What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Aug. 27, 2025: Section rivals to clash in girls soccer

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 10:00 PM

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The section spotlight shines on three sections in 3A, one 2A section and all four Class A sections on a busy evening of girls soccer Wednesday.

Plum was undefeated Section 4-3A champion a year ago, finishing 12-0 and earning the No. 4 seed in the WPIAL 3A playoffs.

Following postseason wins over Shaler and Moon, the Mustangs, who had only one loss in their first 18 games, saw their season end with a semifinals loss to Fox Chapel and a consolation match defeat at the hands of Mars.

Elizabeth Forward finished in a tie for fourth place in Section 4-3A but lost the playoff qualifying tiebreaker with Indiana and missed the postseason.

The two teams collide Wednesday when EF visits Plum in a battle for first place after both teams won their section and season openers Monday.

The Mustangs began the new season with a victory at home over rival Franklin Regional, 3-1, while the visiting Warriors cruised past West Mifflin, 8-1.

Plum blanked Elizabeth Forward in their two section meetings a year ago, 2-0 and 3-0.

Tight race again?

One of the closest section races in WPIAL girls soccer last year was in Section 1-A.

There was little separation between the top four teams as the season played out, with only a game and a half difference in the end between first place and fourth place.

Eden Christian finished first with a 7-2-1 record, Freedom was second at 7-3, Riverside third with a 6-3-1 mark and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart ended up in fourth place with a section record of 6-4.

Three of those teams — Eden, Riverside and OLSH — won their section openers Monday and two of those three schools square off Wednesday for at least an early share of the section lead.

Riverside (1-0) visits Eden Christian Academy (1-1) in an afternoon fray at 3:30 p.m.

The Panthers won their section and season opener earlier this week, edging Freedom, 2-1.

After falling in a nonsection matchup to Ambridge on Saturday, the Warriors opened up section play with a triumph over South Side, 6-2.

More fights for 1st

With Mother Nature cooperating with ideal conditions, there are two more WPIAL boys golf Class 2A showdowns set for Wednesday that will break a tie for the top spot in the section at the midway point of section play.

Both Avonworth and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are 4-0 and atop Section 4-2A heading into the first of their two regular season matches.

The Antelopes visit the Chargers at Moon Golf Club at 2 p.m.

In Section 8-2A, Elizabeth Forward and Shady Side Academy have yet to lose a section match.

The Warriors are 4-0 and the Bulldogs are 3-0.

EF visits SSA at Fox Chapel Golf Club with a 3 p.m. tee time.