H-S Athlete of the Week: Cole Radcliffe, Laurel Highlands
Submitted photo
Name: Cole Radcliffe
School: Laurel Highlands
Class: Senior
Sport: Soccer
Radcliffe’s week: Any soccer player would be pleased with a hat trick, but the Mustang striker scored three goals three times for nine in Laurel Highlands’ 13-2 victory at McKeesport last Thursday in a Section 2-3A match.
Radcliffe has been playing the game for over 10 years in a variety of leagues, but his performance against the Tigers was a personal best.
“I scored six when I was little, so this is the most I have ever had,” Radcliffe said. “I would like to thank my teammates for setting me up for all those goals. I wasn’t really thinking about it too much, but they kept telling me that they wanted me to get the school record. It was a great feeling.”
Radcliffe leads the Mustangs in scoring with 19 goals in eight matches this season. He scored in Laurel Highlands’ 3-2 setback to Bethel Park on Tuesday in section play. The Black Hawks lone loss this year was to undefeated Peters Township, who is one of the top teams in Class 4A.
“We had a real tough match with Bethel Park,” Radcliffe said. “We gave up an early goal but fought back to tie it up. They went up 2-1 but I was able to get the tying goal. We weren’t able to get the win, but we showed that we can play with anyone.”
Club-level player: Radcliffe has honed his skills at the club level with the Riverhounds Development Academy. He plays striker for his club team, but has been shifted to wing at times.
“The Riverhounds helped me develop as a player,” Radcliffe said. “The coaches are great and they have the best kids from around the WPIAL. It is a great environment to be around.”
Radcliffe would like to play collegiate soccer. He hasn’t committed to any school, but is keeping his options open.
All in the family: Radcliffe is not the only soccer player in his family, as sister Jocelyn and brother Harry played. Harry’s soccer success led to the football field, where he is currently the kicker at California, Pa. Harry was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Special Teams Athlete of the Week on Sept. 8 after kicking three field goals, including two from 40 yards, in the Vulcans’ 23-19 triumph over Charleston, W.Va.
Jocelyn was named to the All-Section team three times and was a four-year letterwinner at Laurel Highlands.
Cole credits his siblings for helping him prepare to be the best he could be. He has also received more than one request to follow in Harry’s footsteps and play football.
“All my high school friends approach me about playing football, but I am going to stick with just soccer,” Cole Radcliffe said. “I learned a lot from my siblings, and they taught me what to do. I am the youngest, so I could follow in their footsteps.”
Three-sport star: Radcliffe plays for the high school golf team and competes in track & field in the spring. He does the long and triple jumps, and runs the 200-meter dash. Radcliffe was third in both jumping events in the Fayette County Coaches Association (FCCA) Track & Field Championships this past spring.
He has a personal record of 40-04.50 in the triple jump, 19-04.75 in the long jump and 24.35 in the 200.
“I enjoy the jumping part of track & field,” Radcliffe said. “I am good at it, and I think that is what makes me want to continue to compete in it.”
Kudos to all: Radcliffe wanted to thank his coaches for developing him as a player, and his parents and siblings for guiding down the right path.
Compiled by Jonathan Guth