Breaking down the 2024 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | 3:31 PM

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Here’s a look at the 2024 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs:

Class 4A

Favorite: Plum was in Class 3A last year and was upset by South Fayette in the quarterfinals, but that was the Mustangs’ last loss. They have allowed 10 goals all season and tied two good 4A teams in North Allegheny and Upper St. Clair.

Contenders: Peters Township has outscored teams 68-6 and rides a 13-game winning streak into the playoffs. … North Allegheny and Fox Chapel shared the Section 3 title. Both were semifinal teams a year ago, with North Allegheny reaching the finals. … Norwin is the defending champion and became fully healthy late in the season.

Don’t overlook: Upper St. Clair finished second to Peters Township in Section 2. The Panthers lost to Norwin, 2-1, in two overtimes to end the regular season.

Top players: Liam Burlovic, Upper St. Clair; Garrett Chandler, Plum; Milo Chu, Fox Chapel; Owen Eastgate, Seneca Valley; Gabe Fegely, Canon-McMillan; Caden Hensler, Peters Township; Jeven Kelley, Peters Township; Nick LoCoco, Gateway; Daniel Maddock, Norwin; Alex Larise, Peters Township; Ben Murtaugh, Upper St. Clair; Zach Nash, North Allegheny; Tyler Prex, Seneca Valley; Andy Strasser, Plum

Prediction: Plum over Fox Chapel

Class 3A

Favorite: Unbeaten Moon has posted 11 shutouts and has surrendered only eight goals in 17 games, including only four against section teams. The Tigers reached the quarterfinals last year and lost to Franklin Regional.

Contenders: Thomas Jefferson gave up seven goals in 15 games. The Jaguars edged Bethel Park for the Section 2 title. … Section 1 champion Indiana gave up 17 goals in as many games. … Latrobe claimed its first section title and showed offensive and defensive balance. … Franklin Regional is a perennial playoff team with some offensive firepower.

Don’t overlook: Mars took a six-game unbeaten streak into the final night of the regular season. … West Allegheny comes from a tough Section 4 and lost by one to Moon in their first encounter. … Hampton was a finalist last year.

Top players: Roman Agostoni, Latrobe; Zach Angoff, Mars; Joey Bayne, Franklin Regional; Danny Christafano, Franklin Regional; Russell Crane, Indiana; John Crug, Chartiers Valley; Fin Dengel, Moon; Nick Evans, Ringgold; Jackson Friday, Bethel Park; Trevor Kovatch, Belle Vernon; Braden Miller, Thomas Jefferson; Andrew Prunier, Montour; Sam Wessel, Thomas Jefferson; Colton Yonker, West Allegheny

Prediction: Moon over Thomas Jefferson

Class 2A

Favorite: South Park is the defending champion and has the makeup of another winner. The Eagles take an 11-game winning streak into the tournament and have surrendered only 11 goals.

Contenders: Section 2 champion Avonworth was a semifinalist last year and has put up 101 goals. … Another playoff regular, Deer Lakes has won nine in a row. … Quaker Valley also made the final four a year ago and had allowed the fewest goals in Section 2 (13). … One-loss Charleroi possesses speed and finishing ability but comes from arguably the weakest of the four sections. The Cougars, who fell to Mt. Pleasant in overtime Tuesday, were leading the WPIAL with 112 goals. … North Catholic, down from 3A, and Elizabeth Forward are other section runners-up with the ability to make a run.

Don’t overlook: Mt. Pleasant was second in Section 4 behind Charleroi. … Shady Side Academy is a sleeper. … Seton LaSalle finished third in a tough Section 3, and Central Valley played some good teams close.

Top players: Abdul Basit, Avonworth; Danny Battista, South Park; Mark Bence, Shady Side Academy; Colin Bengem, Quaker Valley; Rowan Carmichael, Avonworth; Aidan Davis, Elizabeth Forward; Ryan Ellis, South Park; Aiden Johnson, Mt. Pleasant; Nathan Kline, Avonworth; Dylan Klinger, Charleroi; Tyler Kovalcik, Seton LaSalle; Billy Kowalkowski, Burrell; Arthur Mendonca, North Catholic; Collin Rodgers, Deer Lakes; Alex Rowe, Avonworth; Ryan Wesolowski, South Park

Prediction: South Park over Avonworth

Class A

Favorite: Bentworth won its first and only WPIAL title last year, and there is nothing to suggest the undefeated Bearcats won’t repeat. They have outscored teams 106-4.

Contenders: Take your pick. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Winchester Thurston and Beaver County Christian own section titles, but the Class A rankings have been unstable all year after Bentworth. … Beth-Center finished second behind Bentworth. … Section runners-up Eden Christian, Aquinas Academy and Springdale also belong in the hat.

Don’t overlook: Trinity Christian has close games against a number of contenders. … Greensburg Central Catholic finished third in Section 2. … Don’t take your eye off of Sewickley Academy.

Top players: Parker Amos, Beth-Center; Marco Anselmino, Aquinas Academy; Nekoda Bundy, Beth-Center; Nick Davliakos, Eden Christian; Cole King, Eden Christian; Luke Kost, Trinity Christian; Robert McMahan, Beaver County Christian; Michael Miller, Winchester Thurston; Adam Moessner, Bentworth; Ryan Moessner, Bentworth; Jackson Vacanti, Greensburg Central Catholic; Andrew Vipperman, Bentworth; Blake Wilmot, Sewickley Academy

Prediction: Bentworth over Winchester Thurston

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

Tags: Aquinas Academy, Avonworth, Beaver County Christian, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Bethel Park, Central Valley, Charleroi, Deer Lakes, Eden Christian, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hampton, Latrobe, Mars, Moon, Mt. Pleasant, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Norwin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Peters Township, Plum, Quaker Valley, Seton La Salle, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, South Park, Springdale, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity Christian, Upper St. Clair, West Allegheny, Winchester Thurston