Notable changes to the 2024-25 WPIAL boys soccer alignment

By: Giustino Racchini
Monday, July 22, 2024 | 11:39 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

The WPIAL released new section alignments for the next two-year cycle in all sports, and changes will be implemented starting this fall. This summer, TribLive will break down changes for each of the WPIAL sports.

Here’s a look at the upcoming WPIAL boys soccer season.

2023 WPIAL champions

4A: Norwin

3A: South Fayette

2A: South Park

A: Bentworth

Notable changes

The total number of teams decreased by one, going from 107 to 106 for the 2024-25 alignment.

• Class 4A went from two sections of eight teams to three sections with six teams each. That’s an increase from 16 to 18 teams in the classification.

Three teams from Section 4-3A moved into Section 1 in 4A. Plum, which won Section 4 last season, Gateway and Penn Hills moved up to compete with Central Catholic, Hempfield and Norwin. Norwin was the 4A champion a season ago.

In Section 2-4A, two teams moved up: Connellsville from 3A and Woodland Hills all the way from 2A. They will join Canon-McMillan, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township and Upper St. Clair.

The teams from Section 1 the past two years moved over to Section 3: Butler, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley.

• In Class 3A, the same number of teams (31) remains.

Section 1 features a couple of new teams. Shaler moved down from Class 4A, Obama Academy switched from Section 4 and Knoch moved up from Class 2A.

Section 2-3A features a multitude of teams that moved over from Section 3: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity. McKeesport is the one team joining Section 2 from Section 4.

Section 3 had numerous changes. Allderdice moved down from 4A, and Washington, West Mifflin and Belle Vernon moved up from 2A. A trio of teams also moved over from Section 4-3A: Franklin Regional, Latrobe and Penn-Trafford.

Much of Section 4-3A is made up of teams previously in Section 2: Ambridge, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon and West Allegheny. Baldwin also was added, dropping from 4A.

• Class 2A went from 31 teams to 33.

The most movement was in Section 1. Highlands and North Catholic moved down from 3A, Burrell moved up from Class A and a slew of teams switched 2A sections. Deer Lakes, Freeport, Leechburg and Shady Side Academy came in from Section 2. Valley also joins the section after being independent the past two seasons.

Section 2 is made up mostly of teams moving from Section 4: Avonworth, Beaver, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Mohawk, Quaker Valley and Riverside. Keystone Oaks came over from Section 1, and Central Valley dropped from 3A.

Section 3 has the lone team that did not move from the last two seasons: McGuffey. Multiple teams from Section 1 moved over, including East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, South Allegheny, South Park and Steel Valley. Ligonier Valley and Seton LaSalle are newcomers to the section.

In Section 4, Brownsville, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Waynesburg and Yough moved over from Section 3, and Charleroi, Derry and Greensburg Salem moved in from Section 2.

• The least chaotic classification is Class A. The classification went down from 26 teams to 24.

Section 1 remains similar to the past few years, losing only OLSH.

Section 2 added one team from Section 4: Chartiers-Houston. The section also welcomes Geibel, which is new to WPIAL competition this season.

Section 3 is made up of a majority of teams from Section 4: Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton and Serra Catholic moved in to join Aquinas Academy. OLSH came in from Section 1.

Section 4 is made up mostly of teams moving from Section 3: Riverview, St. Joseph, Springdale, Trinity Christian and Winchester Thurston. Jeannette also was added after moving down from Class 2A.

Key dates

Aug. 12: First practice date

Aug. 17: First scrimmage date

Aug. 23: First play date

Aug. 27: First section date

Oct. 19: WPIAL playoffs start

Oct. 31-Nov. 2: WPIAL championships

Nov. 5: PIAA first round

Nov. 15-16: PIAA championships

2024-25 alignment

Class 4A (18 teams)

Section 1: Central Catholic, Gateway, Hempfield, Norwin, Penn Hills, Plum

Section 2: Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Mt. Lebanon, Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills

Section 3: Butler, Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley

Class 3A (31 teams)

Section 1: Armstrong, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area, Knoch, Mars, Obama Academy, Shaler

Section 2: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Ringgold, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity

Section 3: Allderdice, Belle Vernon, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Uniontown, Washington, West Mifflin

Section 4: Ambridge, Baldwin, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon, West Allegheny

Class 2A (33 teams)

Section 1: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Highlands, Leechburg, North Catholic, Shady Side Academy, Valley

Section 2: Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell, Keystone Oaks, Mohawk, Quaker Valley, Riverside

Section 3: East Allegheny, Elizabeth Forward, Ligonier Valley, McGuffey, Seton LaSalle, South Allegheny, South Park, Steel Valley

Section 4: Brownsville, Charleroi, Derry, Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Waynesburg Central, Yough

Class A (24 teams)

Section 1: Beaver County Christian, Eden Christian Academy, Freedom, Neshannock, Sewickley Academy, South Side

Section 2: Bentworth, Beth-Center, California, Chartiers-Houston, Geibel, Greensburg Central Catholic

Section 3: Aquinas Academy, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Serra Catholic

Section 4: Jeannette, Riverview, St. Joseph, Springdale, Trinity Christian, Winchester Thurston