'I have to do my job': Zaim Sharafee returns from injury, scores equalizer to help West Mifflin earn draw with penn hills

West Mifflin senior Zaim Sharafee celebrates a goal Saturday at Nate Ferraco Field in Penn Hills. Sharafee scored with eight minutes to help the Titans earn a 2-2 draw with the Indians. Josh Rizzo/Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges

​PENN HILLS - Zaim Sharafee was forced to sit out all of last season due to a broken bone in his face. The Titans senior midfielder sad and watched as the West Mifflin boys soccer team started with five consecutive losses and only produced three wins.

Sharafee wasn’t able to lift the Titans to a win Saturday night at Nate Ferraco Field, but he created a moment to provide a lift for an inexperienced West Mifflin team.

Sharafee punched a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net with eight minutes remaining in regulation to help the Titans earn a 2-2 tie against Penn Hills. West Mifflin trailed 2-0 at the half.

“I think we have a good team,” Sharafee said. “I feel like we can come back stronger.”

West Mifflin coach Chad Perry said the Titans lost nine seniors from last year’s team. West Mifflin finished 3-14 overall, but its three section wins allowed them to reach the WPIAL Class 3A preliminary playoff round where they lost in double overtime to Belle Vernon.

“Overall, we are inexperienced,” Perry said. “We lost nine seniors, eight of whom started. We are inexperienced. But this is a skilled team and the confidence will be there going forward.”

The Titans (0-0-1) grew a lot against the Indians, who similarly were looking for a boost. Penn Hills, which also only won three games last season, only scored three goals in their first four games last season.

The Indians scored twice in the first half against West Mifflin. Jesse Truman kicked off the scoring in the 19th minute when he hit a shot from outside the box that found its way past Titans keeper Cayden Zablocki.

“We have guys that can score,” Penn Hills coach Kevin Truman said. “I don’t care where they come from. We have to do the right things to create those chances.”

Oshea Ward also scored for Penn Hills (0-0-1). The Indians were effective in the counter attack during the first half.

“We shouldn’t pass back to the keeper,” Sharafee said. “When we passed back to the keeper, they were attacking. They were fast.”

Cooper Hilligsberg swung the match after halftime. He pushed a ball into the net on a leaping header a minute into the second half. West
Mifflin ratcheted up the pressure and threw players forward for the final 38 minutes.

“We knew they were going to be coming hard,” Truman said. “He wins that ball in the air, that’s one of the best players in the WPIAL. Cooper is as good as they come and you can’t leave him unmarked.”

Freddy Takou nearly extended Penn Hills’ lead with nine minutes remaining. He got in the box and sent a shot on the ground that was turned away by Zablocki.

Sharafee got loose a minute later. He was able to find the back of the net and even the game. Neither team found a way to score in overtime.

Sharafee, after a year off, was back to work. Completing his task allowed the Titans to avoid a season-opening defeat.

​“I’m the striker,” Sharafee said. “I have to do my job.”
​
Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshrizzo.