Westmoreland County WPIAL soccer playoff capsule: Game for Oct. 28, 2024

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 | 5:32 PM

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WPIAL soccer playoffs

Class 3A

Semifinals

7-Franklin Regional (12-3-2) vs. 6-Mars (14-1-4)

6 p.m. Monday, Dormont Stadium, Dormont

Winner plays: Winner of 5-Bethel Park (13-6)/1-Moon (20-0) Oct. 31, Nov. 1 or Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium in championship

Corner kicks: Franklin Regional is in the semifinals for the sixth time in seven years. The Panthers upset No. 2 Thomas Jefferson, 2-1, in the quarterfinals as Jovan Sankoorikal had the game-winning goal and an assist, and Fabrizzio Costa also scored. Franklin Regional last reached the finals in 2020, which was its third straight appearance in the title match at the time. The Panthers lost to Mars, 2-1. Danny Christafano leads the team with 23 goals, and he and Sankoorikal have 11 assists each. … Mars blanked Chartiers Valley, 1-0, to reach the semifinals. The Fightin’ Planets lost to Franklin Regional in the first round last year, 4-0. Mars has not been to the finals since 2020 when it edged the Panthers for the title. The team has a dozen shutouts this season and has allowed only 10 goals. The most goals they have allowed in a game is two. Their only loss was to Armstrong, 1-0.

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

Tags: Franklin Regional, Mars