Author: Kyle Dawson
Mt. Lebanon builds up steam with upset of Seneca Valley
September 27, 2024
Coming into an important Week 5 contest, the winless Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils were searching for offense. Through five games, the Blue Devils were averaging 10 points and coming off a home overtime loss to fellow Class 6A team Canon-McMillan.
No. 3 South Park tops No. 4 South Allegheny in Class 2A clash
September 21, 2024
After dominating time of possession a week ago in an Allegheny Conference win over Steel Valley, South Park’s next meeting turned into a bit of a track meet.
Pine-Richland knocks off Peters Township to reach Penguins Cup finals showdown with North Allegheny
March 11, 2024
After beating the top-seeded Pine-Richland Rams twice in the regular season, No. 4 seed Peters Township was feeling great after scoring two goals in 19 seconds in the first three minutes of Monday’s Penguins Cup Class 3A semifinal between the teams.
South Fayette knocks off McKeesport to earn 3rd straight trip to WPIAL Class 5A finals
February 27, 2024
The AHN Arena at Peters Township saw a defensive battle in the Class 5A girls semifinal between No. 6 South Fayette and No. 2 McKeesport. When the dust settled, the Lions earned their third straight trip to Pitt’s Petersen Events Center with a 49-41 win over the Tigers.
Moon gets past Thomas Jefferson in star-studded semifinal
February 26, 2024
After missing a pair of free throws with 47.8 seconds to go, Aiden Reesman re-toed the line with 6.5 seconds to go with a chance to give the top-seeded Moon Tigers the lead in the waning seconds of a WPIAL Class 5A semifinal Monday night at the AHN Arena at Peters Township.
Cheswick Christian boys program making giant leaps forward
November 15, 2023
When the Cheswick Christian boys basketball team followed a 3-11 record in the 2020-21 covid-shortened season with a 7-11 mark and a playoff berth in 2021-22, it was a big step forward.
Cheswick Christian girls hungry for improvement
Last season saw the Cheswick Christian girls basketball team win just four games after making the postseason in 2022-23, but under a new but familiar head coach this season, the Chargers are primed for improvement across the board.
Top-seeded Peters Township throttles Moon to reach WPIAL Class 5A title game
November 10, 2023
An 11-minute, 20-second drive opened the scoring in Friday’s WPIAL Class 5A semifinal with No. 5 Moon taking a 3-0 lead on Hayden Boland’s 32-yard field goal.
No. 10 Trinity rolls past North Catholic for 1st playoff win since 2007
November 3, 2023
Despite winning three of its last four games, including a win over perennial power Thomas Jefferson, which had just beaten 3A state champion Belle Vernon, the Trinity Hillers finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Seven Conference. Tiebreaker points and head-to-head results later, the Hillers ended up seeded 10th in the Class 4A postseason.
Realignment changes PIHL landscape, but champs are back to defend their titles
October 3, 2023
The 2023-24 PIHL season has begun, and while the alignment of the league has undergone changes, the contenders and talent on the ice are back for another year of puck.
Moon grinds to victory against South Fayette
September 29, 2023
It’s not too often that Moon’s wing-T offense will be flashy, and it wasn’t in Friday’s 24-3 win over South Fayette to allow the Tigers (3-3, 1-0 5A-1) to win their third straight and open conference play in the Allegheny Six.
Strong defense spearheads Central Catholic’s shutout victory over Mt. Lebanon
September 15, 2023
Behind a quick start and relentless defense, Central Catholic won a battle of unbeaten Class 6A teams Friday in the South Hills, besting Mt. Lebanon, 49-0.
Canon-McMillan logs valuable early win against Seneca Valley
September 8, 2023
Going into Friday’s home opener — a rematch of the game that decided the final playoff team in Class 6A last season — Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans said he felt good.
Kiski falls to West Chester East in Class A Pennsylvania Cup championship game
March 25, 2023
The story the last few years for the West Chester East hockey program has been depth, speed and a tendency to jump on opponents and wear them out.
Penguins Cup champion Kiski writing remarkable postseason story
March 21, 2023
The last couple of weeks for the Kiski Area hockey team have been a whirlwind.
Kiski goalie proves point with Penguins Cup Class A championship win over Fox Chapel
March 20, 2023
Kiski senior goaltender Evin Brice turned in a masterful performance Monday night, making 34 saves to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Fox Chapel in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game.
Peters Township jumps on Upper St. Clair, claims Class 3A Penguins Cup
One side felt elated, the other was shell shocked in Cranberry just seconds into the Class 3A PIHL championship game, as the Penguins Cup title game started with a turnover and a bang for the defending champion Peters Township Indians.
Lincoln Park fends off Highlands to advance to PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals
March 14, 2023
The last time Lincoln Park and Highlands met, back in the WPIAL semifinals, the Leopards couldn’t stop hitting outside shots.
South Fayette keeps repeat bid alive with dominant win over Woodland Hills
February 28, 2023
All season long, the South Fayette Lions have been beating to their own drum.
Penn Hills too much for Mars in Class 5A quarterfinals
February 22, 2023
Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Penn Hills Indians have flexed their muscles, athleticism and length to have a lot of success, in search of a WPIAL title, which would be the sixth in program history.
Fast start lifts No. 2 Peters Township past No. 4 Bethel Park as Indians secure 1st section title since ’09
February 11, 2023
No. 4 Bethel Park and No. 2 Peters Township both controlled their own destiny for a title in Section 1-5A going into the final Friday night of the 2022-23 boys basketball regular season.
Behind Division I recruits, young wrestlers ready to make impact for Chartiers Valley
January 22, 2023
It’s a young team on the mats at Chartiers Valley High School but a team longtime coach Bill Evans is watching develop in front of his eyes day after day.
After strong start, Chartiers Valley boys eye continued improvement
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 boys basketball season, fifth-year coach Brandon Sensor and his Chartiers Valley program set high expectations.
After wholesale changes, new coach excited to see what Chartiers Valley girls can do
December 4, 2022
The Chartiers Valley girls basketball team in 2022-23 will definitely look different than it has the past four seasons both on the court and on the bench.
After showing flashes last season, Chartiers Valley boys look to return to contention
Two seasons ago, the Chartiers Valley boys basketball team was a WPIAL finalist. The Colts went 22-4 with that fourth loss a defeat at the hands of New Castle in the district title game.
Gateway girls basketball looks to use team approach to get back on track
November 27, 2022
For the last several seasons, the Gateway girls basketball team has had one or two top-level players on the roster — a scorer or two who could fill up the stat sheet before matriculating on to the next level to play high-end college basketball.
Gateway hopes to carry momentum of playoff run into new season
After an impressive playoff run for the Gateway boys basketball team a season ago, things will look a bit different on the hardwood in Monroeville in 2022-23.
Beaver Falls, Steel Valley to meet in clash of WPIAL Class 2A powerhouses
November 23, 2022
Last season, Beaver Falls had a WPIAL championship experience to forget.
Union aims to prevent Bishop Canevin from defending WPIAL Class A title
A season ago, the Bishop Canevin Crusaders completed a turnaround from 1-9 in 2019 to WPIAL champions in Class A under then second-year coach Richard Johnson.
Beaver Falls finishes off Sto-Rox, gets back to WPIAL championship game
November 19, 2022
With a big first half on defense, an offensive ability to take advantage of short fields and a second half that saw the Tigers run away from third-seeded Sto-Rox, second-seeded Beaver Falls earned a trip to Acrisure Stadium to play for the Class 2A championship on Black Friday.
Under new coach, Cheswick Christian girls focus on speed, defense
November 16, 2022
The Cheswick Christian girls basketball team enters the 2022-23 season off a playoff appearance and a winning record at 10-9 in what was a return to a full schedule after the team played just nine games the year before.
