STEPHANIE PAHA

SCHOOL: Greensburg Central Catholic

WHO IS SHE? A standout senior goalkeeper on the Greensburg Central Catholic girls' soccer team that has made it to the PIAA Class AA championship game.

THE PAST WEEK: Paha (5 feet 4) gave up only one goal in two PIAA playoff games. Greensburg Central defeated Quaker Valley, 2-0, in the quarterfinals Saturday. On Tuesday, Greensburg Central defeated Sewickley Academy, 2-1, in a semifinal game.

ZERO TOLERANCE: You could say Paha finishes most games with a blank stare. That's because the opponent has usually been blanked on the scoreboard. Paha has shutouts in 21 of 25 games and has allowed only six goals all season.

"As long as we win, that's all I care about," Paha said. "I'm not really focused on myself and how many goals we give up."

Paha also knows she's not the sole reason for the shutouts. "Our defense is excellent. I'd be nowhere without our defense."

NOTHING BUT GOAL: Paha didn't play soccer until her freshman year. Since then, she hasn't played any position but goalkeeper.

"[Goalkeeper] just looked like so much fun," Paha said. "You get to dive and use your hands. So I decided to try it."

NO FEAR: Ask Paha what is a key to being a good goalkeeper and she will tell you attitude. "You can't be scared," she said. "You can't be scared to get hit, or to dive, or to hit the ground. You just have to be aggressive."

But Paha had a scary moment two years ago in a recreation league game. She dove to stop a ball and got kicked in the face.

"It was Mother's Day and I got knocked out, had a concussion and a chipped tooth," she said. "My eye was swollen shut for two weeks, I had stitches under my eye and my nose was almost broken."

Paha, though, had no problem returning to her position in a few weeks. She changed only one thing. "I don't dive head-first anymore," she said.

CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY: Greensburg Central Catholic won its first WPIAL soccer title a few weeks ago and is in the PIAA championship game for the first time. The Centurions will play Villa Joseph Marie (18-3-1), 10 a.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium. A few hours later, the Greensburg Central football team will play in the WPIAL Class AA championship for the first time in school history at Heinz Field.

"Everyone is so excited at the school with everyone doing so well," Paha said. "I can't go to the football game, but I'll record it on TV. I'd rather be in Hershey, anyway."

THE FUTURE: Paha has not decided on a college, but a few small colleges are showing interest in her.

-- By Mike White

DAN KOPOLOVICH

SCHOOL: McKeesport.

WHO IS HE? Starting quarterback for the football team.

THE PAST WEEK: Friday at Canon-McMillan, Kopolovich led the Tigers to a 39-18 victory against Mt. Lebanon in a WPIAL Class AAAA semifinal. He directed their "flex bone" option offense to touchdowns on all five of their first-half possessions. Kopolovich carried 13 times for 115 yards and one score, all before halftime.

SEASON: A 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, Kopolovich has gained 912 yards on 125 carries and scored 16 touchdowns. He also has completed 29 of 59 passes for 672 yards and 16 scores, with four interceptions.

McKeesport (10-2) will face Woodland Hills (10-2) in the championship game 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field.

CAREER: This is Kopolovich's second year as a starter. He has totaled 1,867 yards rushing, 31 touchdowns scored, 1,437 yards and 25 touchdowns passing, and just six interceptions.

LIKES CONTACT: Kopolovich is an ideal option quarterback, with fleet feet and the ability to make quick decisions. He's had a lot of success, but he had an interest rekindled early this season when he filled in at free safety for injured Darryl Robinson.

"Actually, I like defense better than offense," Kopolovich said.

Wary of injury, Tigers coach George Smith hasn't let his quarterback play defense since Robinson returned.

SUCCESS IS RELATIVE: Football is a game the whole Kopolovich family can play, it seems. Dan's twin, Dave (6-2, 195), starts at inside linebacker for the Tigers. "I get publicity because of the position I play," Dan Kopolovich said. "But he's a tremendous linebacker."

The twins' grandfather, the late Mike Kopolovich, was a longtime head coach at Duquesne High School. He led the Dukes to the WPIAL Class A championship in 1977. One of his assistants then was his son, David, the twins' father and a former high school quarterback as well.

BUSY KID: Football is Kopolovich's signature sport, but not the only one. He hopes to start at guard for the boys' basketball team and he runs track, specializing in the 100- and 200-meter runs and 400 relay.

"Kope plays an instrument in the concert band, too," Smith said.

FUTURE: Kopolovich, who is No. 2 in his class academically, is being courted by Ivy League teams and a number of Division I-AA programs.

-- By Rick Shrum