Soccer
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – A New Champ Wins Double-A
July 9, 2016
For only the fifth time in the thirteen years of the MSA Sports Cup Class AA chase, the torch has been passed to a new champion. Greensburg Central Catholic won the first three years, followed by a five year run by Shady Side Academy and three of the last four years the AA Cup has gone to Quaker Valley with a one year run at the top by Seton-LaSalle two years ago. Now the AA crown is coming to Beaver County thanks to Beaver High School. After a couple of close calls in recent years, the Bobcats were lifted to the top spot in part because of district championships won in each season...girls tennis in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and a second straight WPIAL title in girls track & field in the spring.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – SF Three-peats in Triple-A
July 7, 2016
In the first ten years of the MSA Sports Cup, while there were a couple of dominating schools in the other three classifications, the chase for the Class AAA Cup had been up for grabs with eight different schools earning The Cup. However in the last three years of the season long competition, Triple-A has become the pride of the Lions. After finishing as the runner-up in 2012-2013, South Fayette has staked its claim on top in Class AAA as the Lions are the first school in this classification to win a third consecutive MSA Sports Cup.
MSA SPORTS CUP RESULTS – NA Remains Perfect in Quad-A
July 6, 2016
Another school year is in the books and another MSA Sports Cup in Class AAAA is headed to North Allegheny High School. NA captured the schools 13th Cup in 13 years since the MSA Sports Network started this school year long competition to determine the top sports programs in each classification. There are 20 sports in which schools can earn points in the competition and the Tigers earned points in 18 of them. While it was not the highest point total or largest margin of victory, North Allegheny still cruised to their final Quad-A Sports Cup as they will move up to 6-A starting this fall. The second place school finished 430 points behind NA.
2015-2016 MSA SPORTS FEMALE ATHLETE of the YEAR
June 30, 2016
Amanda Kalin is so talented that she could be a Division I college player in two different sports. On the high school level, Kalin is so talented that she is in a division all by herself – best athlete in the WPIAL. Kalin, who recently completed her junior year at Pine-Richland High School, has been selected the MSA Sports Athlete of the Year for the 2015-16 WPIAL school year. The 5-foot-8 Kalin had a superb junior year in both basketball and soccer. Her outstanding individual talent helped her teams thrive. Her extraordinary athletic ability is evidenced by how her college recruiting went in the past two years.Scholastic Notebook – 05/13/2016
May 13, 2016
Plum High School’s nickname is Mustangs. But when it comes to athletes, Plum has a thoroughbred in Ashley Amato. The MSA Sports staff doesn’t name a female athlete of the year until late June. But you would think Amato will get serious consideration. There are three-season rooms in houses, but Plum houses a three-sport standout in Amato. And in the spring, she shines brightest. So far this track and field season, Amato has the best 200-meter time in WPIAL Class AAA at 25.3 seconds. She has the third-best 100 hurdles time of 14.69 and is tied for the third-best 100 time at 12.2. She is has the third-best AAA long jump at 18-2 ¾. At the Baldwin Invitational last Friday, Amato won the long jump, was second in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 200.WPIAL Announces 2016-2017 Championship Sites
April 21, 2016
While major changes will be in the air with a classification increase starting in the 2016-2017 school year, there was concern about where the district would play its championship games with the increase in title games. However outside of a split in football, the WPIAL Finals in several sports will remain at the same venues that have been hosting the title events.WPIAL Girls Sports Realignment
February 16, 2016
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in basketball and softball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer, volleyball and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. For interactive listing, CLICK HERE. GIRLS BASKETBALL Class 6AWPIAL Boys Sports Realignment
We all knew it was coming. A major change to the WPIAL high school sports landscape based on the PIAA's decision to increase from four to six classifications in football, basketball and baseball, plus the increase in other sports such as soccer and lacrosse. The WPIAL Board of Control approved the various steering committee's re-alignment suggestions starting with the 2016-2017 school year. This alignment also will be for the 2017-2018 school year. *For an interactive listing, CLICK HERE FOOTBALL Class 6AWPIAL SPORTS SECTION & PLAYOFF STRUCTURE UNVEILED
February 10, 2016
While WPIAL admiinistrators, coaches, players and fans will have to wait until Monday, February 15th for the new WPIAL Six Classification alignments to be announced, the structure of the sections and the playoff format were released on Wednesday. WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said after investigating what course the WPIAL should take after the PIAA expanded classifications in several sports last fall, the district will follow suit and follow the classes set forth by the state expansion.MSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2015 Countdown: #10 – #1
January 1, 2016
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2015. We conclude our countdown with #10 through #1. #10 - GOLDEN TRIBEMSA Sports Top 25 WPIAL Stories From 2015 Countdown: #25 – #11
December 31, 2015
