Westmoreland County campus clippings: GCC grad Max Pisula working double duty for Saint Vincent

Max Pisula played quarterback when he was in high school.

He specialized in defense when he came to Saint Vincent last year, where he initially was listed as a linebacker.

But the 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior out of Greensburg Central Catholic is working double duty this season for the Bearcats (2-3, 2-3 PAC).

Pisula not only starts at defensive end, but he also plays a little fullback. He is the tough-yards guy.

Pisula recently was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after he made 11 tackles, four for a loss of 28 yards, two sacks and an impressive three forced fumbles (he recovered two of them).

He added a 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the season and ninth of his career, in a 28-19 win over Geneva.

Pisula began his college career at Washington & Jefferson as a defensive end.

Allegheny: Senior wide receiver Declan O’Brien (Norwin) was named the PAC Offensive Player of the Week after he pulled in a career-high and program-record 18 receptions as the Gators fell to Washington & Jefferson, 35-28.

O’Brien totaled a career-best 233 yards and scored a touchdown.

It was his third game of 13 or more catches this season. He had 14 against Waynesburg and 13 when the Gators played Geneva.

In the same game, senior running back Kyrie Miller (Ligonier Valley) made the most of a start with a career performance, rushing 20 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard burst.

For the season, O’Brien has a Division III-leading 66 receptions for 897 yards and six touchdowns.

Edinboro: The Waldier brothers did their part stopping ball carriers at linebacker, but the Fighting Scots fell to Gannon, 23-12.

Junior CJ Waldier (Yough) had 16 stops and a fumble recovery, and Tristan Waldier (Yough) added seven tackles, forced a fumble and had an interception.

Grove City: Local players had an impact on Grove City’s 48-21 win over Geneva that updated the Wolverines’ record to 6-0 (6-0 PAC).

Senior Cole DeFillippo (Penn-Trafford) returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown, sophomore running back Ian Demari (Penn-Trafford) had a rushing TD, and senior cornerback Gabe Dunlap (Penn-Trafford) had eight tackles and an interception in the victory.

North Carolina State: The Wolfpack held back Marshall, 48-41, as grad safety Robert “Poogie” Kennedy (Jeannette) made four tackles and intercepted a pass.

Redshirt junior Trent Holler (Latrobe) started at center for Marshall.

Seton Hill: Sophomore Taz Morris had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, freshman Cody Rubrecht (Greensburg Salem) caught a scoring throw from redshirt freshman Hayden Teska (Greensburg Salem) and senior Luke Hauger (Mt. Pleasant) kicked a 22-yard field goal in a 24-17 win at Clarion.

Junior Mark Bails caught five receptions for 127 yards for the Griffins (2-4, 1-2 PSAC).

Washington & Jefferson: Senior linebacker Justin Johns (Franklin Regional) registered 10 tackles, two for loss, and broke up two passes as the Presidents defeated Allegheny, 35-28, to improve to 5-1.

William & Mary: Senior safety Marcus Barnes (Jeannette) led the defense in a 27-13 loss to Virginia. Barnes had a team-high eight tackles, including four solo, and a quarterback hurry.

Men’s soccer

Cal (Pa.): Sophomore AJ Visco (Penn-Trafford) made a career-high six saves in a 1-0 loss to Shippensburg.

Freshman Jake Gretz (Greensburg Central Catholic) has three assists and two goals over his last five games for the Vulcans (3-7-1, 1-2 PSAC).

Penn State Behrend: Junior midfielder Blake Cooper (Franklin Regional) had five goals and seven assists for a team-leading 17 points through 11 games.

His teammate, senior back-liner Justin LeDonne (Franklin Regional) had two goals and an assist. Both has started every game for the Lions.

Pitt-Greensburg: The Bobcats ran their unbeaten streak to eight with a 7-1 win over Wells as freshman Matt Armenio tied a school record with four goals. Freshman Kaleb Raymond added two goals for the Bobcats (6-3-2, 3-0-1).

Saint Vincent: Freshman Mattia Speretta had the only goal as SVC defeated Bethany, 1-0, to improve to 6-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the PAC.

Women’s soccer

Pitt-Greensburg: Sophomore Maya Wertelet scored two goals, while junior Logan Jennings and sophomore Megan Hickey had one apiece as UPG erupted for four second-half goals in a 4-0 win over Penn State Altoona.

Wertelet added a hat trick in an 11-0 win over Wells Express.

Wertelet added an assist for a five-point day, and sophomore goalkeeper Hailey Kepner made four saves in the shutout.

The 11 goals are a single-game record for the Bobcats. They also tied the program mark for shots with 51.

Wertelet was named the AMCC Player of the Week.

Saint Vincent: Junior Madison Arnold made five saves in her fifth shutout of the season, and freshman Emma Koller and senior Tanisha Grewal scored goals as the Bearcats (7-3-2, 3-1-1) ran their unbeaten streak to five with a 2-0 win over Bethany.

Grewal was named the PAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Westminster: Junior Brooke Horvath (Franklin Regional) had a goal, and junior Natalie Vilchek (Yough) added an assist in a 3-1 victory over Franciscan.

It was Horvath’s 10th goal of the season and Vilcheck’s fourth assist.