Deer Lakes boys carry confidence into WPIAL Class 2A final against Beaver

By: Josh Rizzo
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 6:27 PM

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Deer Lakes boys soccer team forward Collin Rodgers has a good feeling about the team going into the WPIAL Class 2A final.

The Lancers have demonstrated in the playoffs that they are comfortable when things aren’t going their way. Sixth-seeded Deer Lakes trailed No. 2 Quaker Valley at halftime in the semifinals, and everything seemed kosher.

“I think it was the way when we were playing on the ball,” said Rodgers, whose team won 2-1. “We weren’t rushed. We were managing things well that entire first half. When you have a feeling that you are managing a game well, you might not get that chance early, but eventually one will come.”

Rodgers believes Deer Lakes can carry that confidence into the WPIAL Class 2A final at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Highmark Stadium. The Lancers will take on No. 9 seed Beaver in the final, a team Deer Lakes beat 1-0 in overtime in the 2022 final.

Jacob Orseno, now a senior, scored the winner in the 88th minute for the Lancers.

The Lancers are in search of their third WPIAL crown and are playing in the championship for the third time since 2020.

Beaver, which is in search of its first title, routed section rival Avonworth, 8-2, in the semifinals.

Deer Lakes coach Aaron Smith said when he walked into the locker room during the Quaker Valley match, he recognized nothing really needed to be said.

No one seemed distressed.

“It was nice to see it on their faces,” Smith said. “I didn’t have to say a word. When I asked what was going on, they said, ‘We got this.’ It was fine.”

Deer Lakes (17-3-1) also survived a close matchup in the quarterfinals when it upset North Catholic, 1-0, on a late goal by Orseno in regulation.

Beaver (16-4) was one of three teams from Section 2 to reach the semifinals. The Bobcats pack a punch on offense and have averaged 5.9 goals per game this season.

In the semifinals against Avonworth, four players scored for Beaver. Shane Ebbitt recorded a hat trick, and Seth Kullen punched in a pair of goals.

Beaver’s defense has been stingy, holding opponents below a goal per contest. The Bobcats pasted Charleroi, 6-0, in the first round before knocking off top seeded and defending champion South Park, 2-1.

Deer Lakes has already produced a pair of one-goal upset wins en route to the final. In a topsy-turvy 2A bracket, the Lancers now find themselves as the highest seed remaining.

Smith believes they can manage things fine.

“The players feed off each other,” Smith said. “There are a lot of seniors; we have 12 of them. We are confident and ready to roll. It’s going to be a nice rematch with Beaver. We are looking forward to it.”

Tags: Beaver, Deer Lakes