Cheswick Christian boys basketball headed in right direction
Following a 3-11 record in the covid-shortened 2020-21 season, the Cheswick Christian boys basketball team took a step forward last season by going 7-11 and making the playoffs in the Southwest Christian Athletic Conference.
No. 1 Freeport claims 2nd straight WPIAL girls volleyball championship
November 5, 2022
After dropping the first set of the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship to Shenango on Saturday, top-seeded Freeport dug deep into a bag full of experience on the big stage.
Bethel Park completes breakout regular season with win over rival Peters Township
October 29, 2022
Two seasons ago, Bethel Park went winless.
Players switch positions, pace offense as Bethel Park tops South Fayette, clinches playoff spot
October 21, 2022
Bethel Park was without its top running back, Austin Caye, on Friday night at South Fayette Stadium, but the conference-leading Black Hawks still clinched a playoff spot in the Class 5A Allegheny Six with a 28-9 win.
West Allegheny clinches playoff spot by beating Blackhawk in 2OT
October 14, 2022
The West Allegheny Indians missed the playoffs the past three years, the first that had happened since 1994-96. They will not miss a fourth consecutive time.
Sto-Rox continues to roll with mercy-rule win over Washington
October 7, 2022
Sto-Rox lost two nonconference games by three points apiece and allowed 48 points in those losses combined to open the season. Since then, the Vikings have allowed only seven points, all of which came in the first of what is now four-straight wins after Friday night, to Charleroi.
Late touchdown gives resurgent Shaler its 1st victory over Woodland Hills
September 30, 2022
After his team’s thrilling double-overtime victory over Franklin Regional on homecoming last week, Shaler coach Jim Ryan said he hoped the win would kick start the Titans into conference play.
Mt. Lebanon girls top Bethel Park to set up showdown with Upper St. Clair
February 26, 2022
During the regular season, Mt. Lebanon handled Bethel Park twice.
Early surge in 3rd quarter carries Mt. Lebanon boys past Hempfield in Class 6A
February 22, 2022
After weathering a second-quarter comeback attempt by 13th-seeded Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon pulled away from the Spartans for the second time this season.
Seneca Valley beats Peters Township to repeat as WPIAL Class 4A champs
November 6, 2021
Last season, the Seneca Valley Raiders won WPIAL and state boys soccer championships with an experienced team and lost a fair amount from that group to graduation.
Pine-Richland girls soccer players show growth on, off the field
October 31, 2021
Success was measured both on the pitch and off for the Pine-Richland girls soccer program this season, one that saw the Rams finish 5-10 after a WPIAL first-round playoff exit at the hands of No. 6 Peters Township on Oct. 25.
Momentum-shifting save, strong second half lift Kiski Area boys soccer team to playoff win over Gateway
October 23, 2021
After a back-and-forth start to their Class 3A first-round playoff matchup with Gateway on Saturday, the Kiski Area boys soccer team got to playing how it wante and ran away with a 5-1 win on the strength of four second-half goals.
Long 1st-half drive sparks North Hills to win over Fox Chapel
October 22, 2021
After neither team could get things going offensively against stout defensive play in the first half, North Hills took over in the middle of the second quarter with the worst field position for either team at its own 10-yard line.
North Hills defense stands tall in 4th quarter in win over Pine-Richland
October 16, 2021
A defensive football game Friday at a loud Martorelli Stadium in West View came to a fitting close Friday night.
PIHL season preview: Plenty of contenders chasing championships in 2021-22
October 3, 2021
The PIHL season begins Monday, and there are some changes to the league but a lot will remain the same.
Clairton holds on for victory over Bishop Canevin in sloppy game
October 1, 2021
After a two-game losing streak and a two-game winning streak, Clairton faced a first-place battle against an undefeated Bishop Canevin football team Friday night.
North Allegheny girls roll into state semifinals with rout of McDowell
March 19, 2021
Fresh off its runaway win in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game to claim its fourth title in five years, the North Allegheny girls’ basketball team picked up right where it left off as play advanced to the PIAA postseason.
Rochester handles Aquinas Academy to make 3rd straight WPIAL finals
March 11, 2021
Going into the WPIAL girls basketball playoffs, Rochester went 18 days without a game due to covid-19 precautions and their bye as the No. 1 seed in the Class A bracket.
North Catholic topples Ellwood City to capture 2nd WPIAL girls volleyball title in 3 years
November 7, 2020
Last season, the North Catholic girls volleyball team was a set away on three occasions from going back-to-back in championship opportunities, but ultimately fell to Freeport in five sets.
Bishop Canevin wins 4th straight WPIAL volleyball title hours after coach’s death
On Friday, Bishop Canevin’s volleyball and athletics community learned of the death of 14-year head coach Kevin Walters.
North Allegheny overcomes late goal to win Class 4A girls soccer title in overtime
November 6, 2020
With North Allegheny holding a one-goal lead with 32 seconds left in Thursday’s Class 4A girls soccer championship game, Butler gained its second penalty kick opportunity of the second half, and, unlike the first time, didn’t miss.
Montour knocks off undefeated Plum in WPIAL Class 3A volleyball semifinals
November 4, 2020
Going into the WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball semifinals against unbeaten Plum, Montour knew it would have to lean on its diverse offense.
Springdale boys score 5 second-half goals to pull away from Seton LaSalle
October 31, 2020
Springdale’s boys soccer team spent the first half of its quarterfinal match against Seton LaSalle trying to get a feel for the Rebels’ tactics.
Late score pushes USC past South Fayette, into playoffs for 21st straight season
October 23, 2020
With his team trailing by three points with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter of a win-and-in game in Week 7, second-year Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko elected to go for it on a fourth-and-12 from the South Fayette 45-yard line.
Local players urge USA Hockey to consider rescheduling national championships
March 18, 2020
Since 1938, USA Hockey, then known as the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, has been crowning national champions on the rink at a myriad of different levels.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending March 15, 2020
March 16, 2020
Sophomore forward Nathan Boulanger hasn’t been with the Ringgold Rams all season.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020
Sophomore Jacob Fetzer had six goals during the regular season. They all came in the first 10 games.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending March 8, 2020
March 8, 2020
In Class AAA’s Penguins Cup Playoffs, each game was decided by three goals or fewer.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending March 8, 2020
When it comes to the PIHL playoffs, teams often rely on their experienced players.
PIHL Team of the Week for Week ending March 1, 2020
March 2, 2020
Entering the final week of the PIHL regular season, much still was to be determined when it came to the playoffs.
PIHL Player of the Week for Week ending March 1, 2020
Chartiers Valley and North Hills met last Monday in a game featuring two PIHL teams that won’t be taking part in the Penguins Cup or Class B playoffs.
Mt. Lebanon starts strong, finishes off Central Catholic in Class 6A semis
February 26, 2020
Playing in their third consecutive WPIAL semifinal, the defending Class 6A champion Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils knew they’d need a good start on both ends in order to continue to defend their title.
Bethel Park wins ‘ugly,’ beats Mt. Lebanon to advance to WPIAL 6A title game
February 25, 2020
The last time Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils matched up, scoring was not at a premium.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 23, 2020
February 23, 2020
It has been an interesting season for Plum.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Upper St. Clair
For the Upper St. Clair hockey team, the start to the season wasn’t great.
North Allegheny girls, Fox Chapel’s Manelis dominate at WPIAL diving championships
February 22, 2020
Going into the 31-diver girls event at the WPIAL Class AAA diving championships Saturday, the host North Allegheny Tigers had the top three seeds: freshman Zoe Ky first, junior Maya Ennis second and freshman Christina Shi third.
North Catholic sweeps WPIAL Class AA diving championships
February 21, 2020
North Catholic, on the backs of a freshman and a senior, dominated the girls and boys events at the WPIAL Class AA diving championships Friday at South Park.
