What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 29, 2024: Fox Chapel boys look to clear semifinal hurdle

By: Don Rebel
Monday, October 28, 2024 | 9:03 PM

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

In each of the past four postseasons, Fox Chapel has trotted into the WPIAL Class 4A boys soccer semifinals.

Each time, however, the Foxes could not advance to the championship match.

On Tuesday, in the second game of a Class 4A final four doubleheader at Gateway, No. 3 Fox Chapel (11-4-2) will take on No. 2 Peters Township (16-1-1) at 8 p.m.

Here is a rundown of the not so kind semifinals matches for the Foxes:

In 2020, Peters Township 2, Fox Chapel 1 in overtime

In 2021, Seneca Valley 1, Fox Chapel 0

In 2022, Seneca Valley 3, Fox Chapel 2

In 2023, Norwin 2, Fox Chapel 1

Both teams had first-round byes. The Indians edged Seneca Valley in the quarterfinals, 2-1, and the Foxes defeated Upper St. Clair, 3-1.

In the opening match, No. 1 seed and Section 1 winner Plum (16-0-3) will battle No. 4 seed and Section 3 champion North Allegheny (15-3-1).

The Mustangs followed a first-round bye with a second-round win in double overtime over Canon-McMillan, 3-2.

The Tigers have a pair of one goal wins in the postseason. NA defeated Central Catholic in the opener, 2-1, and then eliminated rival North Hills in the quarters, 1-0.

Venue change

The WPIAL Class A boys soccer semifinals Tuesday originally scheduled for Peters Township has been moved to Big Mac Stadium in Canonsburg.

Defending champion and top seed Bentworth (16-0) will look to return to the finals when it faces No. 4 Beaver County Christian (15-3) at 6 p.m.

Neither team has allowed a goal through two playoff wins.

The Bearcats blanked California in the opening round, 11-0, and Trinity Christian in the quarterfinals, 3-0.

The Eagles knocked off Riverview in the first round, 2-0, and then shut out Greensburg Central Catholic in the second round, 3-0.

In the second final four match at 8 p.m., No. 7 Eden Christian Academy (10-6-2) goes up against No. 3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (14-2).

After beating Carlynton 2-1 in overtime, the Warriors needed double overtime to stun No. 2 Winchester Thurston, 1-0.

The Chargers have also gone beyond regulation twice in this year’s postseason, shutting out Freedom in OT, 1-0, then knocking out Springdale after a 1-1 tie through overtime to win on penalty kicks, 3-0.

This is the second meeting between the teams this season. OLSH won in late August, 2-0.

You’ll get nothing and like it

The South Fayette girls soccer team has made it a habit of shutting down opponents.

The defending champions registered 10 shutouts in the regular season and that trend has continued in the postseason.

The Lions have outscored Kiski Area and Bethel Park, 5-0, although they needed overtime to beat the Black Hawks, 1-0.

On Tuesday, No. 2 seed South Fayette (16-3) will take on No. 6 Mars (17-2) in a Class 3A girls soccer semifinal at Martorelli Stadium in West View at 8 p.m.

The Fightin’ Planets edged Oakland Catholic in the first round, 3-2, and then blanked No. 3 West Allegheny, 2-0.

In the other final four contest in the North Hills, top seed Fox Chapel (16-2-1) will take on No. 4 Plum (17-1) at 6 p.m.

The Foxes have been explosive in the playoffs, outscoring Indiana and Montour in the first two rounds, 15-1.

The Mustangs blanked Shaler in the opening round, 3-0, and then need double overtime to eliminate Moon, 2-1.

Sour semi memories

Last fall, both Burrell and South Park reached the district Class 2A girls soccer semifinals; however, the Bucs lost to Shady Side Academy and the Eagles dropped a close one to eventual champion Avonworth.

The two did clash last November in the Class 2A consolation match with a berth in the PIAA playoffs at stake and the Eagles shut out the Bucs, 3-0.

Now they both return to the final four, but this year, one of them will reach the title match since No. 9 Burrell (13-5-1) goes up against No. 4 South Park (14-4-1) at North Allegheny at 6 p.m.

The Bucs have been the long shot in this bracket, cruising past Keystone Oaks in the first round, 6-0, and then stunning top-seed Mt. Pleasant in a quarterfinals upset, 4-0.

The Eagles defeated Central Valley in the opener, 2-1, and then finished in a scoreless tie with Freeport in the second round before bouncing the Yellowjackets in penalty kicks, 4-1.

In the second semifinal at NA at 8 p.m., No. 2 Quaker Valley (15-2-2) faces No. 6 North Catholic (15-3).

The Quakers have outscored Southmoreland and Deer Lakes in the first two rounds, 5-0.

The Trojans blanked Yough, 3-0, before surprising No. 3 Beaver, 2-1.

Home cooking

The No. 2 seed in the girls soccer Class A tournament won’t have to travel far for its semifinal playoff match.

Seton LaSalle (14-2-2) plays its home game at the field right at the school, but the football team plays its home games at Dormont Stadium, five minutes away.

That will be the site of the semifinals doubleheader in Class A, including the nightcap with the Rebels taking on No. 6 Winchester Thurston (14-5) at 8 p.m.

Both teams have registered back-to-back playoff shutouts in the postseason.

Seton LaSalle beat The Ellis School and Riverview by a combined score of 6-0 and Winchester Thurston beat Chartiers-Houston and Bentworth, each by the final of 4-0.

In the opener at Dormont Stadium, top seed Springdale (15-1) takes on No. 5 Sewickley Academy (13-3-1) at 6 p.m.

The Dynamos eliminated Greensburg Central Catholic and Freedom by a combined score of 12-1, while the Panthers have blanked Riverside and Aquinas Academy by scores of 2-0 and 1-0.

Volleyball fresh four

The WPIAL girls volleyball semifinals are set for Tuesday in Class 2A and A, and there are a lot of fresh faces in the final four this fall.

In 2A, only Quaker Valley has reached the semifinals from last fall.

In A, Frazier and Greensburg Central Catholic are back, leaving five new teams fighting for a spot in the final on Saturday.

In the Class 2A semis at North Allegheny, top seed Quaker Valley (16-2) takes on No. 5 Southmoreland (16-3) at 6 p.m.

The Quakers own postseason wins over Keystone Oaks and Ellwood City and the Scotties have knocked out Seton LaSalle and No. 4 South Park.

No. 2 Neshannock (15-1) will battle No. 3 Hopewell (16-2) in the other semifinal at NA set for 7:30 p.m.

The Lancers struggled against OLSH before sweeping past Burrell in the quarters.

The Vikings own 3-1 wins over both McGuffey and Avonworth.

In Class A, top seed Frazier (14-3) clashes with No. 4 St. Joseph (17-3) at Peters Township at 6 p.m.

The 2022 champion Commodores have swept past Rochester and defending champion Serra Catholic thus far and the Spartans have done the same to Union and California.

No. 2 Eden Christian (20-2) will face No. 3 Greensburg Central Catholic (15-3) at 7:30 p.m. for a spot in the finals.

As was the case in the other semifinal, both teams have yet to lose a game in this postseason.

The Warriors eliminated Trinity Christian and Bishop Canevin and the Centurions ousted West Greene and Beaver County Christian.