What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Oct. 29, 2025: Stretch of championship soccer at Highmark Stadium to kick off

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 9:30 PM

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This is the 12th time in 13 years that Highmark Stadium in Station Square has hosted the WPIAL soccer championships. The lone year it didn’t since 2013 was in the covid-affected year of 2020.

Before expansion to four classifications, the soccer finals were played over two days.

Since then, the championships were spread out over three days at Highmark Stadium.

With the Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosting a playoff game Saturday evening, the WPIAL has made the adjustment and this season, there will be two title matches played over four days beginning Wednesday.

The first championship contest is for boys Class 2A gold with an unexpected matchup as No. 9 Beaver (16-4) battles No. 6 Deer Lakes (17-3-1) at 6 p.m.

The Bobcats own a pair of six-goal victories in this postseason, a first-round win over Charleroi, 6-0, and a semifinal triumph over Avonworth, 8-2.

In between, Beaver pulled off the surprise of eliminating top seed and two-time defending champion South Park in the quarterfinals, 2-1.

The Lancers rolled past Central Valley in the opening round, 5-1, then picked up a couple nail-biting wins, ousting No. 3 North Catholic in the quarters, 1-0, and No. 2 Quaker Valley in the semifinals, 2-1.

Beaver has picked up victories in five straight contests while Deer Lakes has won eight straight.

The second match of Championship Wednesday on the district pitch pits No. 1 Fox Chapel (18-1-1) against No. 2 South Fayette (18-1-1) for the girls Class 3A crown at 8 p.m.

The matchup is a rematch of the 2024 finals when the Lions knocked off the top-seeded Foxes, 4-0.

In this postseason, Fox Chapel owns wins over Laurel Highlands, West Allegheny and Plum by a combined score of 15-3. The Foxes needed overtime to eliminate the Mustangs in the semis, 2-1.

South Fayette has won all three playoff matches by multiple goals: 5-0 over Elizabeth Forward, 5-3 against Montour and a 4-1 triumph vs. Moon in the semifinals.

The Foxes have a seven-game winning streak and are unbeaten in their last 15 games. Meanwhile, the Lions have won 18 consecutive matches.

South Fayette is trying to become the sixth district girls soccer team this century to capture district gold in three straight seasons. Mars did it twice in 2019-2022 and 2010-2012. Avonworth from 2021-2023, South Park from 2006-2008 and Sewickley Academy from 2002-2004 also accomplished the feat.

Soccer consolations

Six district teams will have their season on the line Wednesday in the WPIAL consolation matches.

Teams that lost in the district semifinals now face a situation where they must win to advance to the PIAA playoffs or lose and the season comes to an abrupt end.

In girls 3A, first-place teams collide when Section 2-3A champion Moon (18-2) hosts Section 4-3A winner Plum (17-2) at 6:30 p.m.

Both teams scored one goal in a semifinal loss Monday.

The Tigers fell to South Fayette, 4-1, while the Mustangs dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to Fox Chapel, 2-1.

There is no 4A girls consolation match since only the top two district teams qualify for the state playoffs.

In the boys 2A consolation match, two Section 2-2A foes battle for a third time when Avonworth (17-3-1) visits Quaker Valley (17-3-1) at 6 p.m.

The Quakers were 1-0-1 against the Antelopes this season, winning at QV, 4-2, and then tying the ‘Lopes at Avonworth, 1-1.

The Class A boys consolation follows at Chuck Knox Stadium at Quaker Valley when Section 1 winner Beaver County Christian (16-3) take on Section 4 champ Winchester Thurston (13-5-1).

The Eagles lost to Eden Christian Academy in the 2024 consolation match, 1-0.

The last time the Bears qualified for the PIAA playoffs was when they won WPIAL gold in 2022.

Playoff rematch

The final four teams in the WPIAL Class 4A girls volleyball playoffs are set to square off Wednesday with the spotlight shining on Class 4A and Class A.

Last year, No. 3 North Catholic and No. 6 Peters Township met in the district quarterfinals with the Trojans beating the Indians, 3-0.

Now the roles are reversed.

No. 2 Peters Township (14-3) once again faces North Catholic (11-7) at Mt. Lebanon at 6 p.m. This time, the Indians are the lower seed at No. 2 and the Trojans are No. 6.

The Indians knocked out Canon-McMillan (3-1) following an opening-round bye while the Trojans own 3-1 wins in the playoffs over Kiski Area and Upper St. Clair.

In the other 4A semifinal at Mt. Lebanon at 7:30 p.m., top-seeded North Allegheny (13-2) battles rival and No. 5 seed Pine-Richland (13-5).

The Tigers defeated Shaler, 3-1, in the quarterfinals after a first-round bye while the Rams have postseason wins over Latrobe and Seneca Valley by scores of 3-0.

North Allegheny beat Pine-Richland twice in the regular season by the same score of 3-1.

Sections supremacy

There are five sections in WPIAL Class A girls volleyball. Heading into the final four, there are only two sections left standing.

The runners-up, a champion and a third-place finisher in Section 4 and 5 collide in the semifinals Wednesday with a berth in the Class A finals at stake.

Top-seeded Frazier (13-3) takes on No. 4 Eden Christian Academy (16-4) at Peters Township at 6 p.m.

The Commodores are the Section 4 champs while the Warriors finished in second place in Section 5.

Frazier has wins over Union (3-2) and Carmichaels (3-0) in this postseason while Eden Christian has eliminated Springdale (3-0) and St. Joseph (3-1).

Right after that match, in the other semifinals contest at Peters Township set for 7:30 p.m., No. 7 California (15-4) faces No. 6 Serra Catholic (13-5).

The Trojans swept Beaver County Christian and then stunned No. 2 Beth-Center by 3-0 scores.

The Eagles flew by Apollo-Ridge (3-0) before going the distance to oust No. 3 Fort Cherry, 3-2.

California finished second in Section 4 this season while Serra Catholic was the third place team in Section 5.

Tired of silver?

The Aquinas Academy field hockey program is getting tired of silver.

The Crusaders have played in the four WPIAL Class A field hockey championships and have been district runner-up all four times.

Is the fifth time the charm?

Aquinas Academy battles two-time defending champion Shady Side Academy in the Class A field hockey finals Wednesday at North Allegheny at 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs are hoping to win their third straight district crown.

SSA edged Aquinas Academy in double overtime in the 2023 finals, 3-2.

Then last season, the Bulldogs blanked the Crusaders, 1-0.

A victory will give the Shady Side Academy program its league record-tying 22nd title. North Allegheny has also captured field hockey gold 22 times.

Before that title contest, it’s a rematch of the WPIAL 2A championship a year ago as top-seeded Peters Township faces Fox Chapel at North Allegheny at 6 p.m.

The Indians captured their third field hockey title and first since 2018 last fall when they shut out the Foxes in the finals, 3-0.

Fox Chapel is trying to win its sixth district championship and first since 2016.