With patience, determination, Fox Chapel girls march into state playoffs

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Fox Chapel girls soccer team hasn’t had to worry about battling through another version of the WPIAL tournament through the first few rounds of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.

That’s exactly how Foxes coach Carlo Prati prefers things to shake out. Fox Chapel knocked off District 10 champion Harbor Creek in the first round Nov. 4.

The Foxes played District 9 champion DuBois in the quarterfinals Nov. 8 at Franklin. Results of that match were too late for this edition.

Prati likes the homework that comes along with preparing for the matches.

“It’s a fun challenge to find film on them to scout them,” Prati said. “Usually I go on Hudl and YouTube and find a lot of it there. I can also go on NFHS and find some games.”

The Foxes (20-1-1) outshot the Huskies 32-2 in the first round of states. Emily McKee continued her scoring assault on the postseason by scoring both of the Foxes’ goals.

Prati said he was most impressed with Fox Chapel’s patience when offensive pressure wasn’t producing the numbers of goals that the shot totals may dictate.

“They just kept at it,” Prati said. “Their goalie made some good saves. I told them at the end of the game that there are going to be games where you guys are missing shots and you can’t take yourselves out of the game.”

Fox Chapel has proven to be flexible throughout its postseason run. When the Foxes got their revenge against South Fayette in the WPIAL title game, Fox Chapel employed a different formation to help stymie the Lions.

Senior defender Emily Korczynski was brought in to help.

Lily McLaughlin eventually scored the game winner in double overtime in the Foxes’ 1-0 victory.

“(Emily) started against Seneca Valley as well,” Prati said. “It’s a personnel thing. That was one of those matchups where we change formations and Emily goes in. She found out that day in the locker room that she was starting.”

Fox Chapel has maintained its success despite having an influx of new players in the starting lineup this season. The Foxes had to replace six starters from last season’s WPIAL runner-up squad and used the regular season to tinker with formations and player groupings.

Prati said he thought how Fox Chapel ended the regular season set it up nicely for the postseason. The Foxes beat Peters Township in overtime and knocked off another Class 4A power, Norwin, before cruising through the first two rounds of the Class 3A playoffs.

“Once they started playing those and beating those big 4A teams, they thought they could hang with anybody,” Prati said. “They jelled quicker because they played so many tough teams.”

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