teams are just good at defending, but we have a creative group
with talented forwards who can score a lot of goals. That gives us
flexibility in the way we attack and defend the ball.”
As a whole, the team’s biggest strength is its leadership on and
off the field.
“These girls are friends and leaders both on and off the field,
both academically and in sports,” says Kelley. “It’s shown in how
they lean on and support one another, both on the soccer field
and in school, and in how they spend time together. We have a
special group of players.”
One of those players, senior center back Natalie Mudd, agrees.
Mudd is part of a tough-to-beat defensive line—all of whom were
named Wright Automotive Players of the Game following the
championship win.
“This was a team success. No one player carried the whole team,
but I try to do my job and contribute as my teammates need me
to,” Mudd, 17, says. “Between the backline and our keeper, we
had nine shutouts this season. Since I play in the backline, I have
a great view of the field and can communicate with the rest of the
team. Still, this success was the team’s. Everyone did what was
necessary for us to continue on and gave everything they had. We
won as a team.”
Bundy, 17, agrees. “Everyone on the team was working so hard
all season towards the goal of winning WPIALs,” she says. “It was
a great feeling when all our hard work paid off.”
The Tigers continued their winning streak into the first round
of the PIAA playoffs on Nov. 5, when they defeated Cumberland
Valley 1-0. Their championship run ended in the second round,
when they lost 3-2 in overtime to Boyertown.
Now, says Kelley, the team is looking forward to regrouping
and setting new goals for next year. “After winning a
championship, you have something of a championship hangover,”
says Kelley with a laugh. “I’m very proud that the girls continued
to give their best after that first game [of the PIAA playoffs].
Mudd says that after a hard-fought season, winning the
WPIAL championship was one of the “most incredible feelings in
the world.”
“Knowing our hard work paid off was one of the best rewards,”
she says. “The fact that we were the first North Allegheny Girls
Soccer team to ever win was staggering. We are very proud of that
accomplishment. After the final whistle, I was honestly in shock
because it felt so surreal, but that soon wore off and turned into
extreme excitement and happiness. I definitely cried tears of joy.”
Realizing that her team was making NA history was
also a magical moment for Bundy, a four-year varsity starter.
“There has never been a North Allegheny girls soccer team to
make it to the finals, so it was really cool to know that we were
going to be the first team to do that,” she says. n
NORTH ALLEGHENY
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WINTER 2019
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