What to watch for in WPIAL sports on May 22, 2025: Lacrosse champs to be crowned
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 9:41 PM
The Mt. Lebanon girls lacrosse team celebrates with the WPIAL championship trophy after defeating Pine-Richland in the Class 3A final on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at RMU.
While weather concerns forced another day of postponements on the diamond, the WPIAL boys and girls lacrosse championships are set for Panthers Stadium at Upper St. Clair on both Thursday and Friday.
While the Class 2A title matches were postponed from Wednesday to Friday, the 3A finals are set for Thursday featuring the most dominant lacrosse school looking for a championship sweep for a second straight year.
Mt. Lebanon has won a combined 12 district crowns, six for the boys and six for the girls, and both programs are hoping to climb the golden stairs to seventh heaven.
The Blue Devils boys and girls teams swept 3A crowns a year ago.
Blue and yellow for gold
In the boys Class 3A title match, No. 2 Shady Side Academy (12-7) will battle No. 1 Mt. Lebanon (14-4) at 8 p.m. in a clash between schools whose team colors are navy blue and yellow.
The matchup pits the district champions in 3A boys lacrosse over the last three seasons with the Bulldogs winning it all in 2022 and the Blue Devils who took home lax titles in 2023 and 2024.
Mt. Lebanon crushed Central Catholic in the quarterfinals, 17-1, followed by a win over North Allegheny in the semifinals, 9-4.
Shady Side Academy rolled past Canon-McMillan in the quarters, 15-2, and then beat Upper St. Clair in the semis on Monday, 14-8.
On April 22, the Blue Devils edged the Bulldogs in a nonsection match, 8-5.
Clash of champions
In the girls Class 3A championship match, No. 1 Pine-Richland (18-2) squares off with No. 2 and defending champion Mt. Lebanon (14-3) at 6 p.m. in a rematch of the 2024 finals.
This is also a battle of the two most recent district 3A winners.
The 2023 champion Rams enjoyed a first-round bye, ousted Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals, 16-5, and then rolled past Moon in the semifinals Monday, 16-6.
The 2024 champion Blue Devils also had an opening-round bye, knocked off Peters Township in the quarters, 17-14, and edged rival Upper St. Clair in the final four, 12-9.
This is the second meeting of the year between these powers as Pine-Richland defeated Mt. Lebanon, 20-8, in a nonsection match May 8.
In the finals a year ago, The Blue Devils got five goals from Quinn Murdoch to knock off Pine-Richland, 16-11.
Consolation Thursday
PIAA lacrosse playoff berths will be up for grabs in three WPIAL consolation matches set for Thursday.
• In girls 3A, Moon (13-5) will visit Upper St. Clair (17-2) at USC at 4 p.m. The Tigers ousted Norwin in the quarterfinals and lost to Pine-Richland in the semifinals. The Panthers beat Penn-Trafford in the quarters and fell to rival Mt. Lebanon in the semis.
• In girls 2A, Blackhawk (13-3) battles Quaker Valley (10-5) at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m. The Cougars eliminated Hampton in the quarterfinals and then lost to Mars in the semifinals. The Quakers beat Indiana in the first round, upset Seton LaSalle in the quarters and were edged by Chartiers Valley in the semis. Blackhawk beat Quaker Valley in a Section 2-2A match in the regular season, 4-2.
• In boys 2A, Peters Township (11-7) goes up against Hampton (15-4) at Fox Chapel at 7:30 p.m. The Indians defeated Chartiers Valley in the quarterfinals before falling to South Fayette in the semifinals. The Talbots cruised past Penn-Trafford in the quarters before falling to Mars in the semis.
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