What to watch for in high school sports on Sept. 9, 2024: Mars girls soccer team faces tough test

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, September 8, 2024 | 10:13 PM

On this ninth day of the ninth month, it is a busy night of WPIAL girls soccer action to kick off another busy week of high school sports.

A year ago, the Mars girls soccer program was the favorite to win a fourth district championship in the last five years.

However the top-seed Fightin’ Planets were stunned in the semifinals by eventual champion South Fayette. losing in penalty kicks 3-2.

This season, Mars is out of the gates quickly, winning all five matches, including a 2-0 record in Section 1-3A.

However that perfect record will be tested when Mars host 2023 WPIAL 4A champion, Fox Chapel.

The Foxes dropped in realignment to 3A and are off to a great start with a 3-0 section record, 4-0 overall.

Mars and Fox Chapel have been dominant on the pitch thus far.

They have combined to outscore their opponents 49-1. The Foxes have four shutouts, and the Planets have four whitewashes in five games.

More soccer fights for first

The only two undefeated teams in Section 3-A play collide for first place Monday when Sewickley Academy visits Seton LaSalle.

The Panthers have only played two matches, but they were section triumphs over Aquinas Academy and Serra Catholic.

The host Rebels are 3-1-1 overall this season, but all three wins have been in section play, where they have outscored their opponents 14-2 in those victories.

This season marks the 20th anniversary of the most recent Sewickley Academy WPIAL girls soccer championship.

The Panthers have won four district crowns, with the first coming 25 years ago in 1999. Sewickley Academy then won three straights titles in 2002, ’03 and ’04.

Some other early-season battles for first place include:

• Armstrong (1-0, 1-3) at Norwin (1-0, 2-3) in Section 1-4A

• North Allegheny (1-0, 3-1) at Pine-Richland (1-0, 3-1) in Section 3-4A

• West Allegheny (2-0, 3-1-1) at Moon (3-0, 3-1) in Section 2-3A

• Albert Gallatin (1-0, 1-2) at South Fayette (1-0, 3-2) in Section 3-3A

• Burrell (1-0, 3-0-1) at North Catholic (1-0, 6-0) in Section 2-2A

Black and blue rivalry

Two of the top WPIAL girls tennis teams collide for the only time in the regular season Monday afternoon when Bethel Park hosts Mt. Lebanon.

Neither has lost a match this season.

The defending WPIAL champion Black Hawks are 4-0 in Section 4-3A and 7-0 overall.

The 2022 champion Blue Devils are 2-0 in the section and 4-0 overall.

Bethel Park defeated Mt. Lebanon a year ago to win the Section 4-3A crown.

Then in the district team playoffs, both reached the 3A semifinals. Mt. Lebanon lost to North Allegheny, 3-2, and Bethel Park edged Shady Side Academy, 3-2.

The Hawks swept the Tigers in the title match 5-0 to win the school’s first girls team tennis championship.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Armstrong, Bethel Park, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Mars, Moon, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, North Catholic, Norwin, Pine-Richland, Seton La Salle, Sewickley Academy, South Fayette, West Allegheny