What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 28, 2025: Soccer semifinals wrap up; volleyball semis get going

By: Don Rebel
Monday, October 27, 2025 | 9:31 PM

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Welcome to Semifinals Tuesday in the WPIAL soccer and girls volleyball playoffs.

The soccer final four features matches in boys Class 4A and 3A along with girls Class 2A and A.

It has almost become an autumn tradition in boys soccer: Peters Township against Seneca Valley.

The Indians and Raiders are ready to clash for the fourth time in six years this decade.

These powerhouse programs have a combined 12 district titles between them with Peters Township claiming nine crowns.

However, two of the Seneca Valley championships came in 2020 and 2021 when it defeated Peters in the WPIAL finals both years, winning in double overtime five years ago, 4-3, then repeating a year later, 3-1.

The two were the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds again in 2022, but did not face each other. However, two years later, they clashed again in the postseason, with the Indians edging the Raiders in the 4A quarterfinals last fall, 2-1.

Now they square off in the WPIAL 4A semifinals as top-seeded Peters Township (14-0-1) takes on No. 4 Seneca Valley (16-2) at West Allegheny at 6:30 p.m.

Following a first-round bye, the Indians blanked North Allegheny in their lone postseason match this season, 1-0.

The Raiders also had an opening-round bye before knocking off Canon-McMillan, 3-1.

Section champions collide in the other 4A boys soccer semifinals match when Section 3 winner and No. 2 seed Fox Chapel (14-2) goes up again Section 1 champ and No. 3 seed Plum (14-2-2) at Gateway at 8 p.m.

Both teams enjoyed Round 1 byes.

In the quarterfinals, the Foxes shut out Pine-Richland, 1-0, while the Mustangs needed penalty kicks to break a 2-2 tie, outscoring Norwin 4-1 in penalty kicks.

Surprises in 3A boys

On the right side of the bracket, you have the expected No. 2 vs. No. 3 match in the Class 3A boys soccer semifinals, but on the left side, few likely anticipated a No. 5 vs. No. 8 clash for a berth in the district championship game.

No. 8 West Allegheny (12-6), fresh off an upset of the No. 1 seed, brings its glass slipper to Dormont Stadium for a match against No. 5 Thomas Jefferson (17-2-1) at 8 p.m.

The Indians stunned top-seed Hampton in the quarterfinals last Wednesday, 2-1. This came after West A shut out Latrobe in the opening round, 5-0.

The Jaguars have a pair of 1-0 victories under the belts in the postseason after eliminating Shaler in the first round and defending champion Moon in the quarterfinals.

TJ has won five straight, including four consecutive shutouts, while West A, which started the season at 1-4, has also won five in a row.

In the “expected” semifinal in 3A, Section 2 champ and No. 2 Bethel Park (14-2-3) battles Section 3 winner and No. 3 seed Franklin Regional (16-3) at Dormont Stadium at 6 p.m.

The Black Hawks have yet to give up a goal this postseason, beating Knoch, 6-0, then ousting Mars, 2-0.

The Panthers registered their own shutout in the first round over Montour, 2-0, and then needed double overtime to eliminate Chartiers Valley, 2-1.

New blood in 2A girls

The final four teams in the WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer playoffs are set to square off Tuesday in the semifinals.

One of the four is Quaker Valley, a program that has won three district championships.

The other three teams have combined for a grand total of zero.

Three teams looking for their first district crown are two wins away from striking gold on the pitch.

No. 3 Quaker Valley (14-2-1) will take on No. 2 Freeport (17-1) at Hampton at 8 p.m.

Both are first-place finishers, the Quakers winning Section 3 and the Yellowjackets taking the Section 2 title.

Quaker Valley has yet to allow a goal in the playoffs, crushing Southmoreland in the first round, 11-0, and edging Central Valley in the quarters, 1-0.

Freeport also had an easy opener, shutting out Ringgold, 11-0, before needing overtime to get past North Catholic, 4-3.

The Yellowjackets have won 16 straight while the Quakers have lost only once in their last 15 matches.

In the other 2A girls semifinal, No. 8 Burrell (11-6-2) meets No. 4 Mt. Pleasant (14-4-1) at Gateway at 6 p.m.

The Buccaneers have won both playoff matches this fall by scores of 1-0, first knocking out Belle Vernon in Round 1, then handing top-seeded South Park its only loss of the season.

The Vikings shut out Avonworth in the first round, 2-0, and then defeated Shady Side Academy in the second round, 2-1.

