What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Aug. 26, 2024: Avonworth, Freedom open girls soccer section slates

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 9:19 PM

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Four days into a new season and the WPIAL girls soccer section schedule begins Monday for teams in Class 3A, 2A and A.

One of the district teams beginning section play here in late August has mastered having success in early November.

Avonworth opens up Section 3-2A action Monday when it hosts Hopewell, another team that moved from Section 1 to 3 in realignment this offseason.

The Antelopes are trying to win a fourth straight WPIAL crown this fall.

The ‘Lopes defeated North Catholic in 2021, Mt. Pleasant in 2022 and Shady Side Academy in 2023 in the district finals, all in one-score games.

Avonworth tied North Catholic for the Section 1 crown a year ago, but it moved to Section 3 where it will face Hopewell, Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley and Quaker Valley in the six-team section this season.

The other Section 3-2A opener schedule for Monday is Quaker Valley at Ambridge.

The golden ‘Dogs

While Avonworth is on the hunt for a fourth straight WPIAL girls soccer title this season, Freedom is seeking a Class A three-peat.

The Bulldogs captured their fourth title in school history and their second straight crown when they blanked Riverview in the 2023 Class A title game, 1-0.

While most of the same teams are still together after Freedom captured the section championship by three games, the Bulldogs have been moved to Section 1-A for the next two seasons.

Freedom will host Riverside, a team that qualified for the Class A playoffs last season after finishing in fourth place.

Joining the Bulldogs and Panthers in Section 1-A are Eden Christian, Mohawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and South Side.

The other two section openers on Monday are OLSH at Mohawk and Eden Christian hosting South Side.

Home court opener

There are high hopes of a repeat performance for the Bethel Park girls tennis team after capturing their first WPIAL championship last fall.

The Black Hawks play their section home opener Monday when they battle 2022 3A champion Upper St. Clair.

While the Hawks have won one district title, the Panthers lead the way with 15 WPIAL 3A team tennis championships.

Two-time defending 2A champion Knoch was also scheduled to open its 2024 Section 3-2A slate at home, but a match against The Ellis School has been postponed.

The Knights are not only trying to three-peat this season, they are also trying to capture gold for the fourth time in five years.

Tags: Ambridge, Avonworth, Bethel Park, Eden Christian, Freedom, Knoch, Mohawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Quaker Valley, Riverside, South Side, Upper St. Clair