A-K Valley lookahead for Week of Oct. 8, 2018

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, October 7, 2018 | 10:27 PM

Monday

Girls soccer

• With Apollo-Ridge and Highlands fighting for the postseason, each will play a pivotal Section 2-AA game. Fourth-place Highlands visits first-place Deer Lakes, which needs one win to claim the section title. Apollo-Ridge travels to second-place Burrell, which is looking to nail down a playoff berth.

• Springdale righted its ship after a difficult start and looks poised to qualify for the playoffs, but the Dynamos’ top rival, Riverview, will try to play spoiler and stay in the postseason hunt. The rivals will meet at Springdale, a 7-0 winner in the first meeting.

Hockey

• After beginning the season with a romp over Neshannock, last season’s WPIAL runner-up Burrell hosts Morgantown in a Division 2 game.

• Freeport opened the season with a 4-1 win over Blackhawk, giving coach Kelly Mason a victory in his first game back behind the bench after three seasons away. The Yellowjackets visit North Hills in a Class A North game.

• Deer Lakes began the season with a 9-7 victory over Beaver as Shane Miller scored four goals, including two late in the third period. The Lancers will host Sewickley Academy in a Class A North game.

Tuesday

Boys soccer

• Two teams in ultra-competitive Section 1-4A will meet as Fox Chapel takes on Butler. Seneca Valley led the section going into the week, but four teams — Butler, Pine-Richland, North Allegheny and Fox Chapel — are battling for the remaining three playoff spots.

• Burrell beat Freeport earlier this season, and the Bucs will look for another win over the Yellowjackets in a Section 2-AA contest at Freeport. This game will go a long way to determine the fourth playoff spot in the section, as Freeport leads Burrell by a game in the standings.

• With two section games remaining, Section 2-AA champion Deer Lakes will visit last year’s champion, Mt. Pleasant, in a rematch of Deer Lakes’ earlier 2-1 victory. The Lancers are unbeaten in section play.

Girls volleyball

Deer Lakes will host Burrell in a Section 5-AA match between a pair of teams looking to lock down playoff spots. Deer Lakes earned a 3-1 victory over the Bucs in their first meeting.

Wednesday

Girls volleyball

• It’s a battle between two defending PIAA champions as Knoch hosts Freeport in a nonsection match. The former section rivals enter the match with one loss between them and are ranked No. 1 in Class AAA (Knoch) and AA (Freeport).

Girls soccer

• Apollo-Ridge plays a second significant Section 2-AA game in three days, this time taking on first-place Deer Lakes.

• Freeport hosts Burrell in another Section 2-AA game. The Bucs began the week in second place, with the Yellowjackets in third. The first meeting ended in a 3-2 Burrell victory.

• Kiski Area is looking to lock down a playoff berth in its first year back in Class AAA, and the Cavaliers — tied for second place in Section 1-AAA with Hampton — visit Mars, the No. 1 team in AAA.

Thursday

Boys soccer

• The first matchup between Freeport and Deer Lakes was a thriller, with Deer Lakes winning, 4-3, in overtime after rallying from a two-goal deficit and tying the game in the final seconds of regulation.

• After seeing its long postseason streak end last year, Kiski Area began the week in good position to get back, and the Cavaliers can ensure their playoff spot with a strong week. The Cavaliers will host Indiana in a Section 1-AAA game between teams tied for third place.

• Springdale has a playoff berth clinched, and Riverview faces a steep climb to reach the postseason, but records never seem to matter when the Dynamos and Raiders play. They’ll face off for their second Section 1-A game this season.

Friday

Football

• Longtime Alle-Kiski Valley rivals Freeport and Burrell meet in a Class 3A Big East game. The Yellowjackets hope to march toward a playoff berth after bouncing back from an 0-3 start. Burrell also remains alive after a victory last week over Mt. Pleasant.

• Riverview and Springdale will come into their annual rivalry matchup winless in Class A Eastern Conference play. Bragging rights remain on the line as the Dynamos play host to the Raiders.

• After a heartbreaking defeat against Freeport, Deer Lakes looks to rebound with a nonconference game at Keystone Oaks.

• Kiski Area steps out of conference play for a second consecutive week as the Cavaliers visit highly ranked McKeesport.

Saturday

Girls soccer

Deer Lakes is on a roll in Class AA with the playoffs looming, and the Lancers will face a good test with a nonsection game against Shady Side Academy. The Indians are the defending PIAA Class A champion.

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

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