What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Oct. 24, 2024: Underdogs thrive in Class 2A boys soccer

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | 11:47 PM

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Quarterfinal soccer continues in the 2024 WPIAL playoffs.

The lone boys tournament taking center stage Thursday will be Class 2A, where the left side of the bracket was busted up in the opening round.

Top-seeded South Park advanced in the first round, but the No. 4, 5 and 8 seeds were all sent packing.

No. 13 Burrell (9-9) stunned No. 4 Quaker Valley when a scoreless tie went beyond two overtimes and the Buccaneers won on penalty kicks, 5-3.

No. 12 Seton LaSalle (13-4) also pulled off a surprise, eliminating No. 5 Charleroi, 3-2.

The Cinderella quarterfinal between the Buccaneers and the Rebels will take place at West Allegheny at 8 p.m.

No. 1 South Park (17-1-1) cruised to a win over Waynesburg, 6-0. Now the Eagles will host No. 9 Central Valley (15-4) at 7 p.m.

The Warriors knocked off No. 8 Elizabeth Forward on Monday, 4-2.

Here are the two matches on the right side of the bracket in boys 2A soccer:

• No. 2 Avonworth (15-2-2) will be home against No. 10 Shady Side Academy (12-4-1). The Antelopes blanked McGuffey in the first round, 7-0, and the Bulldogs shut out Mt. Pleasant on Monday, 2-0.

• No. 6 North Catholic (15-4) will visit No. 3 Deer Lakes (15-2-1) at 7 p.m. in a rematch of their two Section 1 battles this season, both won by Deer Lakes, 1-0 and 2-0. The Trojans rolled past Southmoreland in the opening round, 6-0, while the Lancers also pitched a shutout of Hopewell on Monday, 4-0.

North vs. South

Last fall, top seed North Allegheny opened up with No. 8 Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL 4A girls soccer playoffs.

It wasn’t easy as the two teams remained tied through two overtimes before the Tigers bounced the Blue Devils in penalty kicks, 2-1.

The programs collide again Thursday in a quarterfinal at North Allegheny at 7 p.m.

The Tigers had a first-round bye while the Blue Devils upset No. 5 Norwin in a game that was decided in penalty kicks following a scoreless tie, 4-3.

The Mt. Lebanon at North Allegheny match is one of three second-round contests that pit powers from the north of the district against teams form the south.

• No. 1 Peters Township (16-0-1) welcomes No. 8 Pine-Richland (12-5) at 7:30 p.m. The Rams defeated Latrobe in the opening round, 4-3.

• No. 2 Seneca Valley (12-2-2) is fresh off a bye as it hosts No. 7 Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m. The Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over Butler, 3-1.

• This one is south vs. east as No. 6 Canon-McMillan (12-3-1) visits No. 3 Penn-Trafford (12-4). The Warriors had a first-round bye while the Big Macs crushed Hempfield, 11-0.

Pitching shutouts

Bethel Park as a No. 10 seed is the only surprise of the elite eight in WPIAL 3A girls soccer.

The Black Hawks edged No. 7 Thomas Jefferson in double overtime, 3-2.

That was one of only three matches in which both teams scored a goal in the 3A opening round.

One of the five shutouts belonged to No. 2 seed and defending 3A champion South Fayette (14-3), which is set to host Bethel Park (10-5-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Lions blanked Kiski Area, 4-0.

Here are the other three 3A quarterfinals matches:

• No. 1 Fox Chapel (16-1-1) will entertain No. 8 Montour (12-4-2) at 7 p.m. The Foxes dominated Indiana in the opening round, 8-0, while the Spartans needed overtime to bounce Franklin Regional, 3-2.

• No. 4 Plum (16-1) hosts No. 5 Moon (13-3) at 7 p.m. On Monday, the Mustangs shut out Shaler, 3-0, while the Tigers blanked Hampton, 4-0.

• No. 6 Mars (15-2) will visit No. 3 West Allegheny (13-3-1) at 6 p.m. The Fightin’ Planets edged Oakland Catholic, 3-2, while the Indians defeated Laurel Highlands, 3-0.

Section supremacy

With the opening round of the WPIAL girls volleyball playoffs in the rear-view mirror, it’s on to the quarterfinals starting Thursday in both 4A and Class A.

In Class 4A, the elite eight is made up of three teams each from Sections 1 and 2, and two teams from Section 4, thus leaving the playoff teams from Section 3 watching from afar.

Here are the four 4A quarterfinals matches:

• No. 1 North Allegheny (14-1) hosts No. 9 Armstrong (12-4) at 7 p.m. The Tigers had a a first-round bye as the River Hawks were beating Penn-Trafford, 3-1.

• No. 5 Shaler (14-3) visits No. 4 Upper St. Clair (12-5) at 7 p.m. The Titans edged Latrobe in the opening round, 3-2, while the Panthers were sweeping Fox Chapel out of the postseason, 3-0.

• No. 2 Canon-McMillan (15-1), fresh off a bye, welcomes No. 7 Pine-Richland (9-8) at 7:30 p.m. The Rams advanced with a win Tuesday against Hempfield, 3-0.

• No. 6 Peters Township (13-4) travels to face No. 3 North Catholic (14-2) at 7:30 p.m. The Indians ousted Kiski Area in the first round, 3-0, and the Trojans enjoyed a bye.

Champs collide

The past two WPIAL Class A girls volleyball champions are set to collide in a district quarterfinal Thursday.

This year’s top seed, Frazier (13-3), won it all in 2022, while its opponent, No. 8 Serra Catholic (12-5), claimed gold 12 months ago.

The Commodores cruised past Rochester in the opening round, 3-0, while the Eagles soared past Beth-Center, 3-1.

This match begins at 7 p.m. at Frazier.

Here are the other three Class A second-round matches:

• No. 12 California (9-5) visits No. 4 St. Joseph (16-3) at 7 p.m. The Trojans stunned No. 5 Carmichaels in their playoff opener, 3-0, while the Spartans beat Union by the same score.

• No. 2 Eden Christian Academy (19-2) will battle No. 7 Bishop Canevin (9-7) at North Catholic at 6 p.m. The Warriors defeated Trinity Christian and the Crusaders ousted Aquinas Academy by the same score, 3-0.

• No. 6 Beaver County Christian (15-1) travels to face No. 3 Greensburg Central Catholic (14-3) at 7 p.m. The Eagles needed five games to beat Apollo-Ridge in the first round, 3-2, while the Centurions swept by West Greene, 3-0.

Running for gold

Distance runners from around the district will converge on White Oak Park in McKeesport on Thursday for the WPIAL boys and girls cross country championships.

Here is the schedule for the six races.

Boys Class A – 11 a.m.

Girls Class A – 11:45 a.m.

Boys 2A – 1 p.m.

Girls 2A – 1:45 p.m.

Boys 3A – 3 p.m.

Girls 3A – 3:45 p.m.

Field hockey final 4

The 2024 WPIAL field hockey playoffs continue Thursday with semifinals in Class 3A and 2A.

In Class 3A, top seed Pine-Richland is a favorite to win a sixth straight district championship as it hosts Norwin at 7 p.m. In the other match, No. 3 North Allegheny visits No. 2 Mt. Lebanon at 7 p.m.

In 2A, top seed Peters Township, the 3A runner-up a year ago, will host No. 4 Latrobe at 6 p.m.