What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 8, 2024: Boys soccer teams vie for section leads, playoff berths

By: Don Rebel
Monday, October 7, 2024 | 10:30 PM

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A lot of focus will be on a Class 4A section Tuesday evening with one WPIAL boys soccer match set to determine the section champion while the other could lead to a playoff berth.

For most teams, there are three section matches left as the regular season concludes early next week.

In Section 2-4A, the top two teams square off when Upper St. Clair (9-3-1) hosts Peters Township (12-1-1).

The Panthers sit in second place at 7-1, one game behind the Indians at 8-0.

The difference was a Peters Township victory at home over USC on Sept. 17, 4-0.

While those teams meet for first place, fourth place is up for grabs when Mt. Lebanon (7-7) visits Woodland Hills (5-7).

The Blue Devils are 3-5 in the section and alone in fourth place, looking to clinch with a road win.

The Wolverines are on the outside looking in at 2-6 in the section looking for a win to tie them for the final playoff spot.

The Blue Devils blanked the Wolverines in the first meeting this fall, 2-0.

Elsewhere in key district boys soccer matches:

• Section 3-3A has the same scenario as Section 2-4A. Franklin Regional (7-1, 9-2-1) visits Latrobe (9-0, 10-3) for first place while Belle Vernon (2-5, 6-7) hosts West Mifflin (2-6, 2-10) for fourth place.

• In Section 2-2A, Avonworth is 12-1-1, Quaker Valley 11-1-1 and Central Valley 11-2. On Tuesday, the Antelopes host the Warriors.

• Fourth place is up for grabs in Section 3-2A when Ligonier Valley (5-6, 8-6) travels to McGuffey (4-6, 7-7).

• In Section 1-A, Beaver County Christian (6-2, 10-3) visits Eden Christian Academy (5-2-1, 7-4-2) for first place while Neshannock (3-4-1, 8-4-1) travels to Sewickley Academy (4-3-1, 7-7-1) for a spot in the top four in the section.

Teeing off for a spot in the finals

While the WPIAL girls team golf finals in Class 3A and 2A are set for Thursday, the boys team golf championship field Thursday will be determined with semifinals Tuesday.

In Class 3A boys, eight teams will battle at the Champions Lakes Golf Course in Bolivar with Central Catholic, Connellsville, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Indiana, North Allegheny and Plum teeing off at 9 a.m.

The other bracket has seven teams competing at the Indian Run Golf Club in Avella, including defending champion Peters Township, Belle Vernon, Canon-McMillan, Seneca Valley, Shaler, South Fayette and West Allegheny. They also begin play at 9 a.m.

The Class 2A fields are larger with 10 teams playing the Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Connellsville. That group is made up of Avonworth, Bishop Canevin, Ellwood City, Greensburg Central Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, Quaker Valley, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, South Side and Waynesburg teeing off at 9 a.m.

The other 2A semifinal has nine teams taking part with Beaver, Brentwood, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Freeport, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Neshannock and North Catholic starting at 8:30 a.m.

The top three finishing teams in each bracket advance to the finals Thursday at the Cedarbrook Gold course in Belle Vernon.

Team tennis 2A first round set

Sewickley Academy and Knoch have hoarded all the gold in the WPIAL Class 2A girls team tennis playoffs the last seven years.

The Panthers won it all four times, in 2017, ’18, ’19 and 2021, while the Knights captured titles in 2020 and in each of the last two seasons.

With Sewickley Academy as the No. 4 seed and Knoch not qualifying, a new champion could be crowned next week.

The 2024 Class 2A tournament begins Tuesday with these eight opening-round matches, which all begin at 3 p.m.

• No. 16 Ellwood City vs. No. 1 North Catholic at Cranberry Township Park

• No. 9 Winchester Thurston at No. 8 Blackhawk

• No. 13 Central Valley at No. 4 Sewickley Academy at Nichols Courts in Sewickley

• No. 12 Greensburg Central Catholic at No. 5 Oakland Catholic at Schenley Oval

• No. 15 South Park at No. 2 Quaker Valley

• No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Mt. Pleasant

• No. 14 Lincoln Park at No. 3 Hampton at Hampton Township Park

• No. 11 Derry at No. 6 Beaver

The Class 3A girls team tennis playoffs quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday and the 2A second round will be on Thursday.