Trib HSSN 2025 WPIAL boys soccer preview: Graduation leaves Class 4A, 3A fields wide open

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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WPIAL boys soccer preview

Class 4A

Defending champion: Fox Chapel

Runner-up: Plum

PIAA qualifiers: Fox Chapel, Plum

Defending PIAA champion: Cumberland Valley

Team to beat: Canon-McMillan looks primed for a big year led by all-WPIAL players Adam Kuchera (25 goals), Gabe Fegely and Gavin Patterson. Kuchera also made all-state. The Big Macs took Plum to double overtime before falling 3-2 in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Their last title was in 2019.

Others to watch: Returning champion Fox Chapel, which won its first title since 1995, lost several key players but returns goalkeeper Brady Matthews. … Runner-up Plum has to replace much of its attack but brings back midfielder Austin Kolankowski, the son of Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association 4A Coach of the Year Raf Kolankowski. … North Allegheny also is looking for new leaders after the graduation of a solid senior core. The same can be said for Peters Township and Norwin, the 2023 WPIAL champion. Norwin had four players leave for the MLS Next program. … North Hills upset Norwin in the first round.

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

Jadon Robbins, Penn Hills, Sr., GK

Dylan Shallenberger, Connellsville, Jr., F

Ryan Schoemer, Norwin, Jr., F

Maro Tommasino, Plum, Sr., MF

Rankings: 1. Canon-McMillan; 2. Fox Chapel; 3. Plum; 4. Norwin; 5. Peters Township

Class 3A

Defending champion: Moon

Runner-up: Franklin Regional

PIAA qualifiers: Moon, Franklin Regional, Mars

Defending PIAA champion: Radnor

Team to beat: Hampton was a No. 9 seed last season when it reached the quarterfinals and lost to Moon. The Talbots bring back three all-section players in Carson Colvin, Gavin Guinn and Xavier Ware. Ware was an all-WPIAL performer. The Talbots’ last title came in 2021.

Others to watch: Moon lost a large number of seniors (14) from a 25-1 championship season. The Tigers’ only loss was in the PIAA final. …Logan Coone will lead Mars, a semifinal team. … Bethel Park also made the final four and will lean on Xavier Jackson, an all-WPIAL player. … Franklin Regional has plenty of vacancies to fill after a senior-heavy group led it to the finals. … All-WPIAL goalie Sam Wessel returns for Thomas Jefferson. … Midfielder Aaron Bouch is back for West Allegheny. … Chartiers Valley upset Indiana as a No. 14 seed. … Latrobe has to replace a load of talent. Warren Agostoni is playing for the Austin FC MLS Academy in Texas.

Top players

Austin Beck, Kiski Area, Sr., MF

Aaron Bouch, West Allegheny, Sr., MF

Yuriy Bidochko, Penn-Trafford, Sr., MF

Carson Colvin, Hampton, Sr., MF

Logan Coone, Mars, Sr., MF

Austin Friedline, Knoch, Sr., F

Milo Grimes, Albert Gallatin, Sr., F/MF

Gavin Guinn, Hampton, Sr., GK

Xavier Jackson, Bethel Park, Sr., F

Alex Lusty, Ambridge, So., MF

Charlie Manzi, Indiana, Sr., GK

Connor McClean, Shaler, Sr., MF

Lucas Patel, South Fayette, So., D

Joseph Preston, Obama Academy, Sr., MF

Luke Pena, Allderdice, Jr., D

Cole Radcliffe, Laurel Highlands, Sr., F

Eli Volk, Armstrong, So., F

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

Rankings: 1. Hampton; 2. Mars; 3. Moon; 4. Bethel Park; 5. West Allegheny

Class 2A

Defending champion: South Park

Runner-up: Avonworth

PIAA qualifiers: South Park, Avonworth, Deer Lakes

Defending PIAA champion: Northwestern Lehigh

Team to beat: Two-time defending champion South Park must replace 2A player of the year Danny Battista but only had to replace five graduated players from a 20-2-1 team. Goalkeeper Cooper Hochendoner and midfielder Caden Loveland come back to lead the charge, along with Aidan Battista.

Others to watch: Avonworth won 19 games and made the PIAA semifinals, but the Antelopes must replace 11 seniors. … Deer Lakes could be a strong challenger to win its third title since 2019, with all-WPIAL players Wesley Boyle, Peyton Kushon, Jake Orseno and Zane Spence all back. … Vincent Guerrini returns to lead Burrell, a surprise semifinalist as a No. 13 seed. … Shady Side Academy has all-WPIAL player Mark Bence and several other key starters returning after making the quarterfinals. … Dylan Klinger powers Charleroi. … Tyke Snyder is a rising talent at Mt. Pleasant. … Keep an eye on Hopewell.

