense and sophomore Tony DeCosmo (Thomas Jefferson) hit an 15-foot jump shot as time expired to give the Bobcats a 64-62 victory.

For the game, the Bobcats shot 34% from the field.  UPG attempted 70 shots for the game and over half of those attempts (36) were from behind the 3 point line.  The Bobcats were able to connect on 31% of those shots.  3pt shooting proved to be the difference as Arvika only hit on 4 of 17 (24%)

DeCosmo and senior Josh Sapotichne (Greensburg Salem H.S.) each scored 16 points to lead the Bobcats.  Sapotichne hit on 4 of 13 three-point attempts and will be relied on to do a bulk of the scoring this season.  DeCosmo was forced to play against 6’8 Swedes all game and grabbed seven rebounds in the win.  Sophomore Mike Dudek (Woodland Hills H.S.) lead the team in rebounding grabbed eight to lead the Bobcats while junior Jeff Fisher (Bethel Park H.S.) and senior Rick Leahew (Keystone Oaks H.S.) each tallied 3 assists.

The Bobcats will participate in the Shenandoah Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 17 and 18 will play their home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 21 against Juniata at 8pm.