Riveters鈥� DiSora a frequent visitor to Uniontown area
Pittsburgh Riveters center back Natalia DiSora has lived in Upper St. Clair her entire life, but the soon-to-be-senior at Upper St. Clair High School is a frequent visitor to the Uniontown area.
DiSora鈥檚 grandmother, Elaine (Franks) Agostini, grew up in Masontown and currently lives in Hopwood, while her mother, Lisa Agostini DiSora, graduated from Laurel Highlands High School. DiSora鈥檚 father, Mark, attended Ringgold High School.
鈥淲e have always lived in Upper St. Clair, but my mom and dad lived in Domont before me and my brother were born,鈥� Natalia DiSora said. 鈥淓ven though I have never lived in Uniontown, we are always out in Uniontown. It鈥檚 only an hour drive for us. We go out to see my grandma every holiday. We are a big Italian family, so there are about 40-45 people at her house. I plant flowers for her on Mother鈥檚 Day.鈥�
DiSora is one of the top soccer players in the WPIAL, as the Wake Forest commit was the lone underclass player to make the all-state team last year.
The defender joined the Riveters on April 10, and played every minute of the team鈥檚 matches at center back before she was selected for the United States Under-18 Women鈥檚 National Team Training Camp that ran from June 24 through July 1 in Fayetteville, Ga.
The purpose of the camp, which ran concurrently with the U-19 team camp, was to build camaraderie with the players who will be eligible for the 2026 FIFA Women鈥檚 Under-20 World Cup.
鈥淚 have played center back in high school, and with the Riveters, but for the U-18 camp, I was at midfield,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淧laying midfield was a little different for me, but I was glad to get the experience.
鈥淭here will be another camp for the U-18 team at the end of October, and they give you short notice for the camp. I would probably miss some playoff games for high school if I am selected, but my coaches are aware, and understand that this opportunity is very special. I don鈥檛 know if I will be invited back for the camp in October, but I hope that I am.鈥�
Due to the camp, DiSora missed Pittsburgh鈥檚 regular-season finale on June 27 against Steel City FC, but returned for the Riveters鈥� playoff match against Minnesota Aurora.
Pittsburgh lost to Aurora, 2-0, to have its inaugural season come to an end.
鈥淲e had a goal to win the division and make the playoffs in our inaugural season,鈥� said DiSora regarding the Riveters鈥� expectations. 鈥淚t was a great first season, and we hope to keep building and move further in the playoffs next year.鈥�
The crowds that DiSora and her teammates experienced at Highmark Stadium during Pittsburgh鈥檚 home matches were unlike any venue they have played in.
鈥淭he crowds were incredible for the Riveters,鈥� the 17-year-old said. 鈥淲e had over 6,000 for our opening game. It was something that I never thought would happen a year ago. It is super cool to see those little girls that look up to us. It shows that dreams can come true.鈥�
The Riveters are coached by Scott Gibson, who also serves as the director of the Riverhounds Academy. DiSora relished every moment playing for the former Duquesne product.
鈥淚 think Scott is an incredible coach,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淚 give a lot of my success to him. He is super big on bringing players from the Riverhounds Academy to the Riveters. He wants every kid to excel. Scott made me 10 times better as a player.鈥�
DiSora is eager for her senior year of high school. The Lady Panthers play in Class 4A, where they advanced to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs last season.
鈥淢y high school team is very good,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淲e won our section two years ago and we have eight seniors this year. Most of the seniors are going to play soccer in college. We want to end this year with a bang.鈥�
DiSora was a member of the Beadling Soccer Club before switching to the Riverhounds Academy this past year.
The soon-to-be Demon Deacon didn鈥檛 focus on soccer growing up, even though she always played, as ice hockey was on DiSora鈥檚 radar.
鈥淚 started to play ice hockey when I was six-years-old because my brother played,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淚 was a practice player in soccer up until ninth grade, when my coach told me I was too good of a soccer player to give it up. I had to make a choice, and decided to go with soccer. I still love ice hockey and play to this day.鈥�
Women鈥檚 soccer has grown immensely in the past decade, and the push for equal play and colleges offering NIL opportunities factored into DiSora鈥檚 decision to stick with soccer.
鈥淲omen鈥檚 hockey is a newer sport and the women鈥檚 hockey schools are primarily in the northeastern part of the country,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淭he options are a lot more limited. I have more opportunities with soccer.鈥�
Wake Forest wasn鈥檛 high on DiSora鈥檚 list when she began communication with schools, but a random visit changed her mind, despite a moment of confusion that delayed the process.
鈥淚 wanted to go to a big-name school that everybody heard of because Wake was always in the middle of the pack in the ACC,鈥� DiSora said. 鈥淲e had a tournament in North Carolina, and my mom suggested that we visit the campus, more on a whim, and I loved it.
鈥淚 believed Wake Forest was going to reach out, and after not hearing from them, I called my club coach and he got in touch with them, and it turned out they had my wrong phone number and thought I just didn鈥檛 answer the call. Once I got in touch with them, I knew I had found the school I wanted to attend.鈥