Lincoln Park boys crank up defensive pressure, take down Neshannock
February 20, 2020
When Mike Bariski writes on the white board in Lincoln Park’s locker room before each game, he writes defense first.
Reynolds makes clutch plays as Shaler boys beat Gateway
February 17, 2020
Late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round game, seventh-seeded Shaler Area’s 14-point halftime lead was gone, erased by upset-minded, 10th-seeded Gateway.
Penn-Trafford wrestlers look to take next step at individual section tournament
Coming into the 2019-20 season, Penn-Trafford first-year wrestling coach AJ Brentzel knew it might be a tough winter as he tried to rebuild the program’s winning culture.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: West Allegheny
February 16, 2020
Going into the final two weeks of the PIHL regular season, there is only one remaining unbeaten team.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 16, 2020
High-scoring nights are nothing new to Burrell senior Gio Palombo.
Trib HSSN PIHL player of the week: Canon-McMillan goalie Mario Eafrati
February 10, 2020
Team success usually hinges on good goaltending, and good goaltending coupled with team success usually leads to the netminder being in the spotlight.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Greensburg Salem
It’s been an extended playoffs of sorts over the last few weeks for the Greensburg Salem hockey team.
South Park girls overcome obstacles, beat Seton LaSalle for section crown
February 6, 2020
The No. 5 South Park Eagles girls basketball team entered the 2019-20 season as the defending Section 2-3A champions but not without hurdles.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 2, 2020
February 2, 2020
With his team facing two big games last week, Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Crousey knew his team needed his stars to play like stars. They did, and one played especially well and added a five-point All-Star Game to his week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Feb. 2, 2020
The biggest games on the schedule for North Hills are still ahead, and the Indians know that.
PIHL set to launch 4-team girls division in May
February 1, 2020
In the PIHL, there are several girls who don varsity uniforms on a nightly basis, and there have been plenty of instances when girls have succeeded playing among the boys.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Jan. 26, 2020
January 26, 2020
When Hampton defeated Pine-Richland in a shootout to hand the Rams their only loss of the 2018-19 PIHL season, Jacob McGee stopped 41 of the 44 shots he faced.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Jan. 26, 2020
Last season, the Pine-Richland Rams lost one game.
Last second shot by Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor hands No. 1 Bethel Park its first loss
January 23, 2020
In Mt. Lebanon’s two-point loss to Imhotep Charter on Saturday in the MLK Showcase at Woodland Hills, Blue Devils sophomore Ashleigh Connor hit the front rim on a 3-pointer that would have won the game at the buzzer.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Jan. 19, 2020
January 19, 2020
Ringgold came into the 2019-20 season with lofty expectations, and for good reason. Last year, the Rams avenged being eliminated in the previous postseason by Burrell by beating the Bucs in the Division 2 championship game.
Riley DeRubbo stars for Trinity in win over Thomas Jefferson
January 13, 2020
Last year, Thomas Jefferson, as part of a 22-win season in girls basketball, beat Trinity three times.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Jan. 12, 2020
January 12, 2020
After a 6-0 start to PIHL play, Seneca Valley started a tailspin.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Jan. 12, 2020
The name Tyler Stewart should be familiar to anyone who has followed the PIHL recently.
Franklin Regional earns another trip competitive spirit state championships
Since the WPIAL officially sanctioned competitive spirit as a district-sponsored sport for the 2012-13 academic year, only 10 teams have qualified for the PIAA championships at least seven times.
Freeport girls shut down Knoch
January 9, 2020
Using a dominant defensive effort, plus a dose of offensive and defensive rebounding and evenly distributed scoring, the Freeport Yellow Jackets defeated next-door neighbor Knoch for the fifth-consecutive time, winning by a final of 53-39 Thursday night.
No. 1 Fox Chapel stays unbeaten with convincing win over Norwin
January 7, 2020
Fox Chapel, the top-ranked team in Class 6A, jumped ahead in the first minute and didn’t look back, leading the entire way to a 63-48 victory over Norwin on Tuesday night.
Despite shorthanded roster, Plum wrestlers aim for improvement
December 27, 2019
Coming off a 2-5 season in 2018-19 when the team had one senior and just four juniors, Plum’s wrestling team was looking for improvement.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week — Dec. 23, 2019
December 24, 2019
The Montour Spartans didn’t get off to the start they hoped for in the 2019-20 PIHL regular season.
TribHSSN PIHL player of the week for the week of Dec. 23, 2019
December 23, 2019
Danny Stauffer’s in-net success at Pine-Richland is well-documented.
TribHSSN PIHL Player of the Week for Week of Dec. 15, 2019
December 15, 2019
Matt Traczynski has become quite the two-way player for Hempfield.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 15, 2019
Last season, Pine-Richland won the Class AA Penguins Cup championship and a state title.
PIHL Players of the Week: Dec. 8, 2019
December 9, 2019
It’s not always easy to pick just one player of the week with all of the good performances logged in the PIHL each week. This past week was no different.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 8, 2019
Chris Serakowski is in his second season as the head coach of Carrick’s varsity hockey team, and he has a message that he and his staff have been preaching to the Cougar players this season, a season removed from a fifth-place finish in the final Division 2 standings last year, and only two years removed from a one-win season.
PIHL Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 1, 2019
December 1, 2019
North Catholic is playing varsity hockey for the first time in nearly two decades.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 1, 2019
Mt. Lebanon played four games in two weeks to start the season, and six in October, which is more than most Class AAA teams.
Nowhere to go but up for St. Joseph girls after 1-21 season
Last season was one to forget for the St. Joseph girls’ basketball team.
Stalwart Sullivan leads new-look St. Joseph boys basketball
Last season was a good time to be part of the St. Joseph boys basketball team.
PIHL Player of the Week for week ending Nov. 24, 2019
November 24, 2019
It’s been a sluggish start for Thomas Jefferson’s second-leading scorer from the 2018-19 campaign.
PIHL Team of the Week for week ending Nov. 24, 2019
The 2018-19 season was historic for the Burrell hockey team.
Freeport girls basketball looking for sustained success
November 23, 2019
The Freeport girls basketball team is hoping to carry over its momentum from last season.
Freeport boys determined to snap WPIAL playoff victory drought
The Freeport boys basketball team is aware of the hump they have not recently managed to get over.
Avonworth’s Jax Miller puts on a show in WPIAL championship victory over Washington
Avonworth relied on the big men up front and the legs of senior running back Jax Miller to record a 28-6 victory over Washington to claim the WPIAL Class 2A championship Saturday at Norwin High School.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week for Nov. 18, 2019
November 18, 2019
For the first time this season, Class B, formerly Division 2 in the PIHL, has a forward as the TribLIVE HSSN PIHL Player of the Week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week — Nov. 18, 2019
One sign of a good program is sustaining success even after taking hits from graduation, and Thomas Jefferson has managed just that.
WPIAL Class A football finals primer: Clairton vs. Sto-Rox
November 15, 2019
WPIAL Class A championship
Sto-Rox embracing opportunity against No. 1 Clairton in WPIAL Class A final
November 14, 2019
When the first WPIAL championship football game at Heinz Field kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Class A title will be up for grabs between programs with very different stories.
Shady Side Academy dismisses Greensburg Central Catholic again to reach state finals
November 13, 2019
Greensburg Central Catholic and Shady Side Academy have been here before.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Nov. 11, 2019
November 10, 2019
Thursday was another day at the office for this week’s TribLIVE High School Sports Network PIHL Player of the Week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Nov. 11, 2019
Last season’s semifinal loss to Pine-Richland left a sour taste in the mouths of the Latroce Icecats.
Eddy Tillman strikes again as Central Catholic runs past Mt. Lebanon
November 8, 2019
In Week 9, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings beat Mt. Lebanon handily, scoring 35 unanswered points to earn the top seed in the Class 6A playoffs, in large part due to the rushing attack of junior Eddy Tillman.
