When the McKeesport boys soccer team played last season, Christian Beech was typically one of the best players on the field.

This season, he can only watch from the sideline.

Beech, a junior forward, has yet to practice after tearing the ACL in his left knee late in March. It was a tough loss for the Tigers, who were counting on Beech to be their top offensive player. Beech placed second on the team with 12 goals last season. He started each of the past two seasons.

“It’s hard to watch him sit on the bench” said Tigers coach Jim Poston. “It’s forced us to move people to the forward position who aren’t truly forwards.”

Poston said the goal is to get Beech some minutes towards the end of the season, but considering he’s only a junior, not to bring him back too soon and put his senior season in jeopardy.

“We’re hoping by the end of the season to get him into some games,” said Poston. “He probably won’t be ready to play full games, but maybe he can at least get some minutes.”

The Tigers are scheduled to open the season today with a non-section match against Monessen.

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South Preseason Player of the Year
Matt Venanzi, Peters Township, Midfielder, Sr.

Others South Players to Watch
Ben Aiello, Seton-LaSalle, Forward, Sr.
Josh Ambrose, Thomas Jefferson, Forward, Sr.
Ty Balzer, Seton-LaSalle, Forward, Sr.
Max Basheda, Mt. Lebanon, Goalkeeper, Sr.
Christian Beech, McKeesport, Forward, Jr.
Dominic Canello, Keystone Oaks, Midfielder, Sr.
Sean Gallagher, Bethel Park, Forward, Jr.
Craig Hixon, Steel Valley, Forward, Sr.
Colin Michalski, Baldwin, Forward, Jr.
Josh Page, Belle Vernon, Forward, Soph.
Zach Partyka, Peters Township, Midfielder, Sr.
Mike Pcholinsky, South Park, Midfielder, Jr.
Steve Pozycki, Seton-LaSalle, Forward, Senior
Mike Worthy, Upper St. Clair, Defender, Sr.

Two overtime games. Two different sports. Two wins for Zach DiBeradin.

DiBeradin plays soccer for McKeesport and also is the football team's kicker. In the span of four days, he got some overtime kicks in both sports. Last Friday, he kicked an 18-yard field goal in overtime that gave the McKeesport football team a 31-28 victory against Penn-Trafford.

On Monday night, DiBeradin had four goals as McKeesport defeated West Mifflin, 5-4, in overtime.

In football, it was only the second field goal of DiBeradin's career. The other came last season.

But DiBeradin wasn't the only one getting his kicks in two different sports. In soccer, Charleroi's Mitchell Woytovich scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against McGuffey last Thursday. On Friday, he was 3 for 3 in extra points as the Charleroi football team defeated Waynesburg, 21-0.