Westmoreland County soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 23, 2025

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 3:35 PM

Purchase Photo Options

WPIAL soccer playoffs

Boys

Class 2A

Quarterfinals

5-Mt. Pleasant (15-4) at 4-Avonworth (16-2-1)

7 p.m. Thursday, Lenzner Field, Emsworth

Winner plays: Winner of 9-Beaver (14-4)/1-South Park (18-1) in semifinals (date/time/site TBD)

Players to watch: Grant Zahrobsky, Mt. Pleasant; Nate Kline, Avonworth

Throw-ins: Mt. Pleasant, fresh off its first section title in five years, posted its first playoff win since 2020 with a 2-1 victory over No. 12 Elizabeth Forward. Tyke Snyder and Lukas Showman had goals, and Zahrobsky delivered a pinpoint cross for an assist. The Vikings made a run to the semifinals in 2020 and lost to Deer Lakes, 7-1. Snyder leads the Vikings with 17 goals. Keeper Grayson Gardner has 11 clean sheets. The Vikings prepared for the playoffs with a tough scrimmage against Obama Academy, which is coached by Luke D’Amico, a former all-section defender who played for Mt. Pleasant and coach Floyd Snyder. D’Amico also played at Saint Vincent College. … Avonworth blanked McGuffey, 3-0, in the first round. Cody Cwynar and Alpha Diallo scored goals, and Kline and Calder Mahan had assists. The third score was an own goal. Hudson Boyd is one of the Antelopes’ top defensive players. Avonworth made the finals last year and lost to South Park, 1-0. The Antelopes made the semis in 2023 and beat Belle Vernon, 4-1. Avonworth has 118 goals and has allowed 12.

Girls

Class 4A

Quarterfinals

6-Mt. Lebanon (13-5) at 3-Norwin (14-3)

7 p.m. Thursday, Norwin Knights Stadium, North Huntingdon

Winner plays: Winner of 7-Upper St. Clair (10-5-2)/2-Seneca Valley (10-3-2) in semifinals (date/time/site TBD)

Players to watch: Tatum Casper, Norwin; Becca Braunsdorf, Mt. Lebanon

Throw-ins: This is a playoff rematch from last year’s first round when Mt. Lebanon won on penalty kicks (4-3). … Norwin gets back to action after a first-round bye. The Knights captured their first section championship since 2019. They defeated then-No.-5-ranked Mt. Lebanon, 2-1, in the second game of the season. Cam Reed and Siena Ali had the goals, and Leesia Phetsomphou earned an assist. Ali was a center back last year but has shown effectiveness as a forward. Norwin has won 13 of its last 14 games. … Mt. Lebanon bounced back from three straight losses to win its playoff opener 4-3 against No. 11 Butler. A 1-1 game at halftime, the offense picked up in the second half. Lilia Bhuta scored the opening goal, but the game-winning score went to Scarlett Pryor. Mt. Lebanon beat Butler, 3-1, earlier in the season. The Blue Devils also own wins against Penn-Trafford (1-0) and Upper St. Clair (3-1). The Blue Devils lost to North Allegheny, 3-2, in the quarterfinals last year. Three of their losses have come on the road. The winner still will have work to do to make the PIAA playoffs. Only the top two teams in 4A go to states.

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

Tags: Avonworth, Mt. lebanon, Mt. Pleasant, Norwin