SHELLEY ESPOSITO AND BETH MANGANARO

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Shelley Esposito And Beth Manganaro Click photo for larger image.

SCHOOL: Chartiers Valley.

WHO ARE THEY? High-scoring senior forwards who have helped turn the Colts into one of the top teams in WPIAL Class AAA girls' soccer.

THE PAST WEEK: Esposito scored two goals in a 7-0 victory against West Mifflin Monday and had one in a 3-0 victory against McGuffey Saturday.

AMONG THE LEADERS: Esposito came into this week 10th in the WPIAL in goals with 14. Manganaro was tied for 11th with 13 goals. They have led Chartiers Valley to a 10-1 record. The Colts are the Post-Gazette's No. 2-ranked Class AAA team.

LONG-TIME TEAMMATES: Esposito and Manganaro have been playing on teams together since they were 10. They also are good friends off the field.

"It's kind of like a sister type of thing," Esposito said. "We just know each other so well and how each other plays."

Manganaro said, "It really helps to know someone so well. We know where each other's runs are going to be on the field. We can put the ball in an open space and expect the other one to get it."

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Chartiers Valley isn't known as a traditional girls' soccer power. But Manganaro and Esposito are bringing attention to the school with their play. The Colts' only loss this season was to Peters Township, 4-3, in overtime. Peters Township is the No. 1-ranked Class AAA team. Esposito and Manganaro are four-year starters.

"If we keep it up, our possibilities are endless," Manganaro said. "I don't know if we're necessarily better than other years, but I think we've learned a lot more. I'm not sure how to explain it, but I think we're kind of just connecting a lot more with each other."

TALL AND SHORT: Although both Esposito and Manganaro are talented, it's not hard to tell them apart on the field. Manganaro is 5 feet 10 and Esposito is 5-2.

ONE OF THE BEST: Esposito was one of only two juniors on the Post-Gazette All-Area team a year ago. The team includes the 12 best players in the WPIAL and City League.

THE FUTURE: Esposito already has made a verbal commitment to Duquesne University. Manganaro would also like to play in college, but has not made a choice yet.

-- By Mike White

---

MIKE VAN SICKLE

SCHOOL:Pine-Richland.

WHO IS HE? The defending WPIAL golf champion.

THE PAST WEEK: Van Sickle shot a 4-under 66 Monday in the WPIAL Division I Section 3 qualifier at Cranberry Highlands. He was the medalist by 11 strokes and qualified for the semifinals Monday and Tuesday.

In recent nine-hole matches with the Pine-Richland team, Van Sickle shot 32 with five birdies at Treesdale Sept. 21; 33 last Thursday at Butler Country Club; and 33 Tuesday at Treesdale.

CAREER: A senior co-captain, Van Sickle is in his fourth varsity season. He has qualified for the PIAA finals twice and, through Tuesday, was averaging 34.7 per match for the Rams (10-2).

Van Sickle also competes in district and national tournaments. He qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur in San Francisco in July, but missed the cut.

A 6-foot, 185-pounder, Van Sickle had a hole in one last year, a double eagle in April, and a personal low round of 67 at Cranberry Highlands in July.

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: Recent scores reflect Van Sickle's observation that "I'm hitting the ball better than I have all year."

Nowhere is this more evident than the tee. "I'm definitely a long-ball hitter," said Van Sickle, who estimates his typical drive at 290 yards. "Putting has been a weak point, but that's been kicking in."

Rams coach Gary Torso said: "He's always been able to hit the ball off the tee. Whether he could manage the distance to have birdie putts was a little bit of a question mark. Now that's come around.

"He's nailing putts 20 and 25 feet. Within 10 feet, it's just money."

IN THE HOLE: Golf isn't the only sport in which Van Sickle is a skilled shot-maker. He also plays basketball, and his 3-pointer at the buzzer Jan. 23 defeated North Allegheny, 44-41.

"We were down seven with five minutes to go," Van Sickle said. "I hadn't played much to that point, but went in. We tied it and set up for the last shot, and I took it."

WRITE STUFF: Van Sickle's father, Gary, is a golf writer for Sports Illustrated and a scratch player.

FUTURE: "I definitely want to play college golf. Where, I'm not sure," Van Sickle said. His academics are top-notch: 3.75 grade point average and scores of 1,200 on the SAT, 30 on the ACT.

-- By Rick Shrum