What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 11, 2024: Class 4A contenders square off

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 | 10:30 PM

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Twenty three years later, we will always remember the lives that were lost and the many that were affected by 9/11. First and foremost, it’s a day of reflection.

In WPIAL sports, meanwhile, the spotlight turns to girls soccer.

Current ties for first place in two Class 4A sections will be broken Wednesday, barring a tie of course.

In Section 3-4A, Seneca Valley visits Pine-Richland as both teams are 2-0 in section play.

The host Rams have won four of their five matches this season after missing the playoffs a year ago, while the Raiders have an overall record of 4-2, with an average margin of victory over four goals while both losses were defeats by one goal.

Technically, Peters Township is alone in first place in Section 2-4A. The Indians are 2-0 in the section and a perfect 5-0 overall.

PT hosts Upper St. Clair on Wednesday. The Panthers are also undefeated at 1-0-1 in the section and 4-0-1 overall, but a tie with Canon-McMillan last week , 1-1, is the only blemish on the USC season.

Two more to watch

When the WPIAL girls soccer Class 2A brackets were announced last season, Section 1 co-champion North Catholic was the No. 2 seed and Section 2 winner Freeport was the No. 4 seed.

Neither one was able to get past the second round.

The Trojans were upended in the quarterfinals by eventual district runner-up Shady Side Academy while the Yellowjackets fell in Round 2 to South Park.

This season, North Catholic and Freeport are rivals in Section 2-2A and will collide for the first of two times this season Wednesday.

Both are unbeaten. The visiting Trojans are 2-0 in the section and 7-0 overall while the Yellowjackets have also won both section matches and are 4-0 for the season.

Speaking of rivals, a pair of A-K Valley teams with perfect records are set to possibly break the tie for the top spot in Section 4-A.

Riverview visits Springdale with both teams sitting at 4-0 overall for the season.

The Raiders are 4-0 in the section while the Dynamos are 3-0 in section play.

Team golf winding down

While football has had serious weather issues in two of the first three weeks of the season, district golfers have no complaints this fall.

The weather this week has been picture perfect, like most of the season, allowing district golf teams to remain on schedule for the end of the regular season next week.

One of the standout matches for Wednesday has neighbors Quaker Valley and Sewickley Academy squaring off for first place in Section 9-2A.

The Quakers are 7-1 with one section match left against third place North Catholic (6-2). A win Wednesday clinches at least a share of the section crown for QV.

The Panthers are 6-1 with section matches left against North Catholic and Hopewell (2-7) next week.

The match takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the Allegheny Country Club.

Sectional singles

As we close in on the first championships of the new school year, the championship field will be determined Wednesday and Thursday with the girls tennis singles sectionals.

The top four finishers in each section from Class 3A and the top three finishers in each section from Class 2A will qualify for the WPIAL girls singles tennis championships next week.

Here are the girls tennis singles sectional sites:

Section 1-3A: Franklin Regional

Section 2-3A: North Allegheny

Section 3-3A: Fox Chapel

Section 4-3A: Bethel Park

Section 1-2A: Valley

Section 2-2A: South Park Courts

Section 3-2A: Indiana

Section 4-2A: Blackhawk

Section 5-2A: Nichols Courts at Sewickley Academy