Westmoreland County soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 18, 2025

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, October 17, 2025 | 6:55 PM

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WPIAL soccer playoffs

Boys

Class 3A

First round

14-Montour (9-8) at 3-Franklin Regional (15-3)

1 p.m. Saturday, Panther Stadium, Murrysville

Winner plays: Winner of 11-Trinity (10-5-1)/6-Chartiers Valley (10-4-1) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Brayden Borris, Montour; Mike Hillebrand, Franklin Regional

Throw-ins: Montour took fourth in a tough Section 4 behind Moon, Chartiers Valley and West Allegheny. The Spartans have scored as many goals as they have allowed: 31. Franklin Regional beat Montour, 6-1, earlier in the season. The Spartans lost in the first round last year to Bethel Park, 3-2. … Franklin Regional was the WPIAL runner-up last year and is back for another title push despite having to replace eight seniors. A gritty back line is led by Thomas Bridges, with dependable goalie Emerson Bush behind him. Hillebrand, Aidan Alexander and Cruise Lamanna are among the top scorers. The Panthers have won six of seven. The loss was in overtime against Allderdice.

10-Penn-Trafford (10-7) at 7-Mars (11-5-2)

Noon Saturday, Mars Athletic Complex, Mars

Winner plays: Winner of 15-Knoch (5-12-1)/2-Bethel Park (12-2-3) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Cam King, Penn-Trafford; Frank Knezovich, Mars

Throw-ins: Penn-Trafford is back in the postseason, but the Warriors are hunting their first playoff win since 2016. The Warriors have notable wins against Allderdice and Franklin Regional. Yuriy Bidochko is a playmaker for the Warriors, and Cooper Geyer is a proven finisher. Goalie Jose Chaves is underrated between the pipes. … Mars reached the semifinals last year as the No. 6 seed and was upset by No. 7 Franklin Regional, 2-1. The Fightin’ Planets finished as runners-up to top-seeded Hampton in Section 1. They tied Hampton twice. Mars is allowing 1.2 goals a game. Several players have scored, making for a balanced offense, including Knezovich, Eli Stasiowski, Max Davis, Sean Scanlon and others.

9-Latrobe (8-9) at 8-West Allegheny (9-6)

2 p.m. Saturday, Joe P. DeMichela Stadium, North Fayette

Winner plays: Winner of Belle Vernon (8-10-1)/1-Hampton (14-2-2) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: John Massaro, Latrobe; Aaron Bouch, West Allegheny

Throw-ins: Latrobe has followed up its recent run of success with another playoff trip, albeit on a tougher road with new faces in the lineup. The Wildcats, who finished second in their section, have wins over Penn-Trafford (two) and Mt. Pleasant, and they swept Belle Vernon. Players to watch include Massaro, Pietro Bonandi and Stone Brunton. The Wildcats made the quarterfinals last year and lost to Bethel Park. It was their first-ever playoff win, and it followed their first section championship. … West Allegheny has given up just 17 goals as the third-place finisher out of Section 4, which also includes playoff teams Moon, Chartiers Valley and Montour. The Indians won their final three regular-season games, against Blackhawk, Baldwin and 4A No. 2 Fox Chapel.

Class 2A

First round

16-Belle Vernon (8-10-1) at 1-Hampton (14-2-2)

12:30 p.m. Saturday, Fridley Field, Allison Park

Winner plays: Winner of 9-Latrobe (8-9)/8-West Allegheny (10-6) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Logan Metzger, Belle Vernon; Carson Colvin, Hampton

Throw-ins: Belle Vernon won a preliminary-round game for the second straight season as Metzger scored two goals in four minutes to lift the Leopards past Ringgold, 2-1. Tyler Perozzi and Jesse Sobczak each had an assist in the victory, the first in the postseason for coach Tyler Caterino. … Hampton was a No. 9 seed last season when it reached the quarterfinals and lost to Moon. The Section 1 champion Talbots have allowed eight goals all season. They feature three players who made all-section last year in Colvin, Gavin Guinn and Xavier Ware. Ware was an all-WPIAL selection. Hampton has won six straight games and has a dozen shutouts.

Class A

First round

15-Greensburg Central Catholic (3-10) vs. 2-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-0)

1 p.m. Saturday, Moon Tigers Stadium, Moon

Winner plays: Winner of 10-Trinity Christian (8-9)/7-Sewickley Academy (11-4) on Wednesday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Grant Brewer, GCC; Brady Hernandez, OLSH

Throw-ins: Despite just three wins, Greensburg Central Catholic secured fourth place in Section 2 to return to the postseason after reaching the quarterfinals last year. Brewer is the team’s top goal scorer. Jon Dobrinski is the first-year coach of the Centurions, who won their final two regular-season games, against California and Jeannette. … OLSH is one of only two undefeated teams in WPIAL boys soccer, joining Bentworth (17-0). The Chargers, who were the WPIAL runners-up to Bentworth last year, have outscored opponents 93-8. Their last loss was to McConnellsburg in the 2024 PIAA quarterfinals. Owen Mizer is one of the top all-around players for the Chargers.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Mars, Montour, Penn-Trafford, West Allegheny