What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Oct. 28, 2024: Berths in soccer finals on the line

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, October 27, 2024 | 9:39 PM

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Welcome to Semifinals Monday in three of the eight brackets in the WPIAL soccer playoffs.

Two years ago, Moon squared off against Bethel Park in a WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal and cruised to a 6-0 victory.

Last fall, Franklin Regional was an underdog as it traveled to Mars in a 3A opening round postseason match and the Panthers turned the Fightin’ Planets, 4-0.

On Monday, those two rematches will decide the finalists in the 2024 district championship match in 3A.

In a doubleheader at Dormont Stadium, No. 7 Franklin Regional (13-3-2) will battle No. 6 Mars (15-1-4) at 6 p.m., followed by top-seeded Moon (20-0) taking on No. 5 Bethel Park (13-6) at 8 p.m.

Both Franklin Regional and Mars finished in second place in their respective 3A sections.

Since Sept. 12, the Panthers are 9-1-2, including playoff wins over Trinity, 3-0, and No. 2 Thomas Jefferson, 2-1.

During that same stretch, the Fightin’ Planets are 10-0-3. In the first round, they eliminated Penn-Trafford, 4-1, and blanked Chartiers Valley in the quarterfinals, 1-0.

Section 4 champion Moon has been dominant this season, winning all 20 games, allowing only eights goals and pitching 15 shutouts. The Tigers outscored Belle Vernon and Hampton, 9-0, in their two playoff victories.

Section 2 winner Bethel Park did not end the regular season on a high point, losing three of its last five matches. However, the Black Hawks have been good in the close ones in the playoffs, edging Montour in the opening round, 3-2, and ousting Latrobe in the second round in double overtime, 2-1.

Bucs just need one

The Burrell boys soccer team had just dropped four straight contests and was in jeopardy of losing the fourth and final playoff spot Section 1-2A.

All the Buccaneers needed was just one more.

They have stuck true to that philosophy into the postseason, winning four straight matches by one goal.

In fact, all four victories have been with just one goal.

The Bucs closed out the regular season with wins over Highlands and Freeport, then upset Quaker Valley in the first round and eliminated Seton LaSalle in the quarterfinals by the same score, 1-0.

Now No. 13 Burrell (10-9) will challenge top-seeded South Park (18-1-1) in a WPIAL boys soccer Class 2A semifinal at 6 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny.

The Eagles have won 13 in a row since suffering their only loss of the season to Moon in mid-September.

South Park has outscored Waynesburg Central and Central Valley, 9-0, in playoff victories.

In the other 2A semifinals, No. 2 Avonworth (15-2-2) goes up against No. 3 Deer Lakes (17-2-1) at North Allegheny at 8 p.m.

The Section 2 champion Antelopes are 10-0-2 in their last 12 matches and have not allowed a goal in the postseason, routing McGuffey, 7-0, then edging Shady Side Academy in overtime, 1-0.

The Section 1 champ Lancers are 13-0-1 in their last 14 games and have also pitched two shutouts in the playoffs, beating Hopewell, 4-0, and then knocking out North Catholic in the second round, 3-0.

Playoff rematches

In the 2022 WPIAL girls 4A championship match, North Allegheny and Peters Township played to a 1-1 tie beyond both overtimes. The Tigers edged the Indians in penalty kicks 3-2 to win a third district title in four years.

Now the two programs meet again on the postseason stage with a berth in the 2024 title game up for grabs as top-seeded Peters Township (17-0-1) faces No. 4 North Allegheny (12-5-1) at Fox Chapel at 8 p.m.

Both teams received a first-round bye.

The Indians blanked Pine-Richland in the quarterfinals, 2-0, while the Tigers got by Mt. Lebanon in the second round, 3-2.

These two teams met at Peters Township on Sept. 23 with the Indians beating the Tigers, 3-0.

The other 4A semifinal is also a recent playoff rematch as No. 2 Seneca Valley (12-2-2) will face No. 6 Canon-McMillan (13-3-1) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m.

In the 2023 4A quarterfinals, Canon-McMillan defeated Seneca Valley, 2-1.

The Big Macs crushed Hempfield in the opening round, 11-0, and then stunned No. 3 Penn-Trafford in the quarters, 3-1.

The Raiders enjoyed a first-round bye and then shut out Upper St. Clair in the quarterfinals at home, 1-0.

Tags: Avonworth, Bethel Park, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Deer Lakes, Franklin Regional, Mars, Moon, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Seneca Valley, South Park