Robin Reilly has set herself apart from many high school girls soccer players in the WPIAL with her goal scoring ability and lightening quick speed. Last year, she caught everyone’s attention by pouring in 17 goals and adding 13 assists in the highly competitive Class 3A Section 3.

Recently, she continued to be the topic of conversation, making her college commitment to play soccer at West Virginia University.

“I’m super excited because I can’t wait to get to West Virginia and play with the program,” the future Mountaineer remarked. “It’s a weight off the shoulders and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

She found numerous reasons why West Virginia would be the perfect fit. But the key factor that drove Reilly to make her decision was the coaching staff.

“The type of energy was contagious right away when I met them,” she noted. “When I went to camp, I knew right away those were the type of coaches I want to be surrounded by.”

Her skills attracted college attention from not just the Mountaineers, but from a plethora of schools. Notre Dame, Kentucky, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Pitt, Mississippi State, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Bowling Green, and Syracuse were all interested in the stellar goal scorer during her recruitment.

Bowling Green is very familiar with players from Greater Latrobe, as Reilly’s older sister, Regan, made her commitment to the Falcons last year.

“I was really interested in Bowling Green because it would be awesome to play with my sister in college,” she noted. “But we are two different types of players on two different types of paths. But we always joked how we could play together – you just never know.”

Although she selected a different school, she still found herself leaning on her sister to help in the recruiting process. She was exposed to it at an early age, going to camps with Regan and her other sister, Morgan, who was also a member of the Wildcats team.

“I got to see how she scheduled visits, so I always had that head start,” Reilly continued about the input she received from Regan. “She told me that I’d feel the right fit whenever I go on the visit and if I could picture myself there.”

Reilly was obviously able to picture herself wearing the navy blue and yellow for West Virginia, but right now, she’s donning the orange and black for Greater Latrobe.

The junior has been instrumental in the early part of the season for her Wildcats, guiding them to a 6-1 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the section. After missing the season opener against Greensburg Salem with an ankle injury, Reilly made a huge splash in her season debut, scoring four goals in a 5-1 win against Norwin. The Wildcats have gone 4-1 since their triumph against the Knights, including a recent victory over Gateway 5-1.

With back-to-back WPIAL playoff appearances and the program’s first ever PIAA appearance last season, Greater Latrobe has set a new standard. However, Reilly wants to push the team’s limit further.

“This year, we are really focused on getting to Highmark and getting that state qualification,” she discussed. “At the beginning of the season, we will write down our goals on a white board. We try to check off as many as we can.

“We’ve always been very goal oriented,” she continued. “Seeing those goals every day in the locker room reminds you of what you are working for.”

Reilly and the Wildcats are determined to continue to build on their recent success. She knows what it will take to make a deep postseason run, and achieve their goal of a WPIAL title.

“Goals win games,” she stated.