This is the second meeting of the season between Burrell and Mt. Pleasant. The two played to a scoreless tie at Burrell in late August.

Role reversal

Last fall, Springdale and Sewickley Academy squared off in a WPIAL Class A semifinal.

The Dynamos were the top seed and the Panthers were a No. 5 seed.

Springdale defeated Sewickley Academy, 5-1, on its way to a district championship.

Now the teams meet again in the final four with the roles reversed.

Sewickley Academy (17-1) is the top seed and Springdale (12-1-1) is the No. 4 seed when the two clash at Hampton at 6 p.m.

The Panthers have outscored their two playoff opponents, Ellis School and Carlynton, 9-0.

The Dynamos edged Chartiers-Houston in the first round, 2-1, and then blanked Riverside in the quarterfinals, 3-0.

Both teams are on a roll with Sewickley Academy winning 15 in a row and Springdale picking up victories in its last seven matches.

In the other Class A semi, No. 2 Bentworth (17-1-1) goes up against No. 11 Waynesburg (10-4-2) in a battle between Section 2-A foes at Peters Township at 6:30 p.m.

The Bearcats edged upset-minded Freedom in the first round, 3-2, and then blanked Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the quarters, 2-0.

The Raiders upset No. 6 Winchester Thurston in the opening round, 1-0, and stunned No. 3 Seton LaSalle, 3-1.

In the two regular season meetings, Bentworth beat Waynesburg twice by scores of 2-0 in early September and 2-1 three weeks later.

Volleyball rematch

The WPIAL girls volleyball playoffs have also reached the semifinals with the Tuesday spotlight falling on the 3A and 2A playoffs.

A year ago, Mars knocked off top-seeded Beaver in the 2024 WPIAL Class 3A championship match, 3-1.

Now the two meet again, this time for a return trip to the district finals.

No. 2 Beaver (19-1) battles No. 3 Mars (16-4) at North Allegheny at 7:30 p.m.

The Bobcats eliminated Ringgold in the opening round, 3-1, followed by a sweep of Chartiers Valley in the quarters.

It has been a battle for the defending champions as the Fightin’ Planets defeated Belle Vernon in the opening round and Greensburg Salem in the quarterfinals by scores of 3-1 and 3-2.

In the first match Tuesday at North Allegheny, top-seeded Oakland Catholic (19-1) will face No. 5 Hampton (14-4) at 6 p.m.

The Eagles have swept past Derry and South Fayette in this year’s playoffs while the Talbots have 3-1 wins over both Laurel Highlands and Thomas Jefferson.

Leaping ‘Lopes

Avonworth finished in third place in Section 1-2A this season, receiving the No. 11 seed in the Class 2A playoff bracket.

The Antelopes then worked some magic by pulling back-to-back upset wins out of their hat, first beating No. 6 Riverside, 3-2, then shocking No. 3 Seton LaSalle in the quarterfinals, 3-2.

Now they face the only team not from Section 1 remaining in the 2A playoffs.

On Tuesday, Avonworth (14-6) tries to make it three straight wins over higher seeds as they go up against undefeated No. 2 Waynesburg (20-0) at Peters Township at 6 p.m.

The Raiders swept past both Quaker Valley and Neshannock in the postseason.

The other 2A semifinal Tuesday pits the top two teams from Section 1-2A against each other for a third time this season when top-seeded Hopewell (17-1) battles No. 4 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-3) at Peters Township at 7:30 p.m.

The Vikings swept McGuffey and Burrell in the first two rounds while the Chargers edged South Allegheny in the opener, 3-2, and then eliminated Mohawk in the quarters, 3-1.

During the regular season, Hopewell knocked off OLSH twice, winning in September, 3-1, and in October, 3-2.

Golden girls

Two of the more decorated programs in WPIAL field hockey meet in the Class 3A championship game Tuesday.

Top-seeded Pine-Richland (15-3) takes on No. 3 North Allegheny (6-7-3) at North Allegheny at 7 p.m.

In the 3A semifinals, the Rams cruised past Norwin, 11-0, while the Tigers needed overtime to oust Mt. Lebanon, 2-1.

North Allegheny has won the most WPIAL field hockey championships with 22. Pine-Richland is a distant sixth on the list with seven championships, including the last six in a row since 2019.

The Rams swept the Tigers in their two regular season meetings, 4-1 and 3-0.

The Class A and 2A district championship matches will take place Wednesday.