Morningside Soccer 2023 comes to an end

By: Steph Raufer, Morningside Soccer President

One hundred youth soccer players and their families gathered Saturday night to celebrate the end of the fall soccer season. We threw a huge indoor soccer party at The Neighborhood Academy, complete with pizza, cake, seltzer water and the remaining ingredients for nachos from our concession stand! 

Over 200 athletes participated in this year's Morningside Soccer League. Athletes as young as 5 and 6 years old practiced skills and learned which direction to kick the ball. Our 8U & 10U teams played a short, yet competitive playoff at the end of the season. Congratulations to our Championship winners:

Team Red Tailed Hawks, 8U 
Sponsored by Zalewski Funeral Home
Coached by Dan Valentine

Team Marine Maroon, 10U 
Sponsored by Eddie's Pizza Haus
Coached by Joseph Bell

Our 12U and 16U teams dwindle in numbers every year. These athletes don't have the league competition the other leagues enjoy, but they pick teams each week to scrimmage. It was fun as a parent to watch with other parents, not knowing which team you will be cheering for that night! (If you'd like to see the 11+ youth soccer league continue, email the league at morningsidesoccerpgh@gmail.com.)

This year, the leadership team designated a Most Valuable Player award. Morningside Soccer would like to recognize Sam Vassallo for being the 2023 Most Valuable Player. Head coach John Schneider said "There are a lot of talented kids in the league, but [Sam] really stands out with how hard he played every game and always lifted everyone around him even when they were having a bad game." 

Thank you to our sponsors for allowing us to share our fall nights playing soccer next to friends and neighbors! 

Blood Eagle
Bulldog Pub
City Squeakers
Rachel French, Compass Real Estate
Cut & Sew Studio
De Fer Coffee & Tea
DJ Phunk Phonic
Eddie’s Pizza Haus
Elephant on Water Skis, Inc.,
Games Unlimited
Hairstyles By Lisa
Harris Event Group: The Beat Squad Football Club
Hartwood Interiors
Hi-Tech Auto Care
Hill Dweller Mushrooms
Jenna Vanden Brink Ceramics
Lock & Dam Dog Shop
Morningside VFW Post 3945
On Target Running
Polished Dental
St. Clair Social
What’s G00D? Thrift & Vintage
Zalewski Funeral Home
Zoar Finance