PIHL Team of the Week for Nov. 3, 2019
November 3, 2019
Cathedral Prep hosted Bethel Park on Tuesday in what was anything but another early-season PIHL game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Nov. 4, 2019
The TribLIVE High School Sports Network PIHL Player of the Week is a forward for just the second time this season.
Canon-McMillan shocks North Allegheny for first WPIAL volleyball title
November 2, 2019
Entering the WPIAL Class AAAA girls volleyball championship between third-seeded Canon-McMillan and top-seeded and unbeaten North Allegheny, the Big Macs were big underdogs.
Sto-Rox ends Jeannette’s season with defensive gem
November 1, 2019
Measuring by points allowed per game, Sto-Rox and Jeannette had the two best defenses in WPIAL Class A this season.
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 28, 2019
October 27, 2019
Graduation hit a bunch of PIHL teams hard. Some lost more than others. Some have not missed a beat.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Oct. 28, 2019
The PIHL lost plenty of elite goaltenders to graduation last year. Three of the four TribLIVE HSSN Goalies of the Year in their respective classifications graduated.
Mt. Lebanon boys avenge loss to Seneca Valley in WPIAL semifinals
October 26, 2019
Last season, the Seneca Valley Raiders, on their way to a Class AAAA boys soccer championship, defeated Mt. Lebanon, 7-0, in the quarterfinals.
Shaler Area defeats Fox Chapel, grabs 2nd consecutive playoff spot
October 25, 2019
A stagnant, somewhat-sloppy first half led to halftime adjustments in both locker rooms, and when the dust settled, Shaler Area’s run game paved the way to a 27-20 victory Friday night against Fox Chapel.
PIHL Team of the Week — Oct. 21, 2019
October 21, 2019
Three PIHL teams accomplished the feat of scoring 17 goals in a game during the 2018-19 season. All of them were in the same division in Class A.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Oct. 21, 2019
October 20, 2019
Talk to any coach in the PIHL, and most will say having good goaltending is half the battle.
Fifth-seeded Charleroi ousts Burrell boys in WPIAL soccer playoffs
October 19, 2019
Charleroi, the fifth seed in the WPIAL Class AA boys soccer playoffs, lost one game this season, and it was its final game, a 4-3 defeat to Bentworth that moved the Cougars’ record to 17-1 entering the postseason.
Central Catholic’s Eddy Tillman too much for Canon-McMillan
October 18, 2019
Eddy Tillman ran for four first-half touchdowns and racked up 170 yards on only 10 carries to pace No. 2 Central Catholic to a 44-0 victory over Canon-McMillan on Friday night.
A-K Valley high school athletes of the week: Plum’s Tyler Kolankowski and Freeport’s Lauren Lampus
October 15, 2019
Tyler Kolankowski
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 13, 2019
October 13, 2019
A late surge was the reason for a Class AA playoff appearance last season for the Baldwin hockey team.
PIHL Player of the Week for Oct. 13, 2019
Last season, Bishop McCort was ineligible for the Penguins Cup Playoffs because of the amount of foreign-exchange students on the team.
Class 2A No. 5 Avonworth remains unbeaten with victory over East Allegheny
October 11, 2019
The Class 2A Allegheny Conference game between No. 5 Avonworth and East Allegheny was expected to be competitive.
PIHL Player of the Week for Oct. 6, 2019
October 6, 2019
The 2018-19 season was a tough year for Quaker Valley hockey.
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 6, 2019
During the 2018-19 PIHL regular season, Class AAA was the most defensive-minded classification by a wide margin.
Junior running backs power Beaver Falls past Keystone Oaks
October 4, 2019
Beaver Falls rallied in the fourth quarter behind strong performances from junior tailbacks Shileak Livingston and Josh Hough, beating Keystone Oaks, 34-21, Friday night at Dormont Stadium.
Teddy Ruffner runs for 318 yards, 5 touchdowns to drive Mars past Shaler
September 28, 2019
On several occasions in the second half Friday night, Shaler tried to even things up with Mars in a key Class 5A Northern Conference matchup.
Burgettstown rolls over South Side
September 20, 2019
One of the keys for fifth-year Burgettstown head coach Mark Druga in his team’s section game against the neighboring South Side Rams was to win the battle in the trenches.
South Park football gets key conference victory over Keystone Oaks
September 13, 2019
With the game deadlocked in the middle stages of the third quarter at Dormont Stadium, visiting South Park faced a fourth-and-1 from its 45-yard line.
Defense, rushing of Reese, Harmon pace Apollo-Ridge past Carlynton
September 6, 2019
It didn’t happen as fast as Apollo-Ridge would have liked, but, despite four first-half turnovers, the Vikings eventually came away with a 22-7 nonconference victory over Carlynton on Friday at Owens Field in Apollo.
Thomas Jefferson topples Belle Vernon in Section 2-4A
April 23, 2019
For the first four innings of Tuesday’s Section 2-4A contest, the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions and defending Class 5A runner-up played even softball.
Ringgold avenges loss to Belle Vernon in Section 2-4A
April 22, 2019
Two Section 2-4A softball teams who entered the season with different expectations met at Washington Township Park on Monday.
Hitting, defense come through as defending champion Belle Vernon tops McKeesport
April 4, 2019
The start of the 2019 season for the two-time defending Class 4A WPIAL softball champions has not been one the program is used to.
Trib HSSN announces PIHL Players, Goalies, Coaches of the Year
March 31, 2019
With the conclusion of the 2018-19 PIHL season, it’s time to look back at the stellar individual performances across the four classifications.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Pine-Richland
March 24, 2019
Going into the season, Pine-Richland’s goal was to win a state championship.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Pine-Richland goalie Danny Stauffer
During the PIHL regular season, Pine-Richland junior goaltender Danny Stauffer led Double-A in goals-against average.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: North Allegheny goalie Richie Karapandi
March 17, 2019
It was as if there was a brick wall between the pipes for North Allegheny in Thursday’s double-overtime win over third-seeded Bethel Park.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Ringgold
Of the eight teams in the Penguins Cup championships or the Division 2 championship, only one is a seeded lower No. 2.
Parreaguirre nets double-OT winner as North Allegheny edges Bethel Park in PIHL semifinals
March 15, 2019
When North Allegheny and Bethel Park meet in the PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs, at least over the last five meetings, the result has been a one-goal game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Franklin Regional
March 11, 2019
After back-to-back Class A Penguins Cup championships, Franklin Regional exited the postseason earlier than they hoped last season, bowing out in the quarterfinals to eventual Double-A champion Armstrong.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Franklin Regional goalie Danny Soltesz
March 10, 2019
As a two-time Penguins Cup champion goaltender, a four-year starter and a three-time PIHL All-Star for Franklin Regional, senior Danny Soltesz’s expectations are always high. But Soltesz, more often than not, exceeds expectations.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Mario Eafrati, Canon-McMillan
March 4, 2019
During the PIHL regular season, two goaltenders in Triple-A faced more than 500 shots.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Thomas Jefferson
During the regular season, the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars lost just three games — two of which came to South Fayette — by a combined five goals.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Connellsville
February 17, 2019
Connellsville needed a response after last week’s loss to Carrick, having had a chance to clinch a home game in the Division 2 playoffs in that game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Montour’s Ryan Eisel
During the third period of Monday’s Class A contest between Deer Lakes and Montour, one of the Lancers’ captains skated up to the Montour bench and talked with Montour coach Clay Shell and some of the captains for the Spartans.
Mt. Lebanon builds up steam with upset of Seneca Valley
September 27, 2024
Coming into an important Week 5 contest, the winless Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils were searching for offense. Through five games, the Blue Devils were averaging 10 points and coming off a home overtime loss to fellow Class 6A team Canon-McMillan.
