One of the top defenses in the WPIAL has helped Burrell start fast in Section 1-AA.

The Buccaneers have registered eight shutouts and allowed only eight goals in 14 games. A 1-0 loss to Belle Vernon Tuesday was their first section defeat.

Coach Pete Kariotis believes he has a defense capable of carrying his team far.

"They have played phenomenally and they are a championship-caliber defense," he said.

Most defenders are back from last year. Kariotis said a lack of experience contributed to a 4-0 quarterfinal loss to South Park. The Bucs went 17-2 during the 2006 regular season.

Any talk of the defense starts with senior goalkeeper David Kunkle.

"He makes the big save when you need it," Kariotis said. "When he is one on one with a guy, I am not worried even if it's a [penalty kick]."

He is also impressed with the way Tyler Condron has stepped in at sweeper. Kariotis said his two outside marking backs, Chris Tutolo and Brian Shaw, are the best he has seen all year.

The Bucs know that even as far as the defense has taken them this season, it will be the offense that determines if they can go all the way. The scoring has been spread out among the Bucs. Seniors Phil Spagnolo and Steve Pish anchor the midfield.

"They play hard and come to play every game," Kariotis said. "They want to win and they know what it takes to win."

Sophomore forward Chad Trovzi leads the team in goals with 11 playing in his first high school season of soccer. Trovzi was on the football team last season and in him Burrell has the goal scorer whom, Kariotis says, his team was lacking last year.

"We have a pretty balanced offense. To take it far in the playoffs, our offense really needs to start clicking. They need to begin scoring more goals, it is going to be tough to win on defense alone," Kariotis said.

Excluding seven- and five-goal outbursts against section foe Derry Area, the Burrell offense has averaged only about two goals a game.

Along with Trovzi, Burrell also rotates Jim Mazary and Zach Gezo in as forwards. Five seniors start for the Buccaneers.

Kariotis, 24, is in his third year coaching Burrell after being hired right out of California University of Pennsylvania. He says his players understand his system of possession-style soccer.

"We don't play kick ball. We possess the ball, try to keep it in the middle and play physical, hard defense," Kariotis said.

His team understands the system so well, he said, he does not even have to coach during the games.

Said Kariotis: "They can fix the problems themselves during the game, they fix them as fast as I recognize them."

Kariotis continues to pursue a professional soccer career. He has spent time playing in Iowa and with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and the West Virginia Chaos out of Charleston. He has hired an agent and will pursue professional opportunities in Europe in the offseason.

He uses his experience playing professional soccer to better help him coach on the high school level and said it gives him a huge advantage.

"I get to play for coaches who are 10 times better coaches than I am," Kariotis admitted.

"I am getting better [as a coach]. I am learning what works for me and what doesn't work. I get to take in all that experience while I play."