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Looking back on the 2025 scholastic soccer season, it was a year full of numerous outstanding games with a number of standout teams, but the success attained by the Bishop Guilfoyle Academy girls team truly highlighted the season.
The Bishop Guilfoyle girls became the first team from Blair County to ever reach a state championship. Their 2-0 loss in the state final game to Faith Christian Academy capped a 21-2 season.
The Lady Marauders gained their third straight District 6 1A title, and captured the Laurel Highlands Conference championship. Coach Joe DeLeo was named Pa. Soccer Coaches Administration Female Coach of the Year, and junior Emma Marasco became one of the few girls from our area to ever be named to the PSCA all-state team.
Marasco accounted for 100 points for her team, notching 43 goals this season with 14 assists and averaging 2.0 goals per game. She has a career total of 101 goals and 34 assists. She was named to the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference All-Conference team as well as being a three-time Altoona Mirror first-team all-star selection. Marasco is also a part of the FC 814 National Team Energy Premier squad.
Marasco's teammates in the powerful attacking front line for Bishop Guilfoyle -- seniors Delaney Lechner and Hailey DeGol -- were also named to the Mirror first team. BG capped off its fourth first-team Mirror all-star with the selection of goalkeeper CeCe Rumfola.
Rumfola had an absolute stellar year, finishing with 15 shutouts in 23 games with 159 saves and a .644 goals against average. These stats were as strong as any keeper statewide and led many to question how she missed selection to the all-state team. She was selected as the Laurel Highlands First Team East All-Conference goalkeeper. Her only regular season loss to Bedford was avenged later in the season as BG defeated the Bisons to win the LHAC.
Rumfola plays her classic soccer for Century United and previously with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Elsewhere ...
– On Jan. 22-26, FC 814 Team Energy's Ava Frye and Meghan Andersen will head to Orlando, Fla., in their final step in becoming part of the national Olympic Development Program team roster. Being the first from this area to advance this far, they will battle to become one of the top 16 field players from the 64 top players that will be in attendance from across the nation.
– Summit Athletic Soccer Director Mike Alianiello has concluded his fall session of play. His 2026 FC 814 Classic Scholastic Soccer Tournament is scheduled for Jan. 10-11 for high school girls and junior high girls along with the men's open and 0-40 bracket. Jan. 17-18 will be the senior high boys and junior high boys brackets.
The 2026 Winter League will run from Jan. 23-25 to March 6-8 for its seven-week session.
Tom Schmitt writes a monthly soccer column for the Mirror.