What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024: Soccer, volleyball teams set sights on reaching state finals

By: Don Rebel
Monday, November 11, 2024 | 6:52 PM

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When the 2024 WPIAL Class A girls soccer brackets were released, Springdale and Seton LaSalle were the top two seeds and appeared to be destined to play for district gold.

That matchup never took place. The Dynamos did their part by reaching the WPIAL title match with convincing wins over Greensburg Central Catholic, Freedom and Sewickley Academy.

However, following back-to-back playoff shutout wins over Ellis School and Riverview, the Rebels fell to Winchester Thurston in the district semifinals, 1-0.

The Dynamos went on to beat Winchester Thurston in the WPIAL finals, 5-3, while the Rebels ousted Sewickley Academy in the third-place match, 2-0.

Now the anticipated matchup will take place in the PIAA postseason when Springdale (19-1) goes up against Seton LaSalle (17-3-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at North Allegheny.

The winner will play for state gold in Mechanicsburg on Friday.

Thus far in the state playoffs, the Dynamos needed penalty kicks to survive Conemaugh Township, 3-2, and then they blanked Bishop Guilfoyle in the quarterfinals, 2-0.

The Rebels edged McConnellsburg in overtime in the opening round, 2-1, and blanked Karns City in the second round, 1-0.

There are two other PIAA girls soccer semifinals matches involving WPIAL teams:

• In Class 3A, Mars (20-3), the No. 3 team out of the WPIAL, will battle District 3 champion Lower Dauphin (22-2) at Mansion Park in Altoona at 6 p.m.

• In Class 2A, WPIAL champion Quaker Valley (19-2-2) will be tested by District 10 winner Erie Cathedral Prep (19-2-1) at Franklin HS at 5 p.m.

WPIAL sweep?

District 3 Class 3A boys soccer champion Conrad Weiser is not only one win away from playing for a state championship, it is also a victory away from sweeping the WPIAL out of the PIAA Class 3A postseason.

The Scouts ousted Mars in the first round, 4-0, and then eliminated WPIAL runner-up Franklin Regional in the quarterfinals, 2-0.

Now Conrad Weiser (23-1) will battle WPIAL champion Moon (24-0) at Bald Eagle HS at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Goals may be hard to come by since the Scouts have 11 shutouts while the Tigers have blanked 15 opponents this fall.

After beating Franklin Regional in the District 7 finals, Moon has state playoff victories over Lampeter-Strasburg, 2-1, and over City League champion Allderdice in a quarterfinal in overtime, 2-1.

There are two other PIAA boys soccer semifinals matches involving WPIAL teams:

• In Class 2A, WPIAL runner-up Avonworth (18-3-2) will challenge District 10 winner and defending PIAA champion Erie Cathedral Prep (17-6) at Franklin HS at 7 p.m.

• In Class A, District 7 champion Bentworth (21-0) looks to remain undefeated when it faces District 5 champion McConnellsburg (19-3-1) at Price Field in Johnstown at 6 p.m.

Double-double of rematches

The WPIAL is guaranteed to have at least two district teams participate in the upcoming PIAA girls volleyball championships Saturday at Cumberland Valley.

There are not one but two WPIAL championship rematches in the PIAA semifinals Tuesday.

In Class 3A, Mars (20-4) will battle Beaver (20-4) at 6 p.m. at North Allegheny.

In the WPIAL title match, the Fightin’ Planets defeated the Bobcats, 3-1.

Thus far in the state playoffs, Mars owns wins over Central Mountain and Hampton, while Beaver has eliminated DuBois and Greencastle-Antrim.

In Class A, Greensburg Central Catholic (19-3) and Frazier (17-4) collide for the second time in 10 days at Norwin at 6 p.m.

When last they met for district gold, the Centurions swept past the Commodores, 3-0.

GCC has ousted Clarion-Limestone and West Branch in the state playoffs and Frazier has victories over Saegertown and Clarion.

The only other team still alive in the girls volleyball state playoff from District 7 is Class 4A power North Allegheny (19-1), which prepares to meet District 3 champion Landisville Hempfield (20-0) at Altoona HS at 5:30 p.m. here on Trib HSSN.

The Tigers have beaten Manheim Township and Bishop Shanahan in the first two rounds while the Black Knights were winners over Garnet Valley and State College.