A-K Valley high school lookahead: Week of Sept. 3, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 2, 2018 | 10:36 PM

TUESDAY

Boys soccer

• After missing the playoffs in 2017, Burrell looks to get its Section 2-AA schedule started on the right track when it hosts defending WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy. The Bucs’ Jacob Guerrini set the Burrell freshman scoring record last season with 16 goals.

• Kiski Area will test itself early in Section 1-AAA with a road game against Mars, which tied Knoch for the section crown last season. The Cavaliers saw their own postseason streak end at 10 years last season and dropped to Class AAA in the offseason.

Girls soccer

• Apollo-Ridge and Riverview no longer play in the same section after Apollo-Ridge elected to play up in Class AA, but the two will meet up for a nonsection game at Riverside Park. Riverview is looking to get back to the playoffs after missing out last season, while Apollo-Ridge graduated a large senior class after back-to-back playoff years.

WEDNESDAY

Girls soccer

• Freeport and Highlands developed a strong Section 2-AA rivalry the past two seasons, and they will meet for the first time this season at Highlands. This marks the section debut of new Highlands coach Jenna Plummer, who took over after the Golden Rams missed the playoffs last season. Freeport is coming off back-to-back section titles.

• Springdale gets a warm welcome home to Class A when the Dynamos travel to face defending WPIAL champion Greensburg Central Catholic in their Section 1-A opener. The teams were section rivals before Springdale played the last two seasons in Class AA.

• Kiski Area will get its first test in its new Class AAA home, as the Cavaliers play at Knoch in a Section 1-AAA opener. Knoch advanced to the WPIAL playoffs last season, while Kiski Area made the Class 4A quarterfinals.

Girls golf

• The third annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships take place at Champion Lakes Golf Club in Bolivar. Kiski Area will compete in the nine-hole event, which will crown an individual and team champion.

THURSDAY

Boys soccer

• The two most recent Section 2-AA champions square off when Freeport hosts Mt. Pleasant. The visiting Vikings swept their way to a 12-0 section record last season and made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals, while Freeport finished third in the section and qualified for the playoffs.

• Deer Lakes visits Shady Side Academy for a Section 2-AA game between teams with WPIAL title hopes. The Lancers returned all but two starters from a team that finished second in the section and made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals. Shady Side Academy went from fourth place in the section to WPIAL champs.

• Highlands coach Brad Walker believes his team is ready to contend for its first playoff berth in more than 15 years, and the Golden Rams can prove it in a Section 1-AAA home contest against Mars, which tied for the section lead last year.

FRIDAY

Football

• It’ll be a homecoming for New Kensington native Skyy Moore, who leads Shady Side Academy to Valley for a Class 2A Allegheny Conference game. Valley standouts Deonte Ross and Noah Hutcherson will look to match up against the talent-heavy Indians, whose roster includes several players with Division I offers, including Moore, Dino Tomlin and Lower Burrell native Alex Bellinotti.

• A week after hosting Derry, Freeport will get a look at another of the top contenders in the Class 3A Big East when the Yellowjackets face North Catholic at the Mars Athletic Complex. Among the top players on North Catholic is Mikhai Hill-Green, Rivals’ third-ranked junior in the state.

• There will be a blast from the past when Burrell visits Elizabeth Forward for a Class 3A Big East Conference game. The Warriors are coached by Burrell graduate Mike Collodi, who led them to the WPIAL playoffs last season.

• Plum and Gateway will renew their rivalry with a Foothills Conference game. Syracuse recruit Courtney Jackson leads the Gators, last season’s WPIAL Class 5A champion.

SATURDAY

Football

• Riverview makes its season debut at Riverside Park, hosting Charleroi in a nonconference game. The visiting Cougars won nine games last season to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

Girls soccer

• Apollo-Ridge hits the road to face two-time defending Section 2-AA champion Freeport. Both teams suffered significant graduation losses but still expect to contend for the playoffs this season.

• Springdale faces a second defending champion in mere days when Shady Side Academy visits in section play. The Indians won the PIAA Class A title last season.

• Knoch also gets a second difficult section game of the week when the Knights visit defending section champion Mars. The Planets didn’t allow a goal in section play last season.

Cross country

• The annual Red, White and Blue Invitational will take place at Schenley Park.