A-K Valley soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 19, 2024

By: Michael Love
Friday, October 18, 2024 | 4:57 PM

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WPIAL soccer playoffs

Boys

Class A

First round

13-Riverview (10-6) vs. 4-Beaver County Christian (13-3)

2 p.m. Saturday, Tiger Stadium, Moon Township

Winner plays: Winner of 12-Greensburg Central Catholic (6-7-1)/5-Aquinas Academy (12-3) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Corner kicks: Riverview has qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2019 and seeks its first playoff win since a 2-1 victory over Sewickley Academy in the 2017 first round. Saturday’s game is a rematch of a 2019 preliminary-round victory by Beaver County Christian. The Raiders finished fourth in a competitive Section 4 behind Winchester Thurston, Springdale and Trinity Christian. Riverview won 10 of 12 games after an 0-4 start. Senior captain Chris O’Toole leads an opportunistic Raiders offensive attack. … Beaver County Christian captured the Section 1 title with an 8-2 record. It enters the playoffs riding a seven-game winning streak. BCC outscored its opponents 49-14 and produced eight shutouts. The Eagles were seeded 16th last year but gave No. 1 Charleroi all it could handle in a 1-0 defeat.

11-Sewickley Academy (8-8-1) vs. 6-Springdale (13-4)

11 a.m. Saturday, Panthers Stadium, Murrysville

Winner plays: Winner of 14-Freedom (7-7-1)/3-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (12-2) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Corner kicks: Springdale finished second to Winchester Thurston in a competitive Section 4, falling to WT by one goal twice. The Dynamos wrapped up the regular season with a 2-1 overtime win over Highlands to snap a two-game losing skid. The Dynamos are led by several all-section players: senior left wing Patrick Wylly, senior striker Nate Dubas, junior center mid Brennan Mattie, senior goalkeeper Noah Skaugen and sophomore center back Alex Wylly. Springdale hopes to make a run to its first WPIAL title since 1973. … Sewickley Academy tied Freedom for third place in Section 1 behind Beaver County Christian and Eden Christian. The Panthers, as the No. 2 seed last year, were upset by No. 7 Bentworth in the quarterfinals. Junior defender Blake Wilmot, a three-sport standout, is one to watch in the back for Sewickley. Juniors Luca Peluso and Finn Wentz are top scoring threats. Sewickley scored a 3-2 overtime victory over playoff-bound Greensburg Central Catholic in nonsection play Sept. 24.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Beaver County Christian, Riverview, Sewickley Academy, Springdale