No. 3 South Park tops No. 4 South Allegheny in Class 2A clash
September 21, 2024
After dominating time of possession a week ago in an Allegheny Conference win over Steel Valley, South Park’s next meeting turned into a bit of a track meet.
Pine-Richland knocks off Peters Township to reach Penguins Cup finals showdown with North Allegheny
March 11, 2024
After beating the top-seeded Pine-Richland Rams twice in the regular season, No. 4 seed Peters Township was feeling great after scoring two goals in 19 seconds in the first three minutes of Monday’s Penguins Cup Class 3A semifinal between the teams.
South Fayette knocks off McKeesport to earn 3rd straight trip to WPIAL Class 5A finals
February 27, 2024
The AHN Arena at Peters Township saw a defensive battle in the Class 5A girls semifinal between No. 6 South Fayette and No. 2 McKeesport. When the dust settled, the Lions earned their third straight trip to Pitt’s Petersen Events Center with a 49-41 win over the Tigers.
Moon gets past Thomas Jefferson in star-studded semifinal
February 26, 2024
After missing a pair of free throws with 47.8 seconds to go, Aiden Reesman re-toed the line with 6.5 seconds to go with a chance to give the top-seeded Moon Tigers the lead in the waning seconds of a WPIAL Class 5A semifinal Monday night at the AHN Arena at Peters Township.
Cheswick Christian boys program making giant leaps forward
November 15, 2023
When the Cheswick Christian boys basketball team followed a 3-11 record in the 2020-21 covid-shortened season with a 7-11 mark and a playoff berth in 2021-22, it was a big step forward.
Cheswick Christian girls hungry for improvement
Last season saw the Cheswick Christian girls basketball team win just four games after making the postseason in 2022-23, but under a new but familiar head coach this season, the Chargers are primed for improvement across the board.
Top-seeded Peters Township throttles Moon to reach WPIAL Class 5A title game
November 10, 2023
An 11-minute, 20-second drive opened the scoring in Friday’s WPIAL Class 5A semifinal with No. 5 Moon taking a 3-0 lead on Hayden Boland’s 32-yard field goal.
No. 10 Trinity rolls past North Catholic for 1st playoff win since 2007
November 3, 2023
Despite winning three of its last four games, including a win over perennial power Thomas Jefferson, which had just beaten 3A state champion Belle Vernon, the Trinity Hillers finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Seven Conference. Tiebreaker points and head-to-head results later, the Hillers ended up seeded 10th in the Class 4A postseason.
Realignment changes PIHL landscape, but champs are back to defend their titles
October 3, 2023
The 2023-24 PIHL season has begun, and while the alignment of the league has undergone changes, the contenders and talent on the ice are back for another year of puck.
Moon grinds to victory against South Fayette
September 29, 2023
It’s not too often that Moon’s wing-T offense will be flashy, and it wasn’t in Friday’s 24-3 win over South Fayette to allow the Tigers (3-3, 1-0 5A-1) to win their third straight and open conference play in the Allegheny Six.
Strong defense spearheads Central Catholic’s shutout victory over Mt. Lebanon
September 15, 2023
Behind a quick start and relentless defense, Central Catholic won a battle of unbeaten Class 6A teams Friday in the South Hills, besting Mt. Lebanon, 49-0.
Canon-McMillan logs valuable early win against Seneca Valley
September 8, 2023
Going into Friday’s home opener — a rematch of the game that decided the final playoff team in Class 6A last season — Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans said he felt good.
Kiski falls to West Chester East in Class A Pennsylvania Cup championship game
March 25, 2023
The story the last few years for the West Chester East hockey program has been depth, speed and a tendency to jump on opponents and wear them out.
Penguins Cup champion Kiski writing remarkable postseason story
March 21, 2023
The last couple of weeks for the Kiski Area hockey team have been a whirlwind.
Kiski goalie proves point with Penguins Cup Class A championship win over Fox Chapel
March 20, 2023
Kiski senior goaltender Evin Brice turned in a masterful performance Monday night, making 34 saves to lead his team to a 4-1 victory over Fox Chapel in the PIHL Penguins Cup Class A championship game.
Peters Township jumps on Upper St. Clair, claims Class 3A Penguins Cup
One side felt elated, the other was shell shocked in Cranberry just seconds into the Class 3A PIHL championship game, as the Penguins Cup title game started with a turnover and a bang for the defending champion Peters Township Indians.
Lincoln Park fends off Highlands to advance to PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals
March 14, 2023
The last time Lincoln Park and Highlands met, back in the WPIAL semifinals, the Leopards couldn’t stop hitting outside shots.
South Fayette keeps repeat bid alive with dominant win over Woodland Hills
February 28, 2023
All season long, the South Fayette Lions have been beating to their own drum.
Penn Hills too much for Mars in Class 5A quarterfinals
February 22, 2023
Throughout the 2022-23 season, the Penn Hills Indians have flexed their muscles, athleticism and length to have a lot of success, in search of a WPIAL title, which would be the sixth in program history.
Fast start lifts No. 2 Peters Township past No. 4 Bethel Park as Indians secure 1st section title since ’09
February 11, 2023
No. 4 Bethel Park and No. 2 Peters Township both controlled their own destiny for a title in Section 1-5A going into the final Friday night of the 2022-23 boys basketball regular season.
Behind Division I recruits, young wrestlers ready to make impact for Chartiers Valley
January 22, 2023
It’s a young team on the mats at Chartiers Valley High School but a team longtime coach Bill Evans is watching develop in front of his eyes day after day.
After strong start, Chartiers Valley boys eye continued improvement
Prior to the start of the 2022-23 boys basketball season, fifth-year coach Brandon Sensor and his Chartiers Valley program set high expectations.
After wholesale changes, new coach excited to see what Chartiers Valley girls can do
December 4, 2022
The Chartiers Valley girls basketball team in 2022-23 will definitely look different than it has the past four seasons both on the court and on the bench.
After showing flashes last season, Chartiers Valley boys look to return to contention
Two seasons ago, the Chartiers Valley boys basketball team was a WPIAL finalist. The Colts went 22-4 with that fourth loss a defeat at the hands of New Castle in the district title game.
Gateway girls basketball looks to use team approach to get back on track
November 27, 2022
For the last several seasons, the Gateway girls basketball team has had one or two top-level players on the roster — a scorer or two who could fill up the stat sheet before matriculating on to the next level to play high-end college basketball.
Gateway hopes to carry momentum of playoff run into new season
After an impressive playoff run for the Gateway boys basketball team a season ago, things will look a bit different on the hardwood in Monroeville in 2022-23.
Beaver Falls, Steel Valley to meet in clash of WPIAL Class 2A powerhouses
November 23, 2022
Last season, Beaver Falls had a WPIAL championship experience to forget.
Union aims to prevent Bishop Canevin from defending WPIAL Class A title
A season ago, the Bishop Canevin Crusaders completed a turnaround from 1-9 in 2019 to WPIAL champions in Class A under then second-year coach Richard Johnson.
Beaver Falls finishes off Sto-Rox, gets back to WPIAL championship game
November 19, 2022
With a big first half on defense, an offensive ability to take advantage of short fields and a second half that saw the Tigers run away from third-seeded Sto-Rox, second-seeded Beaver Falls earned a trip to Acrisure Stadium to play for the Class 2A championship on Black Friday.
Under new coach, Cheswick Christian girls focus on speed, defense
November 16, 2022
The Cheswick Christian girls basketball team enters the 2022-23 season off a playoff appearance and a winning record at 10-9 in what was a return to a full schedule after the team played just nine games the year before.
Cheswick Christian boys basketball headed in right direction
Following a 3-11 record in the covid-shortened 2020-21 season, the Cheswick Christian boys basketball team took a step forward last season by going 7-11 and making the playoffs in the Southwest Christian Athletic Conference.
