Westmoreland high school sports week ahead: Week of Sept. 25, 2017

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, September 24, 2017 | 5:06 PM

Highlights of the week ahead in Westmoreland high school sports:

Monday

Girls soccer

One of the most anticipated matchups of the year in any county sport takes place in Harrison City as No. 1 Norwin (7-0, 4-0) visits Penn-Trafford (6-2, 4-0) in Section 4-4A. It annually is one of the WPIAL's top rivalry games, but this one has been circled on calendars for months. Two-time defending WPIAL champion Norwin, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, has a 47-game regular-season unbeaten streak that dates to 2014 and has not lost a section game since 2013 (43 games). Its last loss in section play came against Penn-Trafford, 2-0, in '13.

Norwin is 6-0-1 against the Warriors since.

Belle Vernon at Laurel Highlands (2-3A), Yough at Southmoreland (3-2A) and Greensburg Central Catholic at Jeannette (1-A) are other games to watch.

Girls tennis

The WPIAL team playoffs are set to begin.

Girls volleyball

Hempfield travels to play No. 9-ranked Armstrong in nonsection play.

Hockey

The Greensburg Central Catholic preseason tournament at Kirk S. Nevin Arena wraps up pool play with two games: Greensburg Salem vs. South Park and Greensburg CC vs. Norwin.

Tuesday

Boys soccer

No. 3 Penn-Trafford looks to avenge a 2-1 loss when it visits No. 2 Franklin Regional, and Norwin travels to Hempfield in another Section 4-4A game.

No. 4 Greensburg CC hosts Trinity Christian in Section 2-A. The Centurions escaped with 2-1 win in the first meeting.

Girls volleyball

Rivals Norwin and Penn-Trafford meet in a Section 3-4A match in Harrison City. Norwin is ranked No. 8 and Penn-Trafford 6th by the Western PA Volleyball Coaches Association.

Hempfield at Latrobe is another match to watch.

Boys golf

The individual postseason continues with the Class AAA semifinal round at two sites: The Links at Spring Church and Donegal Highlands. The top finishers advance to the WPIAL finals Oct. 3 at Nemacolin Country Club.

Wednesday

Girls soccer

In Section 1-A, No. 1 Greensburg CC travels to Riverview, and Jeannette hosts Apollo-Ridge.

Nonsection games of note include Baldwin at Penn-Trafford, Plum at Hempfield and Class 3A No. 5 Franklin Regional at Mt. Pleasant.

Thursday

Boys golf

The top Class AA players compete in the WPIAL championship at Allegheny Country Club.

Boys soccer

Franklin Regional and Norwin, frontrunners in the thick of the Section 4-4A race, square off in North Huntingdon. And after a tight 3-2 win over Connellsville earlier in the season, Penn-Trafford hosts the Falcons.

Mt. Pleasant hosts Shady Side Academy in a key Section 2-2A game. The Vikings won the first matchup 2-1.

Hockey

The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. for the Greensburg CC preseason tournament championship game. The winner of the Maroon Division meets the winner of the Silver Division at Nevin Arena.

Friday

Football

Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane faces his former Gateway team in a Class 5A Big East Conference game at Warrior Stadium. Both teams are 5-0, 3-0. Gateway beat the Warriors last season 23-6.

Peters Township at Norwin is a good Class 6A Southeastern Conference clash, and Belle Vernon visits No. 4 Laurel Highlands and Greensburg Salem hosts West Mifflin in the Class 4A Big Nine.

Mt. Pleasant travels to face Elizabeth Forward in the Class 3A Interstate, and Jeannette hosts Bishop Canevin in the Class A Eastern Conference.

Greensburg Salem hosts West Mifflin in the Golden Lions' 1,100th game.

Saturday

Football

Latrobe has a 1 p.m. kickoff at McKeesport in the Class 5A Big East. It is the Tigers' homecoming game.

Girls soccer

A full slate of nonsection games features Baldwin at Norwin and Class 4A No. 4 North Allegheny at Penn-Trafford.

Boys soccer

Belle Vernon at Elizabeth Forward and Upper St. Clair at Norwin are good nonsection matchups.

Girls volleyball

The Baldwin tournament features several area teams.