Top players:

Alex Alvarado, Hopewell, Sr., D

Tommy Armour, Hopewell, Sr., MF

Aidan Battista, South Park, Sr., D

Mark Bence, Shady Side Academy, Sr., MF

Carter Berad, Avonworth, Sr., Def

Wesley Boyle, Deer Lakes, Sr., GK

Logan Chisler, Brownsville, Sr., MF

Brendan Cole, Waynesburg, Sr., F

Liam Cowan, Shady Side Academy, So., GK

Cuyler Crim, Deer Lakes, Sr., F

Xavier Dewitt, Freeport, Jr., MF

Brody Fingers, Keystone Oaks, Sr., D

Anthony Furda, Beaver, Jr., F

Justin Garvey, North Catholic, Sr., F

Manek Gerhardy, Shady Side Academy, Sr., MF

Vincent Guerrini, Burrell, Jr., MF

Ethan Hartley, Charleroi, Sr., F

Cooper Hochendoner, South Park, Sr., GK

Brody Kennedy, North Catholic, Sr., MF

John Kerin, Derry, Sr., GK

Dylan Klinger, Charleroi, Sr., F

Tyler Kovalcik, Seton LaSalle, So., F

Caleb Kullen, Beaver, Sr., MF

Peyton Kushon, Deer Lakes, Sr., F

Caden Loveland, South Park, Sr., MF

Ryan Maloney, Highlands, Sr., MF

Rocco Marcantonio, Hopewell, Sr., MF

Luke Mazon, Charleroi, Jr., MF

Arthur Mendonca, North Catholic, Jr., MF

Eli Noel, South Allegheny, Sr., F

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

Ryan Sutara, Freeport, Sr., MF

Luca Valerio, Elizabeth Forward, Jr., MF

Rankings: 1. South Park; 2. Deer Lakes; 3. Avonworth; 4. Shady Side Academy; 5. Charleroi

Class A

Defending champion: Bentworth

Runner-up: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

PIAA qualifiers: Bentworth, OLSH, Eden Christian

Defending PIAA champion: Lancaster Mennonite

Team to beat: High-scoring Bentworth put in 128 goals and allowed five on the way to a 22-1 season that included a WPIAL title and a PIAA runner-up finish. TribLive HSSN and WPSCA player of the year Ryan Moessner returns after scoring 45 goals. The Bearcats, who also have Dillan Colbert and Adam Moessner back, will go for a WPIAL three-peat.

Others to watch: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart lost the WPIAL final in on PKs and made the PIAA quarterfinals. Patrick Altmar, Owen Minzer (all-WPIAL), Pete Zink and Luke Wrabley are back for the Chargers. … Perennially strong Winchester Thurston returns key offensive players John Koeppl and Malik White (all-WPIAL). … Beth-Center features Parker Amos (all-WPIAL), Nekoda Bundy and Acie Lawrence. … All-WPIAL player Finn Wentz is back for Sewickley Academy, which lost only four seniors. … Eden Christian and Beaver County Christian were semifinalists but have a lot to replace.

Top players

Patrick Altmar, OLSH, Sr., GK

Parker Amos, Beth-Center, Jr., F

Marco Anselmino, Aquinas Academy, Sr., F

Nate Ashcroft, South Side, Sr., MF

Grant Brewer, Greensburg C.C., Sr., F

Nekoda Bundy, Beth-Center, Sr., F

Dillan Colbert, Bentworth, So., F

Shane English, Chartiers-Houston, Sr., D

Brayden Graham, Serra Catholic, Jr., F

Zayden Herb, Neshannock, Sr., F

John Koeppl, Winchester Thurston, Sr., D

Acie Lawrence, Beth-Center, Jr., D

Brennan Mattie, Springdale, Sr., MF

Evan Mingle, Brentwood, Jr., MF

Owen Minzer, OLSH, Sr., MF

Adam Moessner, Bentworth, Fr., F

Ryan Moessner, Bentworth, Sr., MF

Luca Peluso, Sewickley Academy, Sr., F

AJ Rhychorcewics, Freedom, Sr., D

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

Rankings: 1. Bentworth; 2. OLSH; 3. Winchester Thurston; 4. Sewickley Academy; 5. Beth-Center

Important dates

Aug. 11: First day of practice

Aug. 16: First scrimmages

Aug. 22: First play date

Aug. 26: First section date

Oct. 15: WPIAL pairings meeting

Oct. 18: WPIAL playoffs begin

Oct. 30, 31, Nov. 1: WPIAL championships

Nov. 4: PIAA playoffs begin

Nov. 14-15: PIAA championships