No. 1 Freeport claims 2nd straight WPIAL girls volleyball championship
November 5, 2022
After dropping the first set of the WPIAL Class 2A girls volleyball championship to Shenango on Saturday, top-seeded Freeport dug deep into a bag full of experience on the big stage.
Bethel Park completes breakout regular season with win over rival Peters Township
October 29, 2022
Two seasons ago, Bethel Park went winless.
Players switch positions, pace offense as Bethel Park tops South Fayette, clinches playoff spot
October 21, 2022
Bethel Park was without its top running back, Austin Caye, on Friday night at South Fayette Stadium, but the conference-leading Black Hawks still clinched a playoff spot in the Class 5A Allegheny Six with a 28-9 win.
West Allegheny clinches playoff spot by beating Blackhawk in 2OT
October 14, 2022
The West Allegheny Indians missed the playoffs the past three years, the first that had happened since 1994-96. They will not miss a fourth consecutive time.
Sto-Rox continues to roll with mercy-rule win over Washington
October 7, 2022
Sto-Rox lost two nonconference games by three points apiece and allowed 48 points in those losses combined to open the season. Since then, the Vikings have allowed only seven points, all of which came in the first of what is now four-straight wins after Friday night, to Charleroi.
Late touchdown gives resurgent Shaler its 1st victory over Woodland Hills
September 30, 2022
After his team’s thrilling double-overtime victory over Franklin Regional on homecoming last week, Shaler coach Jim Ryan said he hoped the win would kick start the Titans into conference play.
Mt. Lebanon girls top Bethel Park to set up showdown with Upper St. Clair
February 26, 2022
During the regular season, Mt. Lebanon handled Bethel Park twice.
Early surge in 3rd quarter carries Mt. Lebanon boys past Hempfield in Class 6A
February 22, 2022
After weathering a second-quarter comeback attempt by 13th-seeded Hempfield, Mt. Lebanon pulled away from the Spartans for the second time this season.
Seneca Valley beats Peters Township to repeat as WPIAL Class 4A champs
November 6, 2021
Last season, the Seneca Valley Raiders won WPIAL and state boys soccer championships with an experienced team and lost a fair amount from that group to graduation.
Pine-Richland girls soccer players show growth on, off the field
October 31, 2021
Success was measured both on the pitch and off for the Pine-Richland girls soccer program this season, one that saw the Rams finish 5-10 after a WPIAL first-round playoff exit at the hands of No. 6 Peters Township on Oct. 25.
Momentum-shifting save, strong second half lift Kiski Area boys soccer team to playoff win over Gateway
October 23, 2021
After a back-and-forth start to their Class 3A first-round playoff matchup with Gateway on Saturday, the Kiski Area boys soccer team got to playing how it wante and ran away with a 5-1 win on the strength of four second-half goals.
Long 1st-half drive sparks North Hills to win over Fox Chapel
October 22, 2021
After neither team could get things going offensively against stout defensive play in the first half, North Hills took over in the middle of the second quarter with the worst field position for either team at its own 10-yard line.
North Hills defense stands tall in 4th quarter in win over Pine-Richland
October 16, 2021
A defensive football game Friday at a loud Martorelli Stadium in West View came to a fitting close Friday night.
PIHL season preview: Plenty of contenders chasing championships in 2021-22
October 3, 2021
The PIHL season begins Monday, and there are some changes to the league but a lot will remain the same.
Clairton holds on for victory over Bishop Canevin in sloppy game
October 1, 2021
After a two-game losing streak and a two-game winning streak, Clairton faced a first-place battle against an undefeated Bishop Canevin football team Friday night.
North Allegheny girls roll into state semifinals with rout of McDowell
March 19, 2021
Fresh off its runaway win in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game to claim its fourth title in five years, the North Allegheny girls’ basketball team picked up right where it left off as play advanced to the PIAA postseason.
Rochester handles Aquinas Academy to make 3rd straight WPIAL finals
March 11, 2021
Going into the WPIAL girls basketball playoffs, Rochester went 18 days without a game due to covid-19 precautions and their bye as the No. 1 seed in the Class A bracket.
North Catholic topples Ellwood City to capture 2nd WPIAL girls volleyball title in 3 years
November 7, 2020
Last season, the North Catholic girls volleyball team was a set away on three occasions from going back-to-back in championship opportunities, but ultimately fell to Freeport in five sets.
Bishop Canevin wins 4th straight WPIAL volleyball title hours after coach’s death
On Friday, Bishop Canevin’s volleyball and athletics community learned of the death of 14-year head coach Kevin Walters.
North Allegheny overcomes late goal to win Class 4A girls soccer title in overtime
November 6, 2020
With North Allegheny holding a one-goal lead with 32 seconds left in Thursday’s Class 4A girls soccer championship game, Butler gained its second penalty kick opportunity of the second half, and, unlike the first time, didn’t miss.
Montour knocks off undefeated Plum in WPIAL Class 3A volleyball semifinals
November 4, 2020
Going into the WPIAL Class 3A girls volleyball semifinals against unbeaten Plum, Montour knew it would have to lean on its diverse offense.
Springdale boys score 5 second-half goals to pull away from Seton LaSalle
October 31, 2020
Springdale’s boys soccer team spent the first half of its quarterfinal match against Seton LaSalle trying to get a feel for the Rebels’ tactics.
Late score pushes USC past South Fayette, into playoffs for 21st straight season
October 23, 2020
With his team trailing by three points with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter of a win-and-in game in Week 7, second-year Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko elected to go for it on a fourth-and-12 from the South Fayette 45-yard line.
Local players urge USA Hockey to consider rescheduling national championships
March 18, 2020
Since 1938, USA Hockey, then known as the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, has been crowning national champions on the rink at a myriad of different levels.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending March 15, 2020
March 16, 2020
Sophomore forward Nathan Boulanger hasn’t been with the Ringgold Rams all season.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending March 15, 2020
March 15, 2020
Sophomore Jacob Fetzer had six goals during the regular season. They all came in the first 10 games.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending March 8, 2020
March 8, 2020
In Class AAA’s Penguins Cup Playoffs, each game was decided by three goals or fewer.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending March 8, 2020
When it comes to the PIHL playoffs, teams often rely on their experienced players.
PIHL Team of the Week for Week ending March 1, 2020
March 2, 2020
Entering the final week of the PIHL regular season, much still was to be determined when it came to the playoffs.
PIHL Player of the Week for Week ending March 1, 2020
Chartiers Valley and North Hills met last Monday in a game featuring two PIHL teams that won’t be taking part in the Penguins Cup or Class B playoffs.
Mt. Lebanon starts strong, finishes off Central Catholic in Class 6A semis
February 26, 2020
Playing in their third consecutive WPIAL semifinal, the defending Class 6A champion Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils knew they’d need a good start on both ends in order to continue to defend their title.
Bethel Park wins ‘ugly,’ beats Mt. Lebanon to advance to WPIAL 6A title game
February 25, 2020
The last time Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils matched up, scoring was not at a premium.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 23, 2020
February 23, 2020
It has been an interesting season for Plum.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Upper St. Clair
For the Upper St. Clair hockey team, the start to the season wasn’t great.
North Allegheny girls, Fox Chapel’s Manelis dominate at WPIAL diving championships
February 22, 2020
Going into the 31-diver girls event at the WPIAL Class AAA diving championships Saturday, the host North Allegheny Tigers had the top three seeds: freshman Zoe Ky first, junior Maya Ennis second and freshman Christina Shi third.
North Catholic sweeps WPIAL Class AA diving championships
February 21, 2020
North Catholic, on the backs of a freshman and a senior, dominated the girls and boys events at the WPIAL Class AA diving championships Friday at South Park.
Lincoln Park boys crank up defensive pressure, take down Neshannock
February 20, 2020
When Mike Bariski writes on the white board in Lincoln Park’s locker room before each game, he writes defense first.
