What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Sept. 24, 2025: Girls soccer section frontrunners to square off

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | 9:31 PM

Purchase Photo Options

As we get closer to the stretch run of the WPIAL girls soccer regular season, races are heating up not only for section titles, but also for a spot in the upcoming district playoffs next month.

The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

On Wednesday, three district sections have the top four teams squaring off against each other.

In Section 3-3A, South Fayette (5-0, 7-1-1) is in first place, followed by Thomas Jefferson (4-1, 6-5), Oakland Catholic (3-2, 5-5) and Laurel Highlands (2-3, 4-4-1).

South Fayette visits Oakland Catholic while Thomas Jefferson travels to Laurel Highlands.

In their first meetings this season, the Lions crushed the Eagles, 10-0, while the Jaguars defeated the Mustangs, 5-2.

In Section 4-3A, Plum (7-0, 8-0) leads the way with Franklin Regional (5-2, 8-3), Kiski Area (5-2, 5-3) and Elizabeth Forward (3-3, 4-3) in chase mode.

The Wednesday schedule has Plum heading to Elizabeth Forward and Kiski Area hosting Franklin Regional.

The first time they met, the Mustangs knocked off the Warriors, 4-1, and the Cavaliers were shut out by the Panthers, 4-0.

Finally in Section 1-A, Riverside (5-0-1) sits atop the standings with a two-game lead in the loss column over Freedom (4-2, 4-4), Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (3-2-1, 3-4-1) and Eden Christian Academy (3-2, 3-5).

Riverside is home to Eden Christian Academy on Wednesday while Freedom battles OLSH at Youthtowne Field in Clinton.

The first go-round this season ended with the Panthers blanking the Warriors, 1-0, and the Bulldogs knocking off the Chargers, 4-2.

Top two collide

It isn’t a fight for first place, but the top two teams in Section 1-2A girls soccer meet in a key match Wednesday.

Undefeated South Park is alone in first place with a section record of 7-0 and a perfect 11-0 overall record.

Alone in second place is Belle Vernon with a 5-1-1 section mark and a 7-2-1 record for the season.

The two meet for a second time this year at South Park on Wednesday.

In their first clash, the Eagles shut out the Leopards at The Beach, 4-0.

If South Park wins, it will have a two-game lead in the loss column over both Belle Vernon and Keystone Oaks (5-2, 6-6).

If the Leopards can hand the Eagles their first loss, they will climb to within a half-game of first place with both teams having four section matches remaining.

Double the competition

One week after crowning district singles tennis champions, the process begins to determine which duo will be the WPIAL doubles tennis winners.

To finalize the playoff field and help with seeding for both the 3A and 2A tournaments, the district will hold its doubles sectionals Wednesday and Thursday.

The top four finishers in each Class 3A section and the top three finishers in each 2A section will qualify for the WPIAL doubles tournaments next week.

Here are the locations for each of the nine tennis sectionals.

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 Court at Sewickley Academy