Sports

Late-season success boosts confidence for Shaler football

November 7, 2019

Once the Class 5A football playoffs started, things got ugly for the WPIAL’s Northern Conference.

South Fayette’s Lilah Speca spikes against Knoch during girls 3-A PIAA volleyball first round action Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 at Shaler Area High School.

South Fayette girls volleyball celebrates special season

It was a season full of highs for the South Fayette girls volleyball team.

Bishop Canevin’s Abbie Maziarz spikes over Fort Cherry’s Allie McKean during the WPIAL Class A volleyball championship match. The Crusaders won 3-1 for their third consecutive title.

Strong senior class, young players help Bishop Canevin volleyball 3-peat

For the third season in a row, the Bishop Canevin girls volleyball team saw its season end abruptly in the first round of the PIAA Class A tournament. Bishop Carroll defeated the Crusaders in four sets last Tuesday.

Penn Hills’ Noel Roach (6) reacts after making an interception in the fourth quarter during a game against Mars earlier this season.

Strong pass rush, team speed lead game-changing Penn Hills defense

Since he took over as coach at Penn Hills in 2017, Jon LeDonne has made sure his defenses set the tone on the field.

Penn Hills grad Isaiah Gregory competes for the LaSalle swimming team during the 2019 season.

Penn Hills’ Gregory brothers making waves at LaSalle

Norm and Isaiah Gregory have been on the same swim team for most of their lives. The Penn Hills natives will look to make this year count as they swim on the same team one final time at LaSalle.

North Allegheny’s Sarah Sarah Schupansky (17) celebrates her goal with teammates during the girls WPIAL Class 4A championship game Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, at Highmark Stadium.

North Allegheny girls soccer continues to find success

Facing a team with more experience in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs wasn’t a big issue for the North Allegheny girls soccer program.

North Allegheny’s Paige Morningstar records a kill past Canon-McMillan’s Samantha Parker during the WPIAL Class AAAA girls volleyball championships Nov. 2 at Fox Chapel.

North Allegheny volleyball shakes off WPIAL title loss, turns focus to states

Seeing a 65-match losing streak end wasn’t ideal for North Allegheny girls volleyball coach Heidi Miller.

Senior Dustin Payne scored an 11-yard touchdown to end Hampton’s season in a 27-7 loss to Mars on Oct. 25, 2019.

Hampton senior scores inspirational touchdown

On the last game of its season against its most bitter rival, Dustin Payne proved to Hampton — and everyone at Fridley Field that night — there is no such thing as a losing season.

Hampton goalkeeper Thomas Bradfield (0) looks to make a save against Mars’ Dane Beller (27) September 17, 2019 at Mars.

Mix of old, young help Hampton boys soccer to best season since ’11

If this season is any indication of what lies ahead for the Hampton soccer program, parents should start packing their bags for the state playoffs. But not this year.

Penn-Trafford’s Caleb Lisbon scores against Norwin on Aug. 23.

Westmoreland County football notes: Injured RB Caleb Lisbon inspires Penn-Trafford

He may be injured, but Caleb Lisbon still is very much a part of the Penn-Trafford football team.

Freedom’s Julia Mohrbacher (44) defends against Greensburg Central Catholic’s Natalie Ward (20) during a WPIAL Class A semifinal Oct. 28.

GCC girls expect test in rematch with Freedom

Greensburg Central Catholic is responsible for the only blemish on the Freedom girls soccer team’s record this year.

North Allegheny’s Nathan Hoke and Ben Rohan get ahold of Pine Richland’s Cole Spencer on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 at Pine-Richland High School.

5 things to watch in Week 11 of high school football: North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon looking to flip script

How much can change in 14 days?

West Greene’s Ben Jackson blocks during a game against Clairton on Oct. 11.

WPIAL playoff breakdown: Class A

Class A Semifinals

Avonworth players celebrates with Jax Miller atfter scoring against Apollo-Ridge on Sept. 20.

WPIAL playoff breakdown: Class 2A

Class 2A Quarterfinals

Freeport receiver Terry Tomporoski hauls in a pass from Keith Conti on Nov. 10, 1979. Knoch prevailed, 10-0, in the Class AA opening round playoff game at Highlands High School.

George Guido’s Through the Years: Big crowd watched Knoch beat Freeport

Each Friday throughout the high school football season, the Valley News Dispatch will take a look back at the games, players and events that are part of local scholastic history.

Deer Lakes’ Colton Spence battles North Catholic’s Brendan Shantz for the ball during their WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinal Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at Seneca Valley High School.

Defense fuels Deer Lakes on second straight state tournament run

Throughout the postseason, the Deer Lakes boys soccer team has displayed a gift for possessing the ball, passing around opponents and finding a way to put the ball into the back of the net.