A-K Valley lookahead for Week of Oct. 15, 2018

By: Doug Gulasy
Sunday, October 14, 2018 | 11:15 PM

Monday

Boys golf

Burrell’s Tiger Hubbard will aim for a top-22 finish and a trip to the state finals when he tees off at the PIAA Class AA Western Regional at Toms Run Golf Course. Hubbard, a senior, competed at the regionals as a sophomore and is coming off an eighth-place finish at the WPIAL championships.

Girls soccer

A WPIAL playoff berth could be on the line as Highlands (5-6-2, 4-4-2) hosts Apollo-Ridge (4-6-1, 3-6-1) in a Section 2-AA game. The Golden Rams began the week in fourth place in the section with two games remaining, just ahead of Apollo-Ridge. The first meeting went 2-1 to Highlands.

Deer Lakes (14-1-1, 10-0-1) will try to wrap up an unbeaten Section 2-AA season with a game against playoff-bound Freeport (9-5-2, 7-3-1). The Lancers, who already have won their first section title, rallied for a 3-2 win in their first meeting this season with Freeport, which won the section in 2016 and ‘17.

Hockey

Plum seeks its first win of the season as the Mustangs (0-1-1) host Baldwin (0-1-1) in a Class AA South/East game at Pittsburgh Ice Arena. The Mustangs, led by Anthony Adamski (three goals, three assists) are coming off a 10-6 loss to Upper St. Clair.

Knoch is looking for its first win since its return to varsity hockey as it hosts McDowell at Frozen Pond. The Knights lost their opener 7-1 to Connellsville.

Girls volleyball

Freeport will get a nonsection test as the the Class AA No. 1 Yellowjackets visit Central Valley. The Warriors are the only team to take a set off Class AAA No. 1 Knoch this season.

Tuesday

Girls volleyball

Playoff-bound Leechburg will host first-place Greensburg Central Catholic in a Section 4-A game. The Centurions, unbeaten in 12 section matches, beat the Blue Devils, 3-0, earlier this season.

Girls soccer

Depending on Monday’s result between Highlands and Apollo-Ridge, the race for the final Section 2-AA playoff spot could come down to the final day of the regular season. Highlands will play Burrell, and Apollo-Ridge hosts Valley.

Boys soccer

Deer Lakes will get a good nonsection test as the Lancers (14-0-1), fresh off their first section title since 2003, visit Hampton (10-6), a Class AAA playoff qualifier.

Hockey

Burrell will look to continue its hot start as the Bucs (2-0) visit Trinity for a Division II game. The Hillers are making their season debut against Burrell and its prolific offense, led by Tyler Stewart (six goals, one assist) and Dylan Zelonka (three goals, four assists).

Wednesday

Soccer

It’s the moment of truth for local soccer teams as the WPIAL will reveal the brackets for the upcoming playoffs, which are set to begin Saturday.

Thursday

Hockey

Freeport (1-1) will attempt to bounce back from its 4-1 defeat against North Hills as the Yellowjackets host Sewickley Academy (1-1) in a Class A North game at Belmont Complex. Karter Halleran and Jack Mason have a team-high two points each for Freeport.

Deer Lakes (1-1), coming off a one-goal loss to Sewickley Academy, will visit West Allegheny (1-1) in a Class A North game. Shane Miller (six goals, one assist) ranks second in the division in points.

Girls volleyball

Deer Lakes will attempt to spoil Freeport’s unbeaten section record as the Alle-Kiski Valley rivals square off in their regular-season finale. The Yellowjackets won their 15th consecutive section title last week.

Friday

Football

Coming off a nonconference loss to Keystone Oaks, Deer Lakes will attempt to keep its WPIAL playoff hopes alive by visiting Derry in a Class 3A Big East game. The Trojans are led by Justin Flack, who scored eight touchdowns in a rout of Yough last week.

Freeport goes for its fifth consecutive win and a potential playoff clinching as the Yellowjackets host Mt. Pleasant in a Class 3A Big East game. The Yellowjackets can clinch their second straight postseason berth with a win, depending on other results from around the conference.

Losers of four consecutive games, Kiski Area will attempt to stop that skid. To do that, the Cavaliers (3-5, 2-3) will have to stop Mars (7-1, 4-1) and its powerful wing-T offense in a Class 5A Northern Conference game. A playoff berth remains possible for Kiski Area with two games remaining.

Saturday

Soccer

The road to Highmark Stadium begins as the WPIAL playoffs get started.

Football

Riverview (2-5, 1-4) is coming off consecutive wins over Jefferson-Morgan and Springdale, but a big test arrives at Riverside Park in No. 1 Jeannette (8-0, 4-0), the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion, for a Class A Eastern Conference game.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Doug at dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter @dgulasy_Trib.

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Doug at 412-388-5830, dgulasy@tribweb.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski School, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Springdale, St. Joseph, Valley