Breaking down the 2025 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 3:28 PM

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Here’s a look at the 2025 WPIAL boys soccer playoffs:

Class 4A

Favorite: Peters Township powered its way to the Section 2 title with a defense that allowed just seven goals. The Indians were the No. 2 seed last year and reached the semifinals. Anthony Maiello is the top goal scorer for an organized unit. Peters Township has scored five or more goals in a game five times. The Indians have wins against Norwin, Plum and Canon-McMillan.

Contenders: Defending champion Fox Chapel, which won a title for the first time since 1995, swept through Section 3, allowing less than a goal a game. Quality wins include Seneca Valley (twice), North Allegheny (twice) and Norwin. … Returning runner-up Plum should be a tough out. The Mustangs ended the regular season on a 39-game section unbeaten streak and five straight shutouts. … Seneca Valley has a stingy defense and won WPIAL titles in 2020 and ’21.

Don’t overlook: Canon-McMillan finished second in Section 2 behind Peters Township and led the section with 47 goals. … Norwin has seven straight shutouts. Four of its losses are by one goal. The Knights were upset in the first round last year.

Top players: Braden Crowe, Hempfield, Sr., MF; Brady Eubanks, Seneca Valley, Sr., MF; Gabe Fegely, Canon-McMillan, Sr., MF; Austin Kolankowski, Plum, Sr., MF; Adam Kuchera, Canon-McMillan, Sr., MF; Brady Matthews, Fox Chapel, Sr., GK; Gavin Patterson, Canon-McMillan, Sr., MF; Ryan Schoemer, Norwin, Jr., F

Prediction: Peters Township over Fox Chapel

Class 3A

Favorite: Hampton has allowed only eight goals all season and takes a six-game winning streak into the playoffs. The Talbots took Class 4A North Allegheny to overtime. All-section goalkeeper Gavin Guinn backs a solid defensive unit, while balanced scoring highlights the offense, led by Xavier Ware, Matteo Sciulli, Mason Hall and others.

Contenders: Returning semifinalist Bethel Park won Section 2 and is riding a 15-game unbeaten streak. … Defending champion Moon is 9-2-1 in its last 12 games and could be on a collision course for a rematch with Franklin Regional in the WPIAL final. … Franklin Regional is a serious contender again after giving up just nine goals all season. The Panthers have 11 shutouts.

Don’t overlook: Mars was a semifinalist a year ago. It tied Hampton twice. … Thomas Jefferson has outscored teams 65-9.

Top players: Aaron Bouch, West Allegheny, Sr., MF; Yuriy Bidochko, Penn-Trafford, Sr., MF; Carson Colvin, Hampton, Sr., MF; Logan Coone, Mars, Sr., MF; Gavin Guinn, Hampton, Sr., GK; Xavier Jackson, Bethel Park, Sr., F; Connor McClean, Shaler, Sr., MF; Lucas Patel, South Fayette, So., D; Luke Waldron, Chartiers Valley, So., D; Xavier Ware, Hampton, Sr., F; Sam Wessel, Thomas Jefferson, Sr., GK; Izaiah Wilson, Ringgold, Jr., MF; Colton Yonker, West Allegheny, Sr., D

Prediction: Hampton over Bethel Park

Class 2A

Favorite: Defending champion South Park has 74 goals and has given up only seven. The Eagles, who have 13 shutouts, are built for a three-peat. Caden Loveland is one of the top goal scorers in the bracket.

Contenders: Quaker Valley, a 30-time section champion, has racked up 96 goals and has not lost since late August. … North Catholic made the quarterfinals last year and has allowed only 13 goals in 18 games. … Avonworth, the runner-up last year, leads the classification with 115 goals. … Mt. Pleasant won Section 4 and features a durable back line.

Don’t overlook: Deer Lakes made the semifinals last year and won the championship in 2022. … Seton LaSalle has 91 goals and finished second to South Park in Section 3. … Charleroi can score quickly, but the Cougars will be without standout Dylan Klinger in the first round because of a red card.

