Breaking down the 2023 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | 3:09 PM

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Here’s a closer look at the 2023 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs:

Class 4A

Favorite: Seneca Valley (13-0-3), which has won three WPIAL titles in the last five years and was the runner-up last year, enters the postseason without a loss. The Raiders, led by veteran coach George Williams, ranked fifth in the state coaches’ poll. They have posted six straight shutouts and have scored 62 goals.

Contenders: North Allegheny (13-1-3) finished second to Seneca Valley — just barely — in the power section of 4A. The Tigers’ only loss was to Seneca Valley, 2-0. … Scrappy Butler (13-2-3) has not lost since early September and tied Seneca Valley and North Allegheny. … Section 2 champion Upper St. Clair (14-1-2), a six-time WPIAL champion, the last coming in 2011, hasn’t lost since Sept. 14. … Fox Chapel (10-4-2) also tied the top two teams in Section 1.

Don’t overlook: Norwin (12-5-1), which has a class-leading 64 goals, and Peters Township (12-3-1) tied for second in Section 2. The Indians have a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Top players: Owen Christopher, Norwin; Joe Donnelly, Upper St. Clair; Blake Gabelhart, Peters Township; Cole Kamarec, Seneca Valley; Nick Kilgore Butler; Colin Lazzara, Fox Chapel; Cody Lubinsky, Butler; Zack Nash, North Allegheny; Michael Shin, Fox Chapel; Ryan Simonette, Canon-McMillan; Danny Stevens, North Allegheny

Prediction: North Allegheny over Seneca Valley

Class 3A

Favorite: Plum (17-1) picked up the No. 1 seed after winning Section 4 without a loss. The Mustangs are ranked No. 3 in the state and have 11 shutouts. The team has one WPIAL title, in 2005.

Contenders: Hampton (13-2-1), the Section 1 winner, put up 74 goals to lead 3A. Its two losses are to 4A teams. …Defending champion Moon (14-3-1) edged Montour (13-3) to win Section 2. … Bethel Park (15-1-1) outscored teams 69-8 and did not lose to a 3A opponent.

Don’t overlook: Mars (11-3-1) finished as the Section 1 runner-up to Hampton and surrendered only 11 goals. … Thomas Jefferson has allowed only eight goals in 14 games.

Top players: Roman Agostoni, Latrobe; Joey Bayne, Franklin Regional; Nate Belcufine, South Fayette; Luke Fiscus, Hampton; Henry Gaston, Bethel Park; Owen Haywood, Ringgold; Matt Marcinko, Montour; Brayden Miller, Thomas Jefferson; Cooper Nickles, Moon; Tristan Ralph, Plum; Mike Walenchock, Moon

Prediction: Plum over Moon

Class 2A

Favorite: Undefeated South Park (18-0) has a good shot at its first WPIAL title since 2014. The high-powered Eagles have produced 79 goals and have given up six.

Contenders: Deer Lakes (14-2), the champion in 2022 and ‘20, has scored 117 goals and allowed 17. The Lancers do not have a loss in October. … Avonworth (14-2-1) and Quaker Valley (14-3) tied for the Section 4 title. The Antelopes’ losses are to Quaker Valley and South Park. Quaker Valley has pumped in 89 goals. … A team with 100 goals, Shady Side Academy (12-4-1), has four losses, but three of them are against Deer Lakes, Plum and Fox Chapel.

Don’t overlook: Belle Vernon (14-2) features Trevor Kovatch, who is second in the WPIAL with 47 goals.

Top players: Nick Allan, Quaker Valley; Amir Awais, Shady Side Academy; Danny Batista, South Park; Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth; Joe Connors, East Allegheny; Kaiden Fischer, South Park; Trevor Kovatch, Belle Vernon; Peyton Kushon, Deer Lakes; Jack Ozimek, South Park; Collin Rodgers, Deer Lakes; Dylan Stewart, McGuffey; Jordan Taylor, Jeannette

Prediction: South Park over Deer Lakes

Class A

Favorite: Charleroi (16-0) ripped through Section 1 and posted 10 shutouts. Four of the Cougars’ wins came against teams in larger classifications. They are ranked second in the state.

Contenders: Sewickley Academy (12-2-1) gave up only 15 goals in as many games. … Springdale (13-3) and Burrell (12-3) tied for the Section 3 title and split a pair of games. … Seton LaSalle (12-2-1) allowed only six goals and posted 11 shutouts in 13 games. The Rebels split Section 4 with Serra Catholic.

Don’t overlook: Bentworth (14-2), which plays fast, leads the classification with 110 goals. Both of its losses are to Charleroi. … Winchester Thurston (10-3-2) has won the last two titles.

Top players: Jack Billick, Seton LaSalle; Danny Bourgeois, OLSH; Jake Chambers, Charleroi; Nick Cherry, Seton LaSalle; Chase D’Antonio, Sewickley Academy; Sean Kelsch, Bishop Canevin; Billy Lawrence, Springdale; AJ Mejalli, Serra Catholic; Ryan Moessner, Bentworth; John Scott, Bentworth; Tomer Tuti, Winchester Thurston

Prediction: Charleroi over Sewickley Academy

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Avonworth, Belle Vernon, Bentworth, Bethel Park, Burrell, Butler, Charleroi, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Mars, Montour, Moon, North Allegheny, Norwin, Peters Township, Plum, Quaker Valley, Seneca Valley, Seton La Salle, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, South Park, Springdale, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair