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Freshman Cuba gets call at Pitt
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MOONEY CAPTAIN: Ashley Cuba, right, of Cardinal Mooney battles for possession of the ball with Walsh Jesuit's Kaylee Semeisberger during Saturday's game at Valley Sports. Cuba, a Mooney captain, says teh Cardinals' difficult schedule should prepare them well for a long tournament run.
Mooney's Ashley Cuba
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MOONEY LOSES: Mooney's Ashley Cuba carries the ball during Saturday's 8-1 loss to Walsh Jesuit in Struthers.
Getting an early start in college has paid off for soccer standout Ashley Cuba of Poland and Cardinal Mooney High.
Cuba, who graduated early from Mooney in December of 2008 after a very successful senior soccer season, and then enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh on a soccer scholarship, has made the Panthers’ first team as a freshman forward.
She launched her career at Pitt by playing in the Panthers’ spring schedule earlier this year, and getting one goal and one assist while impressing the coaching staff as the team posted a 4-2-1 record.
Now Cuba is expected to be in the starting lineup when Pitt opens regular-season play tonight at 7 at home at Founders Field against Buffalo.
The Panthers are looking to bounce back from last year’s 7-12-1 record, including 4-6-1 in the Big East Conference.
Cuba’s mother, Nancy Balog Cuba, said her daughter will start tonight against the Bulls.
“Pitt had two exhibition pre-season games already against Penn State and Central Michigan [2-1 losses], and she started both of those. They already told her they she will start against Buffalo,” said Nancy.
Pitt coach Sue-Moy Shin, entering her seventh year at the helm, said Cuba made a good soccer decision to start college early.
“It was a great decision for numerous reasons,” Chin said. “It allowed her to see the speed of play, the strength of the players and everything about playing at the college level. Entering the fall season, she is at an advantage having a familiarity with this level of play.”
Cuba has come a long way in soccer and won many honors since beginning her career at the age of four.
She capped her high school career at Mooney in the fall of 2008 by being named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American team for the second straight year, and the All-Ohio first team for the third straight year.
While attending Poland High as a freshman and Mooney as a sophomore, junior and senior, Cuba won four letters and had 87 goals and 65 assists for her high school career. She had 11 goals and seven assists for Poland and 76 goals and 58 assists at Mooney.
Cuba also played soccer for other teams outside of high school, including four years with the Super-Y/Casa State team from 2005-09, and helped the team win state titles in 2007 and 2009.
She also played three years for the Olympic Development Program State Team in 2007 and the Cleveland Whitecaps from 2006-2008.
In addition, Cuba had the honor of being one of the top choices to a 2007 high school all-star team that was selected by the University of Notre Dame, to play a game against the Notre Dame women’s team.
“She was picked third out of 166 girls,” pointed out Nancy.
Besides being a talented athlete, Cuba also is a well-rounded person who excels inside and outside of the classroom.
She achieved a 3.6 grade-point average at Mooney and is planning to major in sports and nutrition at Pitt. She also has valued public service to her community, serving as a volunteer for Hospice, Relay for Life and breast cancer organizations, and working at several camps over the summer for Pitt.
Cuba has two sisters, Brittany and Danielle, who both are following in her footsteps at Mooney on the 2009 soccer team as a junior and sophomore, respectively; and one brother, Sonny.
Nancy said two of Ashley’s biggest fans are grandparents Richard and Mary Helena Balog.
“They go to every game,” said Nancy regarding her parents. “Ashley wouldn’t have been able to do a lot of the things she did without the help of her grandparents.”
Following tonight’s game, Pitt will play two Ohio colleges. The Panthers will be at Ohio State on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. and then at Kent State on Sept. 4 at 4 p.m.
XJohn Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.