It has become a tradition like no other...at least during the holiday season here at MSA Sports. Here is a look back at another great high school sports year with the top stories from around the WPIAL in 2015. We begin our countdown with #25 through #11. #25 - ODD STREAK CONTINUESPIAA Alignment Numbers for 2016 & 2017 – Fall Sports
November 24, 2015
The new alignment list has been released by the PIAA for the 2016 and 2017 fall sports seasons. With the expanded classifications, there are still a lot of questions to be answered by WPIAL school officials and the schools themselves before anything in finalized and conferences are set. School must make a decision by mid-December if they want to remain in their designated classification OR decide to move up in class. A school is not permitted to move down.2015 PIAA Boys Soccer State Playoff Results
November 22, 2015
In an amazing feat, the WPIAL sent three boys soccer teams to Hershey to play for state gold - Seneca Valley, South Park and Sewickley Academy...this after none of the three even made it to the WPIAL championships two weeks ago. Sewickley Academy was the only team to bring home gold as the Panthers captured the schools third Class A boys soccer state crown. Meanwhile both the Seneca Valley Raiders in AAA and the South Park Eagles in AA settled for silver after greats runs to the PIAA title matches. Here are ALL of the results from the 2015 PIAA Boys Soccer Playoffs. 2015 PIAA CLASS AAA BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Central Bucks East Patriots 2 - SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS 02015 PIAA Girls Soccer State Playoff Results
Upper St. Clair played the role of undefeated spoiler to perfection and in the end, had the gold to prove it. After beating undefeated Norwin in the PIAA Class AAA Semifinals, the Panthers knocked off previously unbeaten Central Bucks East to capture the schools first ever girls soccer state championship. District 10 champion Villa Maria Academy in AA and District 3 champion Camp Hill Trinity in A were the other state champs crowned in Hershey. Here are ALL the results from the 2015 PIAA Girls Soccer Playoffs. 2015 PIAA CLASS AAA GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: UPPER ST. CLAIR PANTHERS 2 - Central Bucks East Patriots 1 PIAA CLASS AAA Semifinals:
Upper St. Clair Wins First PIAA AAA Girls Soccer Championship
November 21, 2015
Two shots, two goals, one championship. That was the recipe for success for the Upper St. Clair Panthers girl soccer team Saturday evening at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey as they edged the Central Bucks East Patriots 2-1 in the PIAA Class AAA title match. Senior Emma Hasco scored an unassisted goal with just over six minutes left in the first half to give the WPIAL runner-up Panthers a 1-0 lead which they took into the half. With about 16 minutes left in regulation, Emma Loving scored for Central Bucks East to tie the game at 1-1 with an assist from Hannah Zach. But with one second under seven minutes left in regulation, Hasco struck again as she executed a great give and go with Rachel Witte before slamming a shot past Kristen Obetz to give USC a 2-1 lead.
Seneca Valley Soccer Settles for State Silver After Loss to CBE
Five years ago, Central Bucks East lost 2-1 in an overtime heartbreaker to Landisville Hempfield in the PIAA AAA boys soccer title match. In their first championship appearance since then, the Patriots made sure history would not repeat itself. Austin Prime was great in primetime as he made eight saves en route to a 2-0 victory over the Seneca Valley Raiders Saturday night in Hershey. Central Bucks East scored early as Brian Gilligan scored at 12:13 of the first half on an assist from Evan Vare. Then with just over 13 minutes left in the first half, Vare connected on an unassisted goal to make it 2-0 Patriots at halftime.South Park Falls to Unbeaten Lewisburg in PIAA Boys AA Soccer
Heading into the Class AA Championship game in Hershey Saturday, the South Park Eagles knew it faced a tall task against Lewisburg, who was looking to cap off a perfect season without a loss. South Park knows the feeling of imperfection all too well, after suffering its first loss last season in the WPIAL Quarterfinals. However, history did not repeat itself Saturday, As Lewisburg, the District 6 champions, capped off a perfect 25-0-0 season with a 4-0 win over South Park. The Green Dragons kicked off the scoring in the 16th minute off a corner kick that was played short and sent into the box, but couldn’t initially be cleared by South Park. The second clearing attempt failed as well, and Lewisburg was able to bury the second chance.Sewickley Academy Wins PIAA Boys Class A Soccer Title
Sewickley Academy didn't even make it to this years WPIAL Class A championship after losing in the Semifinals to Avonworth in a 2-1 shootout, but now the Panthers are the best team in the state. Sewickley Academy shut out East Juniata 3-0 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey Friday night to win the schools third PIAA boys soccer title. Sewickley Academy beat Greensburg Central Catholic 5-0 in the Class A Consolation match to earn a spot in the PIAA playoffs before beating Karns City, Mercyhurst Prep and Bishop McCort to reach the state championship match for a fourth consecutive season. The Panthers won it all in 2013 and lost in 2012 and in last years final, a 4-0 triumph for Moravian Academy.Scholastic Notebook – 11/20/2015
November 20, 2015
In his first season as a starter, Pine-Richland sophomore quarterback Phil Jurkovec has played his way into the WPIAL spotlight, becoming only the second QB in WPIAL history to throw for 2,000 yards and run for 1,000. But there is another sophomore quarterback at the Class AAAA level who also has made a gigantic impact in his first season as a starter. Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Troy Fisher doesn’t have the jaw-dropping statistics like Jurkovec, but Fisher has uplifted the Vikings’ offense with his passing and running, and also helped the team reach the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals.