Top players: Aidan Battista, South Park, Sr., D; Mark Bence, Shady Side Academy, Sr., MF; Carter Berad, Avonworth, Sr., D; Wesley Boyle, Deer Lakes, Sr., GK; Liam Cowan, Shady Side Academy, So., GK; Cuyler Crim, Deer Lakes, Sr., F; Anthony Furda, Beaver, Jr., F; Justin Garvey, North Catholic, Sr., F; Manek Gerhardy, Shady Side Academy, Sr., MF; Ethan Hartley, Charleroi, Sr., F; Cooper Hochendoner, South Park, Sr., GK; Brody Kennedy, North Catholic, Sr., MF; Tyler Kovalcik, Seton LaSalle, So., F; Caleb Kullen, Beaver, Sr., MF; Peyton Kushon, Deer Lakes, Sr., F; Caden Loveland, South Park, Sr., MF; Luke Mazon, Charleroi, Jr., MF; Arthur Mendonca, North Catholic, Jr., MF; Darius Norkevicus, Seton LaSalle, Sr., F; Damien Oher, Mt. Pleasant, Sr., D; Jacob Orseno, Deer Lakes, Sr., MF; Isaac Pacacha, Yough, Jr., F; Blake Pendo, Charleroi, So., MF; Collin Rodgers, Deer Lakes, Sr., F; Owen Shearer, Central Valley, So., MF; Tanner Shultz, Quaker Valley, Sr., D; Jack Smith, Southmoreland, Sr., MF; Tyke Snyder, Mt. Pleasant, So., MF; Zane Spence, Deer Lakes, Sr., D; Luca Valerio, Elizabeth Forward, Jr., MF

Prediction: South Park over Quaker Valley

Class A

Favorite: Bentworth is targeting a three-peat, and the undefeated Bearcats are stacked again. They have a WPIAL-best 150 goals and have allowed only six. Ryan Moessner, the reigning TribLive Player of the Year, has more than 100 career goals.

Contenders: OLSH also has a perfect record and was a finalist last year. … Winchester Thurston, which repeated as champion in 2021 and ’22, has 81 goals. … Beaver County Christian, a semifinalist last season, won Section 1 and has surrendered only five goals all season.

Don’t overlook: Springdale finished second to Winchester Thurston in Section 4.

Top players: Patrick Altmar, OLSH, Sr., GK; Parker Amos, Beth-Center, Jr., F; Marco Anselmino, Aquinas Academy, Sr., F; Grant Brewer, Greensburg C.C., Sr., F; Nekoda Bundy, Beth-Center, Sr., F; Dillan Colbert, Bentworth, So., F; Shane English, Chartiers-Houston, Sr., D; Zayden Herb, Neshannock, Sr., F; John Koeppl, Winchester Thurston, Sr., D; Acie Lawrence, Beth-Center, Jr., D; Brennan Mattie, Springdale, Sr., MF; Owen Minzer, OLSH, Sr., MF; Adam Moessner, Bentworth, Fr., F; Ryan Moessner, Bentworth, Sr., MF; Luca Peluso, Sewickley Academy, Sr., F; Ryder Roule, Beth-Center, Jr., MF; Mason Smith, Neshannock, Sr., GK; Finn Wentz, Sewickley Academy, Sr., MF; Malik White, Winchester Thurston, Sr., MF; Luke Wrabley, OLSH, Sr., MF; Pete Zink, OLSH, Sr., D

Prediction: Bentworth over OLSH

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, Beaver County Christian, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Bethel Park, Canon-McMillan, Charleroi, Chartiers Valley, Chartiers-Houston, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hampton, Hempfield, Mars, Moon, Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock, North Catholic, Norwin, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Plum, Quaker Valley, Ringgold, Seneca Valley, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, Shaler, South Fayette, South Park, Southmoreland, Springdale, Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny, Winchester Thurston, Yough