Reynolds makes clutch plays as Shaler boys beat Gateway
February 17, 2020
Late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round game, seventh-seeded Shaler Area’s 14-point halftime lead was gone, erased by upset-minded, 10th-seeded Gateway.
Penn-Trafford wrestlers look to take next step at individual section tournament
Coming into the 2019-20 season, Penn-Trafford first-year wrestling coach AJ Brentzel knew it might be a tough winter as he tried to rebuild the program’s winning culture.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: West Allegheny
February 16, 2020
Going into the final two weeks of the PIHL regular season, there is only one remaining unbeaten team.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 16, 2020
High-scoring nights are nothing new to Burrell senior Gio Palombo.
Trib HSSN PIHL player of the week: Canon-McMillan goalie Mario Eafrati
February 10, 2020
Team success usually hinges on good goaltending, and good goaltending coupled with team success usually leads to the netminder being in the spotlight.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week: Greensburg Salem
It’s been an extended playoffs of sorts over the last few weeks for the Greensburg Salem hockey team.
South Park girls overcome obstacles, beat Seton LaSalle for section crown
February 6, 2020
The No. 5 South Park Eagles girls basketball team entered the 2019-20 season as the defending Section 2-3A champions but not without hurdles.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Feb. 2, 2020
February 2, 2020
With his team facing two big games last week, Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Crousey knew his team needed his stars to play like stars. They did, and one played especially well and added a five-point All-Star Game to his week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Feb. 2, 2020
The biggest games on the schedule for North Hills are still ahead, and the Indians know that.
PIHL set to launch 4-team girls division in May
February 1, 2020
In the PIHL, there are several girls who don varsity uniforms on a nightly basis, and there have been plenty of instances when girls have succeeded playing among the boys.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Jan. 26, 2020
January 26, 2020
When Hampton defeated Pine-Richland in a shootout to hand the Rams their only loss of the 2018-19 PIHL season, Jacob McGee stopped 41 of the 44 shots he faced.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Jan. 26, 2020
Last season, the Pine-Richland Rams lost one game.
Last second shot by Mt. Lebanon’s Ashleigh Connor hands No. 1 Bethel Park its first loss
January 23, 2020
In Mt. Lebanon’s two-point loss to Imhotep Charter on Saturday in the MLK Showcase at Woodland Hills, Blue Devils sophomore Ashleigh Connor hit the front rim on a 3-pointer that would have won the game at the buzzer.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Week ending Jan. 19, 2020
January 19, 2020
Ringgold came into the 2019-20 season with lofty expectations, and for good reason. Last year, the Rams avenged being eliminated in the previous postseason by Burrell by beating the Bucs in the Division 2 championship game.
Riley DeRubbo stars for Trinity in win over Thomas Jefferson
January 13, 2020
Last year, Thomas Jefferson, as part of a 22-win season in girls basketball, beat Trinity three times.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Jan. 12, 2020
January 12, 2020
After a 6-0 start to PIHL play, Seneca Valley started a tailspin.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Week ending Jan. 12, 2020
The name Tyler Stewart should be familiar to anyone who has followed the PIHL recently.
Franklin Regional earns another trip competitive spirit state championships
Since the WPIAL officially sanctioned competitive spirit as a district-sponsored sport for the 2012-13 academic year, only 10 teams have qualified for the PIAA championships at least seven times.
Freeport girls shut down Knoch
January 9, 2020
Using a dominant defensive effort, plus a dose of offensive and defensive rebounding and evenly distributed scoring, the Freeport Yellow Jackets defeated next-door neighbor Knoch for the fifth-consecutive time, winning by a final of 53-39 Thursday night.
No. 1 Fox Chapel stays unbeaten with convincing win over Norwin
January 7, 2020
Fox Chapel, the top-ranked team in Class 6A, jumped ahead in the first minute and didn’t look back, leading the entire way to a 63-48 victory over Norwin on Tuesday night.
Despite shorthanded roster, Plum wrestlers aim for improvement
December 27, 2019
Coming off a 2-5 season in 2018-19 when the team had one senior and just four juniors, Plum’s wrestling team was looking for improvement.
Trib HSSN PIHL team of the week — Dec. 23, 2019
December 24, 2019
The Montour Spartans didn’t get off to the start they hoped for in the 2019-20 PIHL regular season.
TribHSSN PIHL player of the week for the week of Dec. 23, 2019
December 23, 2019
Danny Stauffer’s in-net success at Pine-Richland is well-documented.
TribHSSN PIHL Player of the Week for Week of Dec. 15, 2019
December 15, 2019
Matt Traczynski has become quite the two-way player for Hempfield.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 15, 2019
Last season, Pine-Richland won the Class AA Penguins Cup championship and a state title.
PIHL Players of the Week: Dec. 8, 2019
December 9, 2019
It’s not always easy to pick just one player of the week with all of the good performances logged in the PIHL each week. This past week was no different.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 8, 2019
Chris Serakowski is in his second season as the head coach of Carrick’s varsity hockey team, and he has a message that he and his staff have been preaching to the Cougar players this season, a season removed from a fifth-place finish in the final Division 2 standings last year, and only two years removed from a one-win season.
PIHL Player of the Week for week ending Dec. 1, 2019
December 1, 2019
North Catholic is playing varsity hockey for the first time in nearly two decades.
PIHL Team of the Week: Dec. 1, 2019
Mt. Lebanon played four games in two weeks to start the season, and six in October, which is more than most Class AAA teams.
Nowhere to go but up for St. Joseph girls after 1-21 season
Last season was one to forget for the St. Joseph girls’ basketball team.
Stalwart Sullivan leads new-look St. Joseph boys basketball
Last season was a good time to be part of the St. Joseph boys basketball team.
PIHL Player of the Week for week ending Nov. 24, 2019
November 24, 2019
It’s been a sluggish start for Thomas Jefferson’s second-leading scorer from the 2018-19 campaign.
PIHL Team of the Week for week ending Nov. 24, 2019
The 2018-19 season was historic for the Burrell hockey team.
Freeport girls basketball looking for sustained success
November 23, 2019
The Freeport girls basketball team is hoping to carry over its momentum from last season.
Freeport boys determined to snap WPIAL playoff victory drought
The Freeport boys basketball team is aware of the hump they have not recently managed to get over.
Avonworth’s Jax Miller puts on a show in WPIAL championship victory over Washington
Avonworth relied on the big men up front and the legs of senior running back Jax Miller to record a 28-6 victory over Washington to claim the WPIAL Class 2A championship Saturday at Norwin High School.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week for Nov. 18, 2019
November 18, 2019
For the first time this season, Class B, formerly Division 2 in the PIHL, has a forward as the TribLIVE HSSN PIHL Player of the Week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week — Nov. 18, 2019
One sign of a good program is sustaining success even after taking hits from graduation, and Thomas Jefferson has managed just that.
WPIAL Class A football finals primer: Clairton vs. Sto-Rox
November 15, 2019
WPIAL Class A championship
Sto-Rox embracing opportunity against No. 1 Clairton in WPIAL Class A final
November 14, 2019
When the first WPIAL championship football game at Heinz Field kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, the Class A title will be up for grabs between programs with very different stories.
Shady Side Academy dismisses Greensburg Central Catholic again to reach state finals
November 13, 2019
Greensburg Central Catholic and Shady Side Academy have been here before.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Nov. 11, 2019
November 10, 2019
Thursday was another day at the office for this week’s TribLIVE High School Sports Network PIHL Player of the Week.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Nov. 11, 2019
Last season’s semifinal loss to Pine-Richland left a sour taste in the mouths of the Latroce Icecats.
Eddy Tillman strikes again as Central Catholic runs past Mt. Lebanon
November 8, 2019
In Week 9, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings beat Mt. Lebanon handily, scoring 35 unanswered points to earn the top seed in the Class 6A playoffs, in large part due to the rushing attack of junior Eddy Tillman.
PIHL Team of the Week for Nov. 3, 2019
November 3, 2019
Cathedral Prep hosted Bethel Park on Tuesday in what was anything but another early-season PIHL game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Nov. 4, 2019
The TribLIVE High School Sports Network PIHL Player of the Week is a forward for just the second time this season.
Canon-McMillan shocks North Allegheny for first WPIAL volleyball title
November 2, 2019
Entering the WPIAL Class AAAA girls volleyball championship between third-seeded Canon-McMillan and top-seeded and unbeaten North Allegheny, the Big Macs were big underdogs.
Sto-Rox ends Jeannette’s season with defensive gem
November 1, 2019
Measuring by points allowed per game, Sto-Rox and Jeannette had the two best defenses in WPIAL Class A this season.
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 28, 2019
October 27, 2019
Graduation hit a bunch of PIHL teams hard. Some lost more than others. Some have not missed a beat.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Oct. 28, 2019
The PIHL lost plenty of elite goaltenders to graduation last year. Three of the four TribLIVE HSSN Goalies of the Year in their respective classifications graduated.
Mt. Lebanon boys avenge loss to Seneca Valley in WPIAL semifinals
October 26, 2019
Last season, the Seneca Valley Raiders, on their way to a Class AAAA boys soccer championship, defeated Mt. Lebanon, 7-0, in the quarterfinals.
Shaler Area defeats Fox Chapel, grabs 2nd consecutive playoff spot
October 25, 2019
A stagnant, somewhat-sloppy first half led to halftime adjustments in both locker rooms, and when the dust settled, Shaler Area’s run game paved the way to a 27-20 victory Friday night against Fox Chapel.
PIHL Team of the Week — Oct. 21, 2019
October 21, 2019
Three PIHL teams accomplished the feat of scoring 17 goals in a game during the 2018-19 season. All of them were in the same division in Class A.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week — Oct. 21, 2019
October 20, 2019
Talk to any coach in the PIHL, and most will say having good goaltending is half the battle.
Fifth-seeded Charleroi ousts Burrell boys in WPIAL soccer playoffs
October 19, 2019
Charleroi, the fifth seed in the WPIAL Class AA boys soccer playoffs, lost one game this season, and it was its final game, a 4-3 defeat to Bentworth that moved the Cougars’ record to 17-1 entering the postseason.
Central Catholic’s Eddy Tillman too much for Canon-McMillan
October 18, 2019
Eddy Tillman ran for four first-half touchdowns and racked up 170 yards on only 10 carries to pace No. 2 Central Catholic to a 44-0 victory over Canon-McMillan on Friday night.
A-K Valley high school athletes of the week: Plum’s Tyler Kolankowski and Freeport’s Lauren Lampus
October 15, 2019
Tyler Kolankowski
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 13, 2019
October 13, 2019
A late surge was the reason for a Class AA playoff appearance last season for the Baldwin hockey team.
PIHL Player of the Week for Oct. 13, 2019
Last season, Bishop McCort was ineligible for the Penguins Cup Playoffs because of the amount of foreign-exchange students on the team.
Class 2A No. 5 Avonworth remains unbeaten with victory over East Allegheny
October 11, 2019
The Class 2A Allegheny Conference game between No. 5 Avonworth and East Allegheny was expected to be competitive.
PIHL Player of the Week for Oct. 6, 2019
October 6, 2019
The 2018-19 season was a tough year for Quaker Valley hockey.
PIHL Team of the Week for Oct. 6, 2019
During the 2018-19 PIHL regular season, Class AAA was the most defensive-minded classification by a wide margin.
Junior running backs power Beaver Falls past Keystone Oaks
October 4, 2019
Beaver Falls rallied in the fourth quarter behind strong performances from junior tailbacks Shileak Livingston and Josh Hough, beating Keystone Oaks, 34-21, Friday night at Dormont Stadium.
Teddy Ruffner runs for 318 yards, 5 touchdowns to drive Mars past Shaler
September 28, 2019
On several occasions in the second half Friday night, Shaler tried to even things up with Mars in a key Class 5A Northern Conference matchup.
Burgettstown rolls over South Side
September 20, 2019
One of the keys for fifth-year Burgettstown head coach Mark Druga in his team’s section game against the neighboring South Side Rams was to win the battle in the trenches.
South Park football gets key conference victory over Keystone Oaks
September 13, 2019
With the game deadlocked in the middle stages of the third quarter at Dormont Stadium, visiting South Park faced a fourth-and-1 from its 45-yard line.
Defense, rushing of Reese, Harmon pace Apollo-Ridge past Carlynton
September 6, 2019
It didn’t happen as fast as Apollo-Ridge would have liked, but, despite four first-half turnovers, the Vikings eventually came away with a 22-7 nonconference victory over Carlynton on Friday at Owens Field in Apollo.
Thomas Jefferson topples Belle Vernon in Section 2-4A
April 23, 2019
For the first four innings of Tuesday’s Section 2-4A contest, the defending WPIAL Class 4A champions and defending Class 5A runner-up played even softball.
Ringgold avenges loss to Belle Vernon in Section 2-4A
April 22, 2019
Two Section 2-4A softball teams who entered the season with different expectations met at Washington Township Park on Monday.
Hitting, defense come through as defending champion Belle Vernon tops McKeesport
April 4, 2019
The start of the 2019 season for the two-time defending Class 4A WPIAL softball champions has not been one the program is used to.
Trib HSSN announces PIHL Players, Goalies, Coaches of the Year
March 31, 2019
With the conclusion of the 2018-19 PIHL season, it’s time to look back at the stellar individual performances across the four classifications.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Pine-Richland
March 24, 2019
Going into the season, Pine-Richland’s goal was to win a state championship.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Pine-Richland goalie Danny Stauffer
During the PIHL regular season, Pine-Richland junior goaltender Danny Stauffer led Double-A in goals-against average.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: North Allegheny goalie Richie Karapandi
March 17, 2019
It was as if there was a brick wall between the pipes for North Allegheny in Thursday’s double-overtime win over third-seeded Bethel Park.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Ringgold
Of the eight teams in the Penguins Cup championships or the Division 2 championship, only one is a seeded lower No. 2.
Parreaguirre nets double-OT winner as North Allegheny edges Bethel Park in PIHL semifinals
March 15, 2019
When North Allegheny and Bethel Park meet in the PIHL Penguins Cup playoffs, at least over the last five meetings, the result has been a one-goal game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Franklin Regional
March 11, 2019
After back-to-back Class A Penguins Cup championships, Franklin Regional exited the postseason earlier than they hoped last season, bowing out in the quarterfinals to eventual Double-A champion Armstrong.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Franklin Regional goalie Danny Soltesz
March 10, 2019
As a two-time Penguins Cup champion goaltender, a four-year starter and a three-time PIHL All-Star for Franklin Regional, senior Danny Soltesz’s expectations are always high. But Soltesz, more often than not, exceeds expectations.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Mario Eafrati, Canon-McMillan
March 4, 2019
During the PIHL regular season, two goaltenders in Triple-A faced more than 500 shots.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Thomas Jefferson
During the regular season, the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars lost just three games — two of which came to South Fayette — by a combined five goals.
Trib HSSN PIHL Team of the Week: Connellsville
February 17, 2019
Connellsville needed a response after last week’s loss to Carrick, having had a chance to clinch a home game in the Division 2 playoffs in that game.
Trib HSSN PIHL Player of the Week: Montour’s Ryan Eisel
During the third period of Monday’s Class A contest between Deer Lakes and Montour, one of the Lancers’ captains skated up to the Montour bench and talked with Montour coach Clay Shell and some of the captains